Rainbow Bridge

A place for heart.

From someone you love

We often focus on things we do wrong. But what would the animal say to you if they had a chance? 

Is it that you forgot to buy them an extra bag of treats - or that you built a whole safe world for them where they were able to show their full character?

A couple of kind words...

Rainbow bridge is a heartwarming place where our loved ones enjoy health, sun and paradise while waiting to meet us again.

It can be anywhere for you - a real physical place, or a place in your mind to think about your loved ones.

Rainbow bridge is a beautiful way to think about an animal after they leave.

We don't want to forget - we want to remember which personalities they had, which treats they loved and how they changed us.

Anticipatory grief

Anticipatory grief is the state of stress experienced in response to a loved one’s illness or age, when loss is expected in the future. There are ways to help - mainly grounding yourself to the present, self-care and making memories. 

Feel free to use a linked resource to help with distress. Remember that not all will work for you and it might take some time to find the right ones.

Healthline - grounding techniques

The goal of grief is to find new ways we connect to those we love

We don't want to forget. We need something to think about them. We need something to smile. Something that would guide us in grief and bring all beautiful memories together. 

Memory Corners & Keepsakes

  • Decorate a window or order a special Book Shelf
  • Put a nice cloth
  • Print and frame photos
  • Get a vase and put live flowers or sprays 
  • Frame paw prints
  • Put a memory journal/scrapbook
  • Order a memory box with their picture and collect all meaningful pieces
  • Get their favourite toys or hideouts
  • Make or order artwork 
  • Order a custom miniature toy

Here I have Wooden portraits and memory boxes from HoneyThreePawsHides, Portraits from the Hamsty Store, Custom Hamster toy from PB Little Craft Shop (vegan wool available), Stickers from Hambajoues.

Losing your sweetheart

Not everyone understands animal loss. Research shows that it's as severe as losing a human family member. The severity of grief doesn't depend on a species, it depends on a bond you had. Make sure to protect your mental health from unwanted comments and remember that you may feel very depressed - not because you're weird, but because you loved them so much.

During intense emotions... or anytime

I know it's expected from me as an artist to mention this. But art therapy isn't just for artists - it's for everyone. It has many benefits, and most importantly - it gives you a state of flow when you forget about pain, even if just for a moment.

When Candy passed away, we were destroyed. It was very unexpected and traumatic, especially on his last day. I couldn't manage so many overwhelming thoughts at once and decided to get a doodle book with colouring pens. It gave me time to process intense emotions in the first couple of days. 

Feel free to check the resources: More information & Exercises for grief, Assemblage Art from iPhone & Ipad boxes (YouTube), Zentangle Art website & ideas.

A tribute

There are many ways to honour those you love. Many of us find comfort in helping others so that they live through all the good things we do. In the end - the whole Hamsty project is just a tribute to Candy!

Help someone online - many Reddit groups, Facebook groups and Instagram pages are looking for support

Advocate online - make a post about enclosure sizes for small animals

Sign a petition that helps animals

Donate money to a rescue or a charity

Volunteer at a local shelter. 

Consider adoption if you decide to give a home to an animal. There are many animals who lost theirs for no fault of their own. 

For rescuers, fosterers , advocates... and people who care

Not all animals end up having lovely homes. Sometimes we love those we rescued, or those who couldn't be rescued. Perhaps, the sole idea that they had someone who cared is already enough?

I created this world because I wanted to see Candy enjoying his treats and running in infinite fields. He is the face of Hamsty Lab and he keeps living in my art and all the good we do.

Rainbow Bridge Shop

Getting help & other resources

Check more resources from Blue Cross and RSPCA. Remember, there are no "correct" ways to act or grieve.

Blue Cross Helpline (8:30am-8:30pm)RSPCA toolkit (self-help)
Podcast about loss by Unapologetically Sensitive