Oh my, Carol, I know this was hard for you and your husband. Chief is a mighty handsome dog, and he will be sorely missed. A friend gave me a copy of "The Rainbow Bridge" when my son and I had to release our kitty Tank, a 26-1/2 lb fella who had shrunk to 11 lbs, thanks to renal failure. That was October 2002, and I still miss him like it was yesterday. The poem is a comfort, though, and I hope and pray that I'll see my big kitty once again. Thank you for sharing, and may God bless you both and Chief, too.
I am so very, very sorry for your loss. Reading your poem and seeing your picture of Chief reminded me of the beloved fur babies I've lost in my life and hope to see again when my time comes. Thank you for sharing. Hugs.