For Emily

There is an Indian legend which says when a human dies
there is a bridge they must cross to enter into heaven.  At
the head of that bridge waits every animal that human
encountered during their lifetime.  The animal, based upon
what they know of this person, decide which humans may
cross the bridge . . . and which are turned away. . . .
                                -- Anonymous  
                                -- Sent by Maryellen and Fred Pheiffer

Emily Shepard crossed the bridge on October 13, 2006, much too soon at age 29.  More animals met her there than we can count, for Rescue was the focus of her life.  In 1998 she adopted Barney, and that began her work with us.  In 2000 Daisy joined Emily and her new husband, Adam.  But that year Emily also "rescued" Marge, our founder and president.  At a moment of crisis Emily pitched in.  She interviewed adopters, kept track of dogs needing homes, placed them, and kept follow-up information on their adoptions.  In one year alone she found "forever"  homes for over 100 dogs.  And just this year she and Adam added Sam to their family.  They loved nothing better than sunning and swimming all together on the Maine lakes.

Her fellow rescuers and friends remember:

". .  God needed an angel to help him care for all the dogs that have gone to heaven, and he chose Emily to help him . . ."

--Marge Silverthorn

"They say that people come into our lives for a reason.  I truly believe that Emily came into my life for a very special reason. . . . Together we placed dogs, together we rescued dogs, together we transported dogs, and together we cried over dogs."

--Nanci LaMarque

"She had an infectious way about her that just make you love her. . . . Her passion and love for her beloved Springers brought many people into our program and we will all miss her."

--Gini Titterton

". . . .her loving nature was a magnet that served to attract people and dogs in need - and her compassion for them seemed endless; her efforts were extraordinary."

--Joy Sarnelli

"Our beloved Friar Tuck and all the animals that benefited from Emily's kindness, compassion, and decency stood at the head of the bridge and welcomed her across."

--Maryellen and Fred Pheiffer

      An aged animal approached the Rainbow Bridge, head low, tail dragging, deeply depressed. It yearned to cross the Bridge.  But an Angel appeared, barring its way. “I’m sorry,” said the Angel, “You may not cross. You have no people.”  So the animal limped away to join a group of animals like itself, all lying on the grass, staring hollow-eyed at the path to the Bridge.
      Across the Bridge an animal newly on the other side saw this and didn’t understand. “What happened?” it asked. A nearby animal said, “That animal was turned in to rescue. It was old. Its fur was gray and its eyes cloudy. No family wanted it. No one would cross the Bridge with it. Only its rescuer comforted it as it left the earth.”
      Suddenly, though, the dark sky brightened; a person appeared among the group of old animals; and the animals, bathed in a golden light, became young and healthy again. Several walked to the person and bowed. Each of them received a pat on the head and returned to its place. But the others that were restored to youthfulness joined the person and crossed the Bridge.
      "Who was that?” asked the new animal. “What happened there?”  “That was a rescuer. Those animals who bowed had found new homes because of her work. They will cross when their new families arrive. And those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When rescuers arrive, they are allowed one final act of rescue. They may take their homeless animals across the Rainbow Bridge with them.”
      “I like rescuers,” said the newer animal. And the older animal said, “So does God.”

from Sara Besaw...In honor of Emily

Not An Angel

Author Unknown