Welcome to A Forever Home Rescue Foundation’s Memory Page. On this page we honor all of the wonderful dogs who have shared their lives with us. Although they are gone from our lives, they are never far from our hearts. Please email your tribute and photo to [email protected].
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in a joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…
Author unknown…
Image credit: Image by Graham Lowe from Pixabay
Wonderful Nellie
….Nellie Newcomb passed away June 2017 yes 2017. I have been meaning to contact you since then. I have never loved a pet as much as I loved her so I guess that is why I put it off so long. …She was described as Black and Tan Coonhound Mix and came from the Page County Shelter where she might have been named Roxy. She was Nellie at AFH and we kept that name. She weighed 35 pounds when we took her and gain about 5 more over the years. She had a very happy life and was everything we dreamed of in a dog. She became bonded with our “lab mix” pound puppy Kailey and they lived out their lives together with Kailey passing on about a year after Nellie. Nellie developed tumors I believe a year or so before her death but was able to remain pain free. Well thank you for the wonderful dog.
My Best Friend Nazli (Adriana)
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that my best friend NAZLI (A.K.A. ADRIANA) has passed away on 11/22/2022. I adopted her from your organization in 2008. Unfortunately, due to her illness, she suddenly died in my arms at age 15. She had a great life. She will always be with us in our hearts. Thank you for rescuing and fostering her. My life would have been totally empty without her. I hope our roads will cross one day and we reunite. I will reach out to you when I am ready to adopt again.
Eddie, My Best Buddy
Hello,
Scruffy (Scrappy) – Special Place in Our Hearts
Our first AFH pup came to us as “Scrappy” a rescue from a Forward Operating Base in Iraq where he was the only survivor out of a litter of seven. When he came to our home, we renamed him Scruffy, the name he had for 12 years. Scruffy’s DNA showed he was predominantly Anatolian Shepard and Heinze 57. He was a stoic dog and the world ran on his schedule, especially mealtimes. His show of affection for his family was the “Scruffy Stomp,” nuzzling a family member and then stomping with the rear legs while getting a scratch on his back. He was a fighter and was in remission from Mast Cell cancer for almost a year. When it came back with a vengeance, he still did all the Scruffy things until his tumors ruptured. We love and have loved all our dogs, but Scruffy will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Phil, Laurie, Chris and Kim
Jenny Dog – Missed Tremendously
Dear AFH, This month (June) would have been the 13th “Adopta-versary” of our Jenny, but sadly she crossed the rainbow bridge on February 6, 2023. We adopted Jenny as an adult dog (~2 years old). She was a mystery mix of breeds, a wild-child and escape artist in her early years, a hiking companion, toy-destroyer, and a soft and fluffy shedding machine. She loved her daily walks, no matter the weather. She was a people dog – absolutely loved everyone, and everyone loved her. Jenny was always the curious explorer and loved to go everywhere. She travelled cross-country by car twice in 3 years when we moved to California (then back) and travelled with us on many local trips. She saw the mountains and the beach on both coasts. Jenny brought us so many laughs and was our whole world. She started to have significant health challenges in late 2022 and passed at home with both of us by her side. We are heartbroken and miss our Jenny-dog tremendously.
Sincerely, Lisa & Tom
Beamer (Elmer) – Remembered and Loved
Beamer became part of our family in 2012 thanks to AFH, he was originally named Elmer. He was such a loving, gentle, and happy dog. Our favorite memory of him is sitting in his own camping chair. He lived a great life of 11 years until he was diagnosed with Lymphoma and passed away in May 2023. He will always be remembered and loved by us. Thanks, AFH for allowing us to enjoy him!
Buddy Forever In My Heart!
My sweet Buddy passed away May 25, 2023. I adopted him on December 22, 2018. He was the best and most loving companion. He was such a gentle soul who just wanted to be petted and lay in the sun!
Chloe – Very Much Missed
We adopted Chloe from AFH when she was a year and a half old in July 2011. When we first brought her home her tail would just not stop wagging! She was so chill, which was very helpful as our other dog got used to not being the only child anymore. Chloe loved getting pets, laying out in the sun and was just generally happy to be here. As she became an old lady her kidneys decided they had had enough, and she crossed the rainbow bridge. She will be very much missed.
Rufus (Ellie’s Edwin) – In Loving Memory
In loving memory of Edwin (Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla) – Diva, Food hound, and our sweet little boy
We adopted Edwin from “A Forever Home” in July of 2016, and he has been a joy to our family since then. A beagle/border collie mix, he was fun, happy and goofy – and of course, always hungry. But even more than food, he loved his routine and being with his humans. In many ways he acted like an old man, but he was still always excited, welcoming us home when we were away for any period of time, as he made sure we got lots of kisses and enthusiastic tail-wags to prove his devotion and loyalty. He tolerated being dressed up and patiently learned many tricks, just to please us. He died recently, joining the other furry friends of our family who’d passed during his time with us. Although we wished we could have kept him longer, we are comforted knowing he was greatly loved during his short life, in a home where everyone fought over who’d get to spend time with him. If love could be measured by number of pictures and videos taken and shared, Edwin would undoubtedly win a top prize. We are all better for Edwin being in our lives, and I for one will be forever grateful I was convinced (coerced) into adopting him that summer day seven years ago.
Ken, Maria, Megan, Dominic, Will, Sofia
Sophie (Celeste)
Hello – we adopted Celeste ( whom we renamed Sophie) in 2007ish when she was about 6 months old and we were a foster family for you in Chantilly. We didn’t even make it the 3 blocks home from her pick up before I knew she was meant for us. We called her our happy accident of genetics – we had our guesses but whatever the mix was she was purely wonderful. Full of joy, life, spunk, grit- maybe a little short on common sense. We were grateful she was not our human child as she would have put us in an early grave but as our dog she only gave us a few more gray hairs along with the happiness she brought our whole family. Always game to go for a hike, always ready to tell us what she needed. The vet said he had no idea how this dog continued to walk since she had no joints left to speak of, but, until this last year, that never slowed her down, tail always wagging, happy face always ready for more fun. more. The steroids the vet gave Sophie gave a couple of nice months to enjoy the spring, enjoy us, just be Sophie – at 33 rpm, but still Sophie. Yesterday seemed a little different- fewer wags, more far away looks. That was redoubled today. She was saying it was time. So we are spent our morning cuddling, rubbing and reminding her how important she is to us. The vet came at one. We will miss her every day. See her playing get the baby at age 15 https://youtube.com/shorts/F5Tl4hrcKYc