Grief Support

I wanted my cherished German Shepherd companion, Clyde, the very heart and inspiration behind The Clyde Fund, to live forever. His final days were difficult, yet he met them with the same courage he always had, maintaining his spirit even as we said our goodbyes.

The departure of a beloved animal companion—a comrade, friend, and soul partner—from this life, is a profound experience.

I believe every animal finds their “Special Human”. In our constantly changing world, they offer us a consistent and unwavering source of love.

Always present, faithfully by our side, regardless of circumstances.

Animals offer their love so freely that we easily form deep bonds, sometimes overlooking the brevity of their time with us.

They forge an unbreakable Divine human–animal connection. Anyone who has loved a furry, feathery, or scaley faced companion understands this deeply.

Their love is profound and quietly powerful. They often shield us from the extent of their struggles to remain with us a little longer.

The questions linger:

• “Did I make the right decision?”
• “Did she experience pain?”
• “Was he afraid… did he hurt?”
• “Could I have done more?”

My grief for Clyde felt endless. These questions haunted me until a designer for The Clyde Fund created a beautiful Clyde Tribute,  an image so full of life and love that it reached right through my sorrow.

Seeing him there on his fluffy cloud, with that big Clyde smile, so handsome, so happy…reminded me that he was not truly gone.

Freed from the limitations of his aging body, his spirit had expanded to the stars. I could feel him flying with heavenly animal angels, wrapped in the loving arms of Eternity. It was difficult to carry on the vision for The Clyde Fund without him physically by my side. We had dreamed of building a sanctuary for homeless senior animals.

How it All Started

Clyde was my fifth German Shepherd rescue, adopted in 2004, even though my beloved female GS, Shana, had been with me for many years. I had a strong feeling someone out there needed us, and when I saw his picture in a magazine of homeless dogs, I knew he was the one. The shelter said he was a favorite, but no one had adopted him.

Having experienced abandonment and shelter life, Clyde was initially intimidated by Shana’s strong presence. He avoided our bedroom, sleeping under my grand piano instead. One morning, as I played the piano and sang to him, he threw back his head and howled. Shana joined in, and that moment broke the ice; they became best friends. It was heaven. A year later, Shana crossed the Rainbow Bridge and Clyde continued to sing, developing a fondness for blues scales and Bach.

As a musician, I was inspired to write original songs for people, incorporating samples of Clyde’s voice. In 2009, our dream evolved into a plan: build Clyde’s Sanctuary with a charitable foundation, The Clyde Fund, funded by our musical creations. I found land in Lumby, B.C., Canada, that resonated with me as the perfect place. 

Leaving Everything Behind

A year later I closed my music business to focus on The Clyde Fund. I put all I had into the projects. Overnight, everything changed. Clyde’s health deteriorated. He lost his voice and the use of his back legs. We had to leave our home. I sold what I could, entrusted cherished possessions to friends, and watched the rest disappear. But we refused to give up.

We packed our car, the ‘ClydeMobile’ with our feline family member, Princie (The Prince), and headed across America from our home in Connecticut to the land in Lumby. 

A New Beginning in Lumby

We lived near Lumby at the Cherryville Lodge in Cherryville, BC for 4 months, “woofing” – exchanging work for room and board – experiencing countless adventures. However, an intuitive pull back to America prompted us to depart. 

On the Road for Clyde’s Mission

We returned to America and drove around the western states, putting up an information table, with Clyde and Princie welcoming those interested in learning about The Clyde Fund mission.

This lasted a few weeks, when a woman sharing our vision offered us a place to live. She promised introductions to potential supporters for Clyde’s Sanctuary, a dream we desperately needed. Exhausted and broke, this seemed perfect.

A Sudden Change of Direction

Yet, my intuition urged me to leave and set up our table one more time in a different state. Packing quickly, I planned to return in a few days. Unexpectedly, strangers told me to return east to a different place. This was a turn of events I never anticipated.

The Final Journey

I left the next day. Through all the changes, the travelling, packing and unpacking, Clyde possessed a quiet strength, never seeking attention. He displayed incredible bravery despite numerous physical challenges, leaving me in awe of his spirit. 

Upon reaching our new destination, an undeniable sense of belonging settled in. A wave of relief washed over me, the thought echoing, “We’re finally home for now, let’s all rest.” 

Clyde appeared to be recovering, but tragically passed away just three days after our arrival.

Guided by a Greater Purpose

In hindsight, the chance encounters with strangers provided a profound understanding:

“It was his mission to guide you home.”

He fulfilled that purpose, bringing me to this place where I have lived for the past fourteen years, now continuing the work we began together.

Our complete story can be found at www.TheClydeFund.org.

Love Never Dies

The journey of Celebrating AnimaLove began with one soul, Clyde, and a love that refused to fade.

After Clyde’s peaceful passing Somewhere Over Rainbow Bridge, I often found myself drawn to his Tribute Picture.

In those quiet moments, when grief would visit and memories would stir, love would rise. Comfort would come.

I remembered something eternal:

Love never dies. It grows. It expands. It moves with us… and beyond us… into realms unseen, where new adventures await.

I believe that Clyde, and all the beloved animals who touched my life with their love, wait for me there. Just as your companions, your Heavenly Beloveds, wait for you.

Clyde wasn’t just a companion, he was my hero.
In our time together on Earth, he inspired me with his quiet strength, his loyalty, and the ever present love only an animal can give.

He carried me through hard days and celebrated with me in the good. He was my light, my steady heart, my gentle guide.

Now, in his passing, he has become something even greater, My Heavenly Hero.

Though I can no longer hold him, I still feel his presence. His love surrounds me softly, invisibly warming the sacred place within my heart that only our beloved animal companions know how to touch.

Clyde and I in 2009

It was over ten years ago when the vision for Celebrating AnimaLove first took root, born from the love I held for Clyde and all the beloved companions who graced my life with their presence.

Though life called me to care for family and other responsibilities, the heartbeat of this mission never faded.

The love I felt while dreaming up Celebrating AnimaLove, and the purpose behind The Clyde Fund, remained close: ever-present, quietly growing, patiently waiting.

Because Love Never Dies. What we cherish stays with us eternally, faithfully, beautifully.

And now, the time has come to complete the journey that Clyde and I began so long ago.

We hope that through our Tribute Pictures and Personalized Messages from Somewhere Over Rainbow Bridge, you too will be inspired to celebrate your Heavenly Beloved with love, joy, and gentle remembrance.

“The love we share with our animals does not vanish. It is light. It is legacy.”

Founder and heart behind Celebrating AnimaLove,
Cynthia Anne Van Savage