Tinker
Most of you may not have met or even known about Tinker. Tinker was a little elderly Cocker Spaniel abandoned in the parking lot of a shelter up in Tennessee this past month.  Her little body showed she had lived a life of cruelty & neglect.  Despite immediate care & urgent medical intervention, she only lived a short week after one of our wonderful friends & fellow rescuer adopted her.  Thank you Leslie for giving her that week where she finally knew love & care. For sure she touched all our hearts in the Rescue family from all across the country, and  we will never forget little Tinker or her story. Rest in peace sweet little angel till we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. ♥♥♥ 
“Hello to all of Tinker’s angels”
It is with more sadness and tears that words can ever describe that precious Tinker has gone peacefully to the Rainbow Bridge. Her pain and suffering became too much for her to take as she began the early stages of cardiac and respiratory distress. On her big, fluffy bed and blanket, with myself and my husband cradling her precious head and me kissing her face while telling her over and over how much we loved her…she went to sleep, with the aid of my vet, in complete peace. It was if I felt her little soul go with the angels.
Tinker’s little body just could not recover from the horrible cruelty and neglect that she endured all of her life. She experienced more love, happiness and kindness in her last few days than she ever experienced in her entire cruel life. Tinker slept in the bed with us covered up with a baby blanket; ate wonderful mushy food and homemade meals; went on short strolls with the wind in her face; stretched out in the sun, rode in the car; met lots of people that greeted her with soft strokes on her head; watched movies on the couch with us and got non-stop hugs, belly rubs and kisses. Her eye that she could see out of was bright with excitement and contentment as she cherished every kindness bestowed on her. She knew she was loved and she gave unconditional love back with her soft kisses and nudging you with her nose. She always wanted to have her head in your lap and she would get as close to you as she possibly could. She wanted to take in every bit of love that she could feel from us.
Our hearts are broken, but with the pain…..we are so blessed to have had precious Tinker in our lives. Even knowing the outcome, I would do every second of it all over again. I’m so thankful that Tinker entered our lives and she will live in our hearts forever. I believe that Tinker was a little doggie angel that came into this world to offer unconditional love and bring kind animal lovers all over the country together. I know she is here with us and even though I cannot stop my tears from rolling right now, I am at peace knowing that she took every bit of our love with her and we will be with her again someday.
Please say a little prayer for Tinker. She no longer suffers, but is happy, healthy and sharing her love at the Rainbow Bridge. And…if you get really quiet and look at the last picture taken of Tinker (the one titled “Tinker looking up”) you may just feel those soft kisses and that little nose nudging you with her unconditional love….as you ALL were her angels!
God Bless you all for loving her.
In love for Tinker,
Leslie Morrison
One by One, they pass by my cage,
They say, “Too worn, too broken, too old of age.
Way past his time, he can’t run and play.”
Then they shake their heads and go on their way.
A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn’t belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can’t justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.
When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw through the gray, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.
I may be with you for a week, or for years
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.
And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.
**Special thanks to everyone that has sent in memorials for Tinker towards building our Senior Dog Home, Shadow’s Rest.
