Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. We asked the people who work and volunteer at HSSV to tell us about a pet they lost, and invite you to share a tribute of your loved one.
It’s a hard thing to write about. Grief resists language. How could you ever find a good way to explain what one animal meant to you – the ridiculous, unrepeatable habits that shaped your days? How could you possibly describe what it means to lose that?
We try anyway. Talking about grief doesn’t make it smaller, but love needs somewhere to go.
15 Comments on “Carrying Love Across the Rainbow Bridge”
Ralphie was my very best friend. He somehow understood me better than most people do and showed a tremendous amount of love for me in our 13 years together. He had a hard life, was abused very badly as a puppy but ended up in a shelter that rehabilitates abused animals, which is where I found him. I lost him in 2022 but still feel his absence everyday. I hope to one day honor him by rescuing another puppy in need. Ralphie, you are loved so very much!
Rest in peace Romeo. You fought so hard. You were a wonderful sweet boy and you are greatly missed.
My boy Rusty crossed the rainbow bridge in December of 2025. He was the best boy my family could ever ask for.
In April 2018, my brother brought home a sweet foster pom (from HSSV) that we only expected to keep for a couple weeks. My parents kept telling us that they didn’t want a dog and they didn’t want anything to do with a dog – until Rusty came into our lives. Rusty instantly became all of our best friends. He showed us how to love and how to enjoy the small things in life. He gave us 7.5 wonderful unforgettable years that we will cherish and hold in our hearts forever.
Kozmo was a beautiful male, long haired black cat with a plume of a tail. He was very chatty and did a wonderful Lassie impersonation. Incredibly friendly to everyone he met including the vet! But he was not a snuggler and would never sit on your lap. He would only let you hold him on your lap when he was on his back getting his armpits and belly scratched while he stretched fully out!
When my husband was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor Kozmo became his constant companion. One day my husband told me the cat knew he was dying because Kozmo started sitting on him and laying on him when he slept. I did not believe it until I saw it. Sure enough Kozmo would be on him when he sat and laid down.
We hospiced at home and the day my husband died Kozmo was laying on his chest and would not leave. My husband’s aid took Kozmo off and he went right back to be with my husband. Even after he died Kozmo stayed laying on top of him. Kozmo finally left his side minutes before the funeral home came to take my husband away. My husband was right, Kozmo knew. He remained by my husband’s side throughout his illness and was a loving and devoted companion and a source of comfort to my husband.
Missing our sweet Cece every day and thankful for all the love she brought our family. Thanks HSSV for honoring the love of all of these pets.
We foster failed Lapso at approx 8 yo from HSSV in 2022. In 2024 she crossed the rainbow bridge with an at home euthanasia. She was such a sweet girl and she was the first family dog for my teenage kids. TY HSSV for bringing Lapso into our family. She is missed dearly.
Sammie left me earlier this year due to a freak accident from anesthesia. She had heart problems and had to be under anesthesia in order to get her x rays and echocardiograms done. Tragically she went under cardiac arrest during the examination likely due to her weakened heart from her heart murmur. I had met Sammie and adopted her from HSSV when she was a 3 month old kitten and had 4 wonderful years. with her. There isn’t a day where I don’t think about her and I am grateful for the work HSSV does for animals. I’ll never forget Sammie and I hope to reunite with one day.
We brought Donny (formerly “Don Juan”) home from HSSV in late 2015. He was THE BEST, goofiest, most enthusiastic, treat- and people-loving dog in the world whose passions were the beach and swimming in any lake. I was hoping for at least a couple more years with him, but an undiagnosed tumor took him before we could treat it.
Whenever I’m grieving his absence, I sit quietly and feel my heartbeat, and know it’s Donny and another best dog in the world, a rescue named Rocky, still wagging their tails for me.
Zoey left me 3 years ago at 14 years old and she was my soul dog. She laid on my husband’s lap in the ICU for his last 3 days of his life. I’m sure it helped him and I know she helped me. She was my rock for 7 more years after he died. Always there and never complaining.
My Molly was my shadow , not only was she mine, she belonged to the community She brought happiness , love and a smile to everyone she met. More people knew me as Molly’s mom then by my name. My yellow lab of 11 3/4 years will be forever loved and missed. 11/14/14 to 7/26/26 🐾😇
This remembrance day is very timely for us. Just 1.5 weeks ago our hearts were broken when we lost our beautiful boy Magick to cancer.
He was our first foster fail 8 years ago. His huge personality brightened our lives and brought us so much joy.
Magick was a very sensitive, emotional cat. As we continued fostering kittens, he was so nurturing to all of them (while our female cats ignored them) – cuddling with them, bathing and playing with them and watching over and protecting them. One of his many, special qualities.
When he was on my lap purring, Magick would come up on my chest. He had a way of looking up at me, directly into my eyes, like he was looking straight into my soul with such a strong, emotional connection.
Magick was the most loving, wonderful companion that I could ever ask for.
My Blue Parakeet Brittney he was with me and my husband for 11yrs. He chirped sang all the time and he was so smart we talked to him all the time hoping he would talk but he tried at times but never did talk. We looked forward coming home and to hear him greet us with a lot of chirps and when he was gone due to getting sick we missed him so much but we were very grateful for the time we had him. It is never easy loose a pet but we never forget them. The saying is Life goes on.
My Sam boy passed January 2025 soon after we learned he had cancer. I got him as a puppy from pound puppy rescue when he was 11 weeks old and he lived to age 11. My family misses him everyday and he will always be loved.
I adopted my 2 year old soul pup Corina from HSSV on December 2, 2019. She completed my family & lit up my life in ways I could have never imagined. The joy I felt running through the Fremont hills with her & my other HHSV rescue, Buddy, was incomparable. She came to us from Fresno & had a bb pellet lodged in her back which was removed and gave her the happy life she always deserved. We lost her suddenly on September 28, 2026, a month shy of her 8th birthday. She is with us every day, all throughout the day and I am such a better person for having known her & cared for her. Thank you HSSV for all you do for our animals & the people who love them.
We adopted Bandit from HSSV in 2001 Bandit went to the rainbow bridge in 2024
He was 13 He was funny and smart and
we still miss him and think about him everyday.