TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A local dog owner’s idea to build a pet memorial bridge for her sick dog was put into action, even after her dog’s recovery.

Cheyenne Tillery’s 13-year-old dog, Trina, has been suffering from cancer. Recently a complication with her medications had Tillery worried that Trina was not going to survive. 

“It’s like losing a best friend,” Tillery said. “It’s a kind of feeling that you can’t really describe but it’s terrible. And it’s still scary every day; she still has bad days.” 

At the time, the only thing that could bring Tillery comfort was finding a place to memorialize her dog.

“When she first started getting sick, there was a rainbow bridge in North Carolina and they fill it up with collars and it’s for all the dog owners to remember them by,” Tillery said. “And when the big flood happened it took out the bridge, so I was like ‘well what do I do now?’”  

After hearing about several new bridges being built at Troy University’s Arboretum, Tillery requested one to be designated as a rainbow bridge for Trina, who at the time was in bad condition. But unexpectedly, Trina recovered from her complications and the bridge went unused for a while.

“She got really sick here recently and when I tell you they came out here with paint brushes and started painting,” TIllery said. “And when we got out of the vet they sent me a picture and I was like ‘I don’t have to put her down’ and they said ‘well, the bridge is done!’”

The bridge didn’t go unused for long though. Clark Harris, the Arboretum volunteer coordinator behind the bridges’ construction, has his own connection to the rainbow bridge.  

“We had a wonderful dog, Cyrilla, that was a rescue that lived with us for 15 years,” Harris said. “The other dog that I’ve memorialized was our dog Jet and it’s just nice to think that they’re memorialized in a place that they got to spend some time doing something they thoroughly enjoyed.” 

Thankfully, Tillery has not had to use the rainbow bridge yet, but she says she is glad it will be here whenever that day comes.  

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“I don’t want to say a dog is better than a person but that’s your best friend, you know,” Tillery said. “They’re never mad at you no matter what you do. So, I’m glad I have the option to have a rainbow bridge.” 

The Arboretum is currently in the process of clearing out the surrounding meadow area and planting flowers to beautify the space around the bridge.