LOVED AND NOT FORGOTTEN

Memorials for our loved ones who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Arnie Ellison
I've chosen to celebrate the life and memory of my friend, Arnie Ellison.  He was a funny, caring, and creative guy with such a sweet soul.  Arnie was a lifelong dog lover and animal advocate.  His Rottweilers were truly the loves of his life and they adored him right back!  I'm sure they are happily reunited on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
-Christina Palilla

Sophie Turrin

Sophie was our neighbor and a great buddy to Jasmine. She was even our "tester" dog when we were meeting Jasmine for the first time, so when Sophie gave her approval, Jasmine came to be a permanent member of our family! She was very patient and tolerant of Jasmine's abundant amount of energy and didn't seem to care too much that Jasmine was not always respectful of personal space or toys! They loved to meet each other at the fence to snort a quick hello between the planks, and we all really miss her being there.

-Clara and Lamar Bailey

Sophie,

We cannot get over how much of an incredible doggie ambassador you have been with your friend Jasmine. We are so impressed by your patience and love- even in the face of shenanigans and toy stealing. We know Jasmine, Clara, Lamar and many many others are missing your presence here. We are happy to know you have been inducted into the Welcome Committee at the Rainbow Bridge. They told us you have been one of the best Welcomers they have ever encountered even in their many years there. We wish you the very best in this new position though we are sad about the transition. Jasmine sends her love and she told us to let you know that you better hide your toys really well!

All of our love,

Alive Rescue Memphis

Sydney

I was so moved by Sydney being remembered and it is my honor to just say a few words about her. 

Sydney showed up from nowhere during the hottest part of July 2015. Neighbors were leaving food and water out but Sydney was so skittish and untrusting, she was not going to be caught. For weeks we would come home from work and try to spot her. Finally during record high temps, we saw her close to the house in some bushes so decided we had to do something. My son sat near her for hours, inching in ever so slightly until he was able to get a lead on her. From that moment on, she was his. It is funny because she actually didn’t pull or try to get away. I think she knew she was home. We did all the right things to try and find her owner to no avail so she settled in and became a part of the family. She was a very gentle dog and was so appreciative of her life. She loved nothing better than to sit outside with her football, sniffing the wind, waiting for a squirrel to scamper up a tree so she could run after it.

Sydney began to have a slight limp last August. She went to numerous vets and they all said, she had strained a muscle and just needed meds and rest. We finally consulted our previous vet, Dr. Ali Smith, who helped us get her in to see a specialist. It turned out to be osteosarcoma and she had a right forearm and scapula resection April, 2020. Sydney started chemo shortly thereafter and by the first week of Aug, she began having trouble walking. A spine surgery was planned and during the pre-op CT, she was found to have cancer all throughout her spine. Upon the wise advice of her surgeon, we didn’t wake her from her anesthesia but let her go July 15, 2020.

Sydney was that one in a million dog. Her DNA claimed she was a mix of eskimo, lab, pit bull, etc. but she looked like an angel with soft fluffy white hair that floated everywhere. She was so gentle, loving and fun. She loved her master like no dog I’ve ever seen and he loved her. Words cannot express the depth of our grief. Sydney made a lifelong impression on all of us and will never be forgotten.

- Patricia Johnson

Sydney,

We are so impressed by your beautiful spirit. The love you showed to your family has clearly left an eternal presence on them. We are so glad you found your home and the love you always deserved. Thank you for your sweetness, for giving squirrels hell, and for showing your person endless devotion. We are so sorry to have to miss you but we know you are tenderly loving on some pups across the Rainbow Bridge.

-Alive Rescue Memphis

John Wheller

I have chosen to celebrate my wonderful Dad who passed away at the age of 98 on May 13, 2020. He loved dogs so much

-Patricia Wheller

Patricia,

The people in our life who teach us how to love give us the greatest gift of all. We are so honored by your celebrating your father with us. I hope he has the best job of all at the Rainbow Bridge and gets to coral and love on all the fluffiest pups he possibly can.

Love and gratitude,

Alive Rescue Memphis

Pancho Black

Pancho's family took him in after he was dumped in a rural region outside Memphis, and he never stopped repaying his new family with loads of love and affection for rescuing him. He loved his dog sister, Dixie, but took a while to warm up to other doggie visitors. There was no such trouble with people visitors, however! Pancho was thrilled to give affection and receive pets from the many friends that passed through his family's home. If a moving light dared to show up, though...be it a flashlight, laser pointer, or any other kinetic light, he would try tirelessly to save his family from the light by chasing it, barking at it, and biting after it! His ire for all moving points of light brought everyone who knew him so much fun and laughter! He was also a Christmas fanatic and would identify his gift under the tree before Christmas morning, then refuse to wait for the proper time to take ownership of it. We will all miss his goofy, fun-loving personality, and we will no longer feel safe from moving lights. Good night sweet, precious Pancho.

Pancho Black,

Your love for Chistmas, laser pointers, and your sister Dixie warms our hearts. We thank your family for giving you such an incredible life, and we thank you for accepting love when you were initially taught otherwise. Your affectionate personality and adorable smile grabbed the hearts of any visitors that passed your way, and we know you are unwrapping all the Christmas presents alongside your sister Dixie over the Rainbow Bridge.

So much love,

Alive Rescue Memphis

Ringo Edmaiston

Ringo was, in his guardian's words, "the best dog we've ever had." Ringo was a gorgeous brindle and the biggest boxer you've ever met. He sounded like Chewbacca when he talked, so his mom often thought they probably should have named him Chewy. But Ringo's boy was a diehard Beatles fan, so his name was destined to be Ringo instead. He was a patient big brother to his rescued dog sister, a black pitbull named Lucy, and he taught her when she was just a puppy how to welcome their family's many friends into their welcoming home. He loved "porching" with his mom and saying hello to passersby and showing off his trick of balancing a treat on his nose. Everyone on the street knew and loved Ringo; he will be so missed!

Ringo,

The question of a lifetime for a pup is simply this: “Who’s a good boy?” Ringo, let us be the ones to give you the good news. You are the good boy. Thank you for your love and devotion to your family and your willingness to help your little sister learn the ropes of human companionship. We hope you brought a chalkboard and some lecture knows because we know you can teach those pups across the Rainbow Bridge quite a few things about love and patience.

So much love,
Alive Rescue Memphis

Zeus Turrin

In memory of Zeus who was our husky neighbor for 16 years, and our dog, Holly's best buddy. Zeus was also a rescued pup, and they were kindred spirits. Even though he couldn't run up and down the fence line anymore, we are so glad that our Alive Rescue alum, Jasmine got to meet him and spend time ambling in his back yard before his time here was through.

-Lamar and Clara Bailey

Zeus,

Keep running like the wild spirit a husky is known for. We are so glad you were well loved and rescued. Huskies and their mischievous playfulness can make for challenging housemates, but it sounds to us like you were a sweet little fluffy goof. We hear that Rainbow Bridge has an excellent path to run up and down and we know you are wearing down all the grass, chasing all the butterflies and squirrels and making even more friends.

So much love,

Alive Rescue Memphis

Adam Hall

Adam Hall’s love for his family and friends (furry and two-legged) knew no bounds, and he used his creative culinary talents to benefit Alive Rescue by participating in (and winning!) AR’s Grilled Cheese Cookoff.

We cannot imagine the impact of the loss of Adam both for his close knit family and friends but also for our community. We are incredibly saddened and know that while our little village here by the river is a little bit darker without him, the Rainbow Bridge shines a little brighter and the beloved pets there have a new, incredible caretaker.

With so much love,

Alive Rescue Memphis