
This is a close up of the wind chime
Angel’s Rest is the graves of well-loved animals who have been placed here at Best Friends with love and respect. And as you will find out, not all of the animals placed here at their life’s end were pets. But they were placed here with love, respect and remembrance. I had a talk with Lenny, or “Uncle Lenny” as he is known around here. They are placed in an egg-shaped area called “Angel’s Nest.” He was nice enough to explain the way they do things here for the “Feathered Friends” that have passed on and their families who would like to honor and remember them. I need to explain here that I went to Angel’s Rest at about 7:30 this morning and got about five feet into the gates before I fell apart. It was, what you might term as “major heavy-osity.” The “Feel” of the place when you walk in will blow you back. I couldn’t put my finger on it as it is really a beautiful place. It is as if all of the emotions felt by the families of their pets were still wafting in the wind. Consequently, after about ten minutes, I looked like this:
Normally, I’m not a huge emotional wreck. I see too much and have experienced too much at my job where if you react like this, you’re in trouble. But I simply cannot explain the HUGE emotions I felt this morning. I’m fairly logical, but this totally escaped me. Due to the fact that I couldn’t even take a decent photo, I came back later in the day and I ran into Lenny. Here is a video I shot and put together that has Uncle Lenny explain what “Angel’s Nest” is all about:
I know you will understand.
September 24, 2010 at 12:08 am
Patricia…you really should be a journalist full time! This would make a terrific documentary…or even a segment on a program such as CBS Sunday Morning News.
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September 24, 2010 at 6:15 am
You’re very kind Irena. It was just me, a borrowed truck, a camera and of course, Lenny. He did the work; I just had to hold it together.
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September 24, 2010 at 1:12 am
That was just beautiful, Thank you.
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September 24, 2010 at 6:13 am
Thank you Julie. I think the piece speaks for itself with very few words.
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September 24, 2010 at 11:43 am
This was incredible to watch, so moving, seriously started to tear up as the music started. We need places and people like Angels Nest and Lenny to help us when that times comes to release our feathered loved ones. Thank you for sharing this.
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September 24, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Wow. That just made me hold my guys a little closer. And absolutely lose it at the same time. Incredible.
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September 24, 2010 at 9:55 pm
You’ve discovered some of the magic at Best Friends. š I knew you would. Everyone I’ve talked to that loves animals has the same reaction when they go there. Unexplainable, but it fills you with wonder.
I have a stone from their monthly blessing this past Feb, when I was out there volunteering with the parrots. I went to pay tribute to my wonderful dog I lost last year and wasn’t disappointed – it was beautiful. I took the stone with me and placed in on her memorial I have here at home.
Thank you for this post and video… it was wonderful to be reminded of how special Angels Rest is.
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September 25, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Patricia,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful report from Best Friends. What a wonderful loving place. San Francisco area needs a wonderful rescue like it. Your posts always have “special ” reading time, not mixed in with the rest of the stuff. Thank you!
Ann
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September 25, 2010 at 4:43 pm
The more I see of Best Friends the more impressed I am with their work. I am so grateful to you for giving us this view into the workings of this wonderful haven. You are doing a terrific job. Thank you.
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