Candle
Ceremony Tributes
Noah's Ark "Rainbow Angels"
On March 7, 1997, 3 youths broke
into the Noah's Ark Foundation Shelter in Fairfield, IA. and bludgeoned
and murdered 17 cats and injured 6 others.
Laura Sykes, one of the Noah's Ark directors,
has provided the names and descriptions of the shelter cats who were killed
and maimed during the attack.
Following the names is a collection of tributes that were submitted in
honor of these very special Bridgekids.
Passed on to the Rainbow Bridge on 3/7/97:
Timmy - beautiful American short haired male, shelter
favorite, wonderful purrsonality.
Whitey--long time loyal sweet all white short haired male, found him deserted
in a barn living alone, been at NA 10 years +.
Puff--found when 1 week old orphaned with brother, bottle fed myself, sweet
wonderful, long time NA resident 10 years+.
Tweedy--cute female calico, ornery, bratty, loved her from a kitten.
Jackson--older, one eye, sweet affectionate cat, 10 yrs + at the ark, a
mascot.
Puddy ---all black short haired male, sort of aggressive, but had his redeeming
qualities.
Red-- orange tabby male, distinctive, independent.
Female calico kitten--very sweet, frail, getting healthier under our care,
never had a chance to get her perfect home.
Mr. Mom & Moe
Little Moe -- Moe was a wild kitten who we caught outside
and Mr. Mom an aggressive male. We put them together, both look alikes
and they immediately bonded with each other, Little Moe apparently thought
that Mr. Mom was his Mom!! Now Moe is gone and we mourn him. They were
like soulmates.
Sprouty--female cream calico, raised from kitten, very sweet, special,
independent, great loss to us. Long time NA resident 10yrs+.
Waldo--Oh, sad story, Waldo was a creme colored male, he came to us last
winter half dead, so sick and injured, I nursed him for 3 months under
intensive care and he pulled through slowly, I witnessed his transformation
from a terribly sick and suffering animal into the most grateful sweet
affectionate cat ever. His loss is very painful, he shouldn't have gone
like that, none of them should, but he was just starting to find his life.
Peanut--not killed during beatings, but died later from other causes, long
time resident.
Other cats killed: Wild black cat, Sammy, Pumpkin, Gimpy & Charlotte.
Cats injured in the attack:
Pal - had leg operated on, might have to be amputated,
at Iowa State Vet hospital.
Bambi - broken leg, recovering at shelter.
Mimi - broken leg, recovering at shelter.
Wilbur - broken legs, jaw, , recovering at shelter.
Pearl - head injuries, eye damage, ataxia, broken jaw, etc. at Iowa State
vet hospital.
Thomas - multiple injuries, hematoma on spine from bashing.
Tributes for the shelter victims:
I AM NOT THERE
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
By Robert Hepburn
All the sweet babies
in cages they will wait
some will find homes
and for others it's too late
they were never loved that much in life
not even given a chance
all those sweet babies
their eyes shine with trance
In heaven they will have a life
a lovely sweet new start
and other sweet pets that died
will love them with all their hearts!
written by Laura, age 11
Request From Rainbow Bridge
by Constance Jenkins
In Loving Memory of Isolde Jenkins
Weep not for me though I am gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
Copyright © 1992 Constance Jenkins
Reprinted by permission. All Rights Reserved.
Gentle trust; a soft purr, whiskers reaching to touch the
hand of trust and love,
they ask little; love, kindness, warmth, dignity and a soft lap to sleep
in.
Furry angels feel no more pain, no more hate.
They sleep on clouds of gossamer, and run through endless fields of sunshine,
always watched over and loved by God and St. Francis.
from Linda
to the sweeties now gone I wish I would have been there to
save you.
to the sweeties now gone you will always be in my heart.
to the sweeties now gone no one will forget the Iowa murders.
to the sweeties now gone lots of love to a better place.
to the sweeties now gone good bye to you.
we shall remember and fight for causes like you.
from Keely Lorenz
Today 18 little lives were snuffed out
Tonight 18 little stars will be lit.
