Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pet Sentimentality

Glen Lake Animal Hospital sent us a sympathy card on the death of Pippin. It includes an insert entitled "Rainbow Bridge." It begins
When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
I just knew I was gonna love this. One version of this maudlin exercise is here. I especially liked the part
A pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly recognising you...
That would not be Pippin, thanks. Unless she thought I had food.

There's a Rainbow Bridge website, too, with a Pet Loss Grief Support Center.

10 comments:

jlbussey said...

I'm sorry that you lost Pippin.

Kurt said...

Yes, I'm also sorry to hear about Pippin.

Unfortunately, I clicked through to the Rainbow Bridge website long enough to hear the first few bars of the accursed "Imagine" playing on the homepage. Somehow I suspect that anyone who actually listened to the lyrics of the song wouldn't find any solace in them.

terri said...

Sorry to hear she didn't make it.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

I think all you nice kind people aren't getting it. My wife is somewhat saddened by Pippin's death. I, not so much. She was cute, and I like dogs in general. But I don't miss this dog much. It's a dog. I am finding the websites humorous in their own horrifying way.

terri said...

Ok..I take back my unsolicited sympathy and replace it with a suspicion that you did in the "cranky, paranoid" dog that inhabited your house.

I'll be sending the doggie crimonoligist up there to check up on you! ;-)

Maybe you should create an alternative website to Rainbow Bridges...one with flames, lava, sulphur and a crazed Pippin as the Cerberus stand-in.

AVI's Wife,

I extend my condolences and symapthy to you....and advise you to keep an eye on that husband of yours! ;-)

Assistant Village Idiot said...

terri, send the doggie criminologists on, I have a perfect alibi.

That website sounds like a great idea.

Retriever said...

Condolences to your wife and you, to, you closet sentimentalist , AVI. Methinks you do protest too much.

The sentimental bilge on pets, tho, would turn anyo e curmudgeonly.

We had a dog named Cerberus once. Lived for food also....

Hope you don't get suddenly sad as you look or listen for a snap and a bark and realize the hole Pippin leaves in the pack.

Kurt said...

When I was an adolescent, my family had a rather grouchy dog. She was an adorable puppy, but eventually she developed a temperament rather like that of Bella Abzug. It was hard to get very sentimental about her after her passing, that's for sure. When my father developed advanced dementia, though, he used to ask about her quite a bit.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

" When my father developed advanced dementia, though, he used to ask about her quite a bit."

Okay, now you're scaring me.

James Thurber wrote about the succession of dogs his family had. I believe it was in My Life and Hard Times.

Der Hahn said...

Ceaser Milan is controversial at times but if he does nothing more than remind most pet owners that they are caring for a dog, not a four-footed human in a permanent fur coat, he'll have the species a world of good.