A field guide to one extremely good, rock-hoarding, stick-obsessed boy.
Sunny passed away peacefully, held in the arms of his loving parents. He brought immense light and joy to his family, and he will be forever missed.
Give Sunny a stick, a frisbee, or just a general direction to throw something, and the rest took care of itself. He was, by unanimous family consensus, a natural: the kind of dog who made fetch look like his own idea in the first place.
Squirrels, rabbits, the occasional suspicious leaf: nothing crossed the yard without Sunny noticing first. He took the job seriously, and somehow still had energy left over to guard a favorite rock or two.
Loud noises were the one thing he couldn't shake off. When they came, there was exactly one fix: get as close to his people as physically possible, close enough, more than once, to end up with his head resting on a shoulder.
Tell Sunny he couldn't have something and he might look briefly, dramatically wounded about it. It never lasted. Try it below.
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…