In the circle of life, we all must deal with the Full Circle, birth, life and death. We, at Full Moon Farm honor all God's Creations, with our specialty being the abused and refused Wolf Dog. We honor these special beings while they are here, and, after they have gone on to the hereafter.
We dedicate this page to all our canine friends that have transitioned from their Earthwalk. Some we have known personally, like “Unk”. “Unk” touched all of us with his love and gentle spirit. A surgical emergency befell our friend. Intussusception's, or, the telescoping of the intestines into themselves, required two operations. Due to unexpected complications, a third emergency surgery became necessary. “Unk” handled the ordeal like a real trooper. The third however, proved to be too much for him and he chose to go to the “Other Side”. We miss him.
Friends of Full Moon Farm have established “Unks Fund”; as a memorial to our friend, to help with the expenses of his care, and, veterinary emergencies that may arise in the future.
If you would like to contribute to Unk's Fund, please see our "Make a Donation" page and click on "make a donation."
If you would like further information on this wonderful animal or intussusceptions, please e-mail Nancy@fullmoonfarm.org and I will be happy to share with you.
We will all meet again at the rainbow bridge.
MAGIC DOG
for Nancy and Gussie
The eyes, they say, are windows to the soul
but hers were tolerant mirrors of ours.
She had no need of windows
for she wore her soul on the outside,
pure and shining and bright.
Her path was her chosen human’s path.
They walked in each other’s footprints,
though she would sometimes dance off the path
to touch people they met on the way -
to lighten a heart here,
to gift a smile there,
to dry a tear,
to lend comfort through the touch of her soft coat.
An elfen steed from a rich mediaeval tapestry,
a fabled princess of rare beauty,
a snowdragon curled snugly around its treasure.
A creature of enchantment.
She was a magic dog
On loan from faerie, sent to teach through joy.
She danced her lessons,
she leapt her instructions,
she spun and whirled
and her students learned through wonder.
Fey creature she was,
her body and movements her magic wand.
A gentle nose touch here,
a soft look there,
a hearty shove from her husky paws
for a slow apprentice.
And when she deemed her lessons done
She turned to leave.
We all saw her
prance and jump and leap and twist
and run and run and run some more…
And oh how we delighted
in the beauty of her movement.
But oh how hard it was
to see her go.
We are lost without our favorite teacher.
And her companion walks alone
and wonders how one set of footsteps
can sound so much louder than two.
But we know that she’ll return,
And that thought is a talisman
and a balm for her companion’s heart.
And for the rest of us
the memory of her is a crystal ball.
Peer inside
and we can watch her dance a laugh,
a reminder just for us.
And we can smile in delight and wonder
that we were touched
by a magic dog.
-Tam Nesbit
Fang
Fang was rescued by 2 caring people who had seen him abused by "neighbors". He spent several years in a "good home", until divorce came. After being flipped back and forth between parties, he was placed into the Sanctuary system at EagleWolf Foundation in TN in the fall of 2001. When EWF was dissolving, Fang found a permanent home at Full Moon Farm in January of 2003. Classic of his abused upbringing, Fang suffered some physical ailments, as well as emotional problems. If Fang liked you, he loved you, but if he didn't like you, he was very aggressive. During his time here, he bonded with several of the staff and volunteers, so his life was rich. When cancer of the mouth reared its ugly head, Fang was stoic and loving to his caretaker, Tam, and still very much "in love" with Autumn. When the time came to call Dr. Beverly from Animals R Us, he passed peacefully in Tam's arms. Ishkarah, who wrote the following Memorial, is one of FMF's longest standing volunteers.
Memorial for Fang by Ishkarah
It was a brisk Autumn night when out of the silence it came,
The voices of your ancestors traveling over space and time.
It was at this very moment my heart trembled as if it would burst
As I knew their howls were calling you home.
Despite being an elder wolf-dog your time on Earth was too short.
While you were here you blessed those you deemed worthy of your attention
With love, humor, and a sense of play.
Your eyes spoke of the pain you endured in broken homes
The forgiveness of humans despite having been mistreated
The faith you had in Creator that you would find sanctuary
The healing that everyone can feel and wisdom to find it.
Although you are gone from this realm your Spirit continues on.
Memories of your time on Earth will not be forgotten.
Until we meet at the bridge know you are loved and you will be deeply missed.
The Bridge
Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and
gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined.
All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had
never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who
had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was
going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung
low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been
there for while, knew what his story was right away,
for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with
no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals
waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth
and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The
Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew
he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he
would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was
barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him
that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with
their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.
With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards
the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals
like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but
rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at
the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place
among them, watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what
he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been
there for a while to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to
rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur
graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and
passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he
left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his
love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."
The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked,
"So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive
his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.
Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among
the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden
light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they
were in the prime of life.
"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of
animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as
the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat
on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored
animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They
all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were
those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross
when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those
who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives,
they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are
allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on
earth across The Rainbow Bridge."
Author Unknown...
"My New Journey"
Goodbye is never easy
the timing is "Never" right.
My journey here is over,
but a new one's taking flight.
You have never ever failed me
and this I know is true.
I never knew what love was
until I came to you.
Your hearts will soon be healing
please know that I am free.
I'm sharing my love in heaven
the way you shared yours with me.
So dry your tears and smile for me
Cause this is not the end.
I'm howling and playing joyfully
until we all meet again.
- Melissa Greene