Who can imagine the terror and pain
these little ones endured in vain,
Who can imagine the joy and the peace
they will find at the Bridge
until we see them again
by Sheila
A Poem For Those Who Have Lost A Dear Friend
Remember me always, but do not grieve for me too long.
I have tried always to comfort you in times of sorrow, and have made every
effort to add joy to your life. I never wanted to cause you pain.
Peace for me is certain now, and I suspect I will have eternal sleep in
the earth I have loved so well.
Please, after your period of grieving for me, make room in your heart for
another.
You are the kind of human being that should always have a friend like me
to love.
Your kind and gentle heart should not be wasted on my memory for too long.
Give your love to another.
I know your new friend will never take my place, because we had something
very special.
You loved me very much and I loved you.
My spirit will always be with you, and no matter how deep my sleep, my
grateful heart will always be purring for you.
A Cat Lover
from Peri & Purrsey..who will help guide them safely to the
Rainbow Bridge....
My heart will always weep for you that suffered so, for your
terrible loss
I would have gathered you in my arms and saved you if I had only known
Oh little ones, so many would have rushed to your side and offered you
a home
Had they seen the dark day approaching they would have protected you
But who could ever contemplate so cruel an evil fate that you suffered
through
I hope there is a place of peace to soothe your gentle souls, a rainbow
bridge to cross
We will miss you little ones, and grieve for you , oh grieve for such a
loss
by mesha
All they asked was to be Loved,
And we did.
They gave us unconditional Love
And not once did they judge us,
Never once thought we didn't deserve
The Purrs given only in Love.
The Rainbow Children know we still Love
And we would have done anything to save them
Had we only known.
I ask from them Forgiveness...
For I feel I should have known.
I never saw one sweet face but
They will be always in my heart,
And remembered.
Karen,Kitten K Boodles
A TRIBUTE TO THOSE POOR, HELPLESS KITTIES
Four legs and nine lives
is this a myth or the truth
I guess we found out the answer
when our kitties were slain by that brute
Those cats will never be able
to run and play in the sun
No one can ever adopt them
one less child will learn to love
A child's first experience
with love is usually a pet
Be it a dog, cat or rabbit
it's not one they're soon to forget
Those kittens were needlessly and ruthlessly killed
Another chance was taken away
To teach children how to love and nurture
and to allow growing kittens to love and play
When you think about this tragedy
and those poor, helpless kittens come to mind
Think also of those families with kids
that the kittens left behind
by Danielle P. Catoe, March 14, 1997
Precious beauties only wanted love, nothing that they themselves
would not give.
They reached out with sweetness, gentle as the fields they now play in.
To our dear kitties gone on, I wish happiness now where no one can ever
betray them again.
May the hands that caress you be as kind as the noses you nuzzle them with,
and may the chases be spectacular in that great place of playing.
For the rest of my days, I'll remember the wave of energy, and then the
wave of cats, that would flow over me as I came into the house.
It was you, who taught me what it sounded like to have a room full of cats
purring in a sunbeam.
It was you, who showed me what it feels like to share a couch with over
thirteen cats, all calm and loving.
It was you, who reminded me of what true love is, given with hope of love
in return, but with only innocent expectations.
You will be remembered fondly, on this earth, for many years to come.
Until you see us all across the rainbow bridge.
For the Noah's Ark Foundation's lost babies, Friday, March 7, 1997.
Siamese
Their tiny faces, looking to us for love,
Now sleep in peace on pillows of clouds above.
They don't remember
what happened there that night.
Their pain was washed away in a flood of light.
Together now, they're free to run and play
Until, at the bridge, one day, someone will say
"Please come with me and be my pet, you'll never be alone.
You were so brave, it's been so long
Let me give you a home."
Lynn Goodmansen
All those loving kitties
Never even bit an arm
It would take an awful sadist
to do them so much harm
To break into a shelter
to be so terribly mean
I think whoever did it
must have been some awful being.
Those kitties were just sound asleep.
They didn't even make a peep.
Those poor kitties were lost and alone
they just came to the shelter awaiting a home!
I hope in heaven that they will find homes
I hope they'll never be alone!
In loving hand they will be
leaping happily from tree to tree!
Laura, age 11