In June of 2010, a tiny black and white chihuahua terrier puppy fell onto my lap for the first time. We hadn’t even known eachother for a minute, but this little innocent soul snuggled onto me as if he had known me his whole life. From the very beginning, when all the fears of caring for a pet overwhelmed me, my dog trusted me. Through every day, every challenge, and every memory, my dog comforted me. Until his very last breath on August 12, 2022, my dog let me know that he loved me. His name is Theodore.

Theodore’s untimely passing is an ongoing struggle to say the least. The one constant in the last 12 years of my life left a giant void in my heart. For those who have never had a pet, let alone lost one, pet loss is an almost impossible concept to grasp and one that is largely misunderstood. While I am beyond thankful for the few who showed their genuine condolences, I was also told by most to “get over it already”, that I was being “too sensitive” or that Theodore was “just a dog”.

Rainbow Bridge Club was originally created to channel my own grief and by sharing my journey, I hope to bring comfort to others who are also going through a similar struggle or know someone who is. Our pets are never "just" a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish, a turtle... they are family, and to grieve them is very much REAL and VALID.  RBC is a place for the grieving heart to honor the memories of their animal companions and a place for anyone seeking to understand the depth of love an animal brings into one's life. RBC reminds us of the special bond we carry with our pets forever and that one day, we will be reunited in Heaven with them once more.

This one’s for you, Theodore. See you later, doggy. I love you forever, until we meet again.