The Rainbow Bridge, your pet & you

02/05/2026

Sometimes... their face just flashes in your mind.

You can't stop it. You see them everywhere. When you are feeding your other animals, when you are walking by a spot on the couch you used to lay on together...

Sometimes it doesn't stop. Sometimes it comes in waves.

You may feel like you are drowning.

Let me through you a lifesaver...

The more we fight the emotions... the more they pull us under. Take a deep breath, feel the emotions. Let them wash over you. Remember the memories... feel the pain that may come.

Don't worry... it won't last. After the pain and sadness that washes over, you learn that it is in fact a wave. It doesn't last. It's a moment in time. A sesason.

On the back side of that pain wave is healing. There will be a time when the back side of that wave can hold a smile. Happy memories come with healing and the only way to start that process is to sit with the emotions.

It is just a wave. You will not drown if you allow yourself to ride out wave. It is hard... but it is the only way to start healing.

01/30/2026

As this month comes to a close... it's important to talk about... the closing of a chapter.

Sometimes healing isn’t about “getting over it,” it’s about gently closing one chapter so another one can begin.
Closing a chapter doesn’t mean:
• You stop loving your pet

• You forget the details of your life together

• You erase the hard parts of your grief
It can simply mean:
• You find a new place for their things that feels more peaceful

• You talk about them with more warmth than pain

• You allow yourself to dream about what life can look like now, while still carrying them with you
If you’re in a season where it feels like one chapter of your story with your pet is ending, please remember:

You are allowed to honor what was and still be curious about what comes next.
If you’d like to, share where you are in your journey — “holding on,” “closing a chapter,” or “somewhere in between.” There’s no wrong answer here.

01/29/2026

Some grief is loud.

Some grief is very quiet.

Pet loss is often the quiet kind:
• Tears in the car on the way to work

• A pause in the hallway where their bed used to be

• Smiling in public while everything aches in private

Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean it’s small.

Your grief is real. Your love is real. You don’t have to downplay either.
If you need words when you can’t find your own, my book for grieving pet parents is there for you, one small piece at a time:

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet leaves an emptiness that words often struggle to fill. " offers a comforting and supportive space for your grief, written by , a trusted dog trainer of over two decades and a certified pet loss grief counselor. This book understands the unique and profound bond ...

01/27/2026

Sometimes it’s the tiniest things that break your heart:
• The way they used to tilt their head

• The sound of their paws on the floor

• How they always knew when you needed comfort
Those “little” things were never little at all. They were your life together.
If you feel up to it, tell me one small, specific thing you miss about your pet.

The way they slept, a funny habit, a routine you shared… I’d be honored to read about them and hold that memory with you.

I will go first! Although he is still with us... Nero cracks me up every time we play ball and he has to drop his ball in the water bowl to drink! Such a shepard thing to do!

01/23/2026

Time to smile!
Sometimes our hearts need a little break from the heaviness and a moment to remember the joy.
Here’s a short mindfulness exercise you can try right now:
Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose… and out through your mouth.
Close your eyes and picture your pet in one of their happiest moments.
Notice the little details:
• What were they doing?
• What did their fur, feathers, or scales look like?
• Was there a sound they made that always made you smile?
Let yourself feel that warmth in your chest for a few breaths.
When you’re ready, softly say “thank you” for that memory.
You’re allowed to hold both grief and gratitude at the same time.

If you’d like to, share one happy memory of your pet in the comments so we can smile with you. 💛

01/21/2026

Did you know that a hug has to last 20 seconds to be therapeutic?
It's National Hugging Day!

Some hugs just hit different.

The hug from someone who knows you’re still missing “your heart in fur.”

The hug where you don’t have to explain why this loss still hurts so much.

The hug that says, “I remember them too.”

If you’re missing the warm weight of your pet in your arms today, consider this a long, gentle hug from this community. You’re not alone in this.

If you have a friend who’s grieving a pet, share this page and my book for grieving pet parents with them: https://amzn.to/3N0crNw

Sometimes knowing there’s a soft place to land is the hug they need most.

01/20/2026

Today, try a “three smiles” moment for you and your pet.
Take a slow, comfortable breath.
Think of your pet and let three specific memories rise to the surface that make you smile.
• A goofy thing they used to do
• A routine you shared
• A moment when you felt especially close
For each memory, quietly say:
“You made my life better when…” and finish the sentence in your mind.
Notice how your body feels as you remember. If you feel a little lighter, let that feeling stay for a few extra breaths.
You deserve moments of joy in the middle of your healing.

If you’d like to, tell me one of your “three smiles” in the comments so we can celebrate that memory with you.

01/17/2026

Some days you might feel like you’re doing “okay” after your loss… and then something small pulls the floor out from under you again:
• An empty spot on the couch

• The sound of someone else’s dog tags

• A date on the calendar you didn’t realize would hurt so much
Grief has a way of circling back, and that doesn’t mean you’re failing at healing. It means your love is still very much alive.
My book was written to help you through exactly these kinds of days. Inside you’ll find:
• Short reflections you can read when you’re overwhelmed

• Gentle prompts to help you process guilt, regret, and “what ifs”

• Ways to keep your pet’s memory with you in meaningful, comforting ways
If you’d like something you can reach for on the hard days, you can order it here:

https://amzn.to/3N0crNw

01/15/2026

Most of us know someone who’s still heartbroken over a pet they loved.
That’s who this page — and my book for grieving pet parents — is here for. A soft place to land when the rest of the world thinks they should be “over it” by now.
If a friend or family member comes to mind, feel free to share this page and the book link with them: https://amzn.to/3N0crNw

It’s a simple way to say, “Hey, your love for them really matters, and you don’t have to go through this alone.”

01/14/2026

When you lose a pet, your whole world changes… but the rest of the world often expects you to be “okay” again very quickly.
You might be:
• Hiding your tears because you’re afraid people won’t understand

• Wondering if you made the right choices at the end

• Feeling lonely because others don’t see how deep this loss really is

I created my book for moments exactly like these.

It’s written for grieving pet parents who need:
• Validation that their feelings are normal

• Gentle words to lean on when their own words won’t come

• Simple ways to honor their pet’s memory while slowly finding their footing again
If you need a quiet, understanding companion on this journey, you can find the book here:

https://amzn.to/3N0crNw
You don’t have to navigate this pain alone.

01/11/2026

Sometimes the people we care about are hurting in ways we don’t know how to help.
Maybe you know someone who:
• Is quietly grieving a beloved animal

• Still looks for their pet in all the familiar places

• Feels like no one really understands why it hurts this much
This space was created for them.
Here, their bond with their pet is honored. Their grief is not minimized. Their love is taken seriously.
If someone you care about is walking through the loss of a pet, you’re welcome to share this page with them so they know there’s a soft place to land.
You never know whose heart might feel a little less alone because you did.

01/09/2026

You thought about them today... I KNOW you did. You always do...
Something small made you think of a memory, the way the sun shone through the trees made you think of their favorite place to sunbathe...

That pet that you are missing is still with you in many ways.

Maybe you even smiled. If you did... I am proud of you!
If you didn't, then I AM STILL PROUD OF YOU!

Thinking about them is natural... and part of the process. Are you ready to share?

Let’s create a little memorial space in the comments today.
If you’re missing a special animal, you’re invited to share:
• Their name

• What kind of animal they were

• One thing they absolutely loved
I’ll go through and read every single one.
Your grief deserves a place to be seen.

Your pet’s life deserves a place to be remembered.
There is no “too long ago” and no “too soon” here. If your heart is thinking of them today, this space is for you.