The Rainbow Bridge

"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 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

Rescue often involves taking animals from abusive and neglectful situations, and sometimes they come to us with severe illnesses and injuries. We try our best to save them, but sometimes it's too late. This is a place where we remember the lives we touched and tried to save, but unfortunately couldn't.

DONATE IN HONOR OF KOBE

Kobe
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in April 2022

Kobe was spotted laying in a road in poor condition at an estimated 3 years old. He had a very scary-looking condition going on with his genitals, he was very underweight, and he seemed weak. Nobody came forward to claim him. Kobe was diagnosed with heartworm disease, and he had surgery to clean and attempt to fix his genital issues during his neuter. He had some crazy bloodwork that the vet coud not pinpoint a diagnosis for. Kobe started heartworm treatment, and under the close supervision of a vet, started on a few medications and other care to attempt to manage his pain and discomfort. Sadly this wasn't enough, and Kobe stopped wanting to eat, lost more weight, then progressed quickly to not being capable of walking. He was rushed to the emergency room, and the veterinarian did some bloodwork which showed he had worsened. Kobe's liver and kidney values were off, and they also had suspicions of cancer. Kobe was defininitely ready to get his wings, so we loved on him as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 23rd, 2022. He was cremated, and now watches over Playful Paws at our main location, finally pain free at his furever home.

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donate in honor of mica

Mica
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September 2021

Mica was found wandering the streets at about 10 years old in awful condition. She had a mass on her chest that almost touched the ground, cauliflower eye, worn down teeth from chewing cage bars, swollen feet, etc. Nobody came forward to claim her. Mica was diagnosed with advanced Heartworm Disease and we started her slow kill treatment to keep her comfortable. She became a hospice dog and lived out her last few months checking off her bucket list. She worked at Home Depot for the day, went to the beach, picked out toys at the pet store, ate lots of ice cream and even had a special picnic! Mica started showing signs of Cancer and began to not want to play anymore. She told us she was ready, so surrounded by her awesome Fosters and P.P.A.R. staff, Mica crossed the Rainbow Bridge on September 9th, 2021. She was cremated, and now stays in her furever home with her loving fosters.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF KOOKIE

Kookie
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September 2021

Kookie was an 8 month old emaciated puppy found by a good samaritan and brought to P.P.A.R. Her belly was hard and hurting, so she was taken to the vets immediately and a radiograph was performed. The vets not only saw loads of trash in her stomach, but also a heart that was 3x larger than it should have been. The vet induced vomiting, and people came forward to claim they knew her. She had lived her entire short life outside in someone's yard, having to eat trash to survive and suffering from daily seizures due to her untreated heart condition. Her owners surrendered her to us to avoid legal trouble, and we began her treatment. She suffered greatly due to her health, and unfortunately it was a losing battle. On September 6th, 2021, at only 10 months old, Kookie crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She was cremated, and now watches over Playful Paws at our main location, resting pain free at her furever home.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF PERIDOT

Peridot
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in July 2021

We found a dog on the side of the road named Ziva, and upon going to the vets for her first vaccines, we discovered she was only a few weeks from giving birth. She had a total of eight puppies, the smallest one being Peridot. A few days later all puppies were doing well, until Ziva brought Peridot to her foster Mom and asked her for help. She was struggling to breathe, and despite the foster's best CPR efforts, Peridot sadly passed away within only a few minutes. This is not uncommon in runts and happens very quickly. Peridot crossed the Rainbow Bridge on July 30th, 2021. Peridot was buried at her loving foster home.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF CHIQUITA

Chiquita
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in June 2021

Chiquita was an 8 year old dog that we thought was a pregnant stray. Upon following her, she brought us home and we found she had owners that were unfortunately neglecting her due to lack of education. They temporarily surrendered her to us so we could bring her to the ER, since she was bleeding from her vulva for days and that is not normal during pregnancy. At the ER they diagnosed her with advanced Heartworm Disease, resulting in painful fluid in her belly that was rupturing organs. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 3rd, 2021 surrounded by her owner and family. We had her cremated and her owner took her home.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF ELEANOR

Eleanor
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in May 2021

P.P.A.R. recieved a call about a dog that had been laying unmoving in the dirt behind a home for multiple days. We rushed over and found this 12 year old elderly girl, whom we named Eleanor, with a large swollen belly and unable to get up. We lifted her into the rescue van and immediately drove her to the ER. Once there, she was diagnosed with the last stages of Heartworm Disease, and she was put to rest the same day on May 8th, 2021. Eleanor had clearly lived a neglected life, and still nobody has come forward to claim her body. In just the few short hours we spent with her, we knew we lost one of the most loving dogs. Yet another baby that deserved so much more.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF BLUE

Blue
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in April 2021

Blue was found dying in a ditch by a good samaritan at the ripe age of 10 years old. He was covered with old and new dog bites wounds, consitant with being used as a bait dog. In our care he healed and recovered, but he was diagnosed with advanced Heartworm Disease and Stage 4 Cancer. Blue became our first hospice pup and lived out his last few months checking off his bucket list. He had easter egg hunts, beach days, picked out toys at the pet store, and recieved endless rides in his wagon. He ate lots of ice cream and loved everyone unconditionally. One day his belly began to fill up with fluid from his Heartworm Disease, and Blue told us it was time. Surrounded by his amazing Fosters and P.P.A.R. staff, Blue crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 9th, 2021. He was cremated, and now stays in his furever home with his loving fosters.

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DONATE IN HONOR OF ESTAROSSA

Estarossa
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September 2020

After battling congenital issues and failing to thrive, Estarossa crossed the Rainbow Bridge on August 30th, 2020 with loving veterinary staff around her. She was the runt of a litter of ten, born to a stray dog we had been trying to catch for years. This is not uncommon in runts and happens very quickly. She was only 9 days old. Estarossa was buried at her loving foster home.