She recalls the immediate comfort she felt in reading those words, a sense of peace that moved through her. “Now, I know there are some people who do not believe that,” she continued immediately flashing back to a memory she had of sitting in a church pew one Sunday morning. “The Pastor told everyone in the congregation that day that pets didn’t go to Heaven.” Becky said she respectfully chooses to disagree noting, “I never went back to that church.” It’s that promise of hope – the knowing that one day she will be reunited with those she’s loved and cared for that allowed Becky to open her heart to several other fur-babies along the way, one of which was named Harley Bella. Having served on the Marshall County Rescue Squad and on several local fire departments, Becky found a dog owned by an Illinois state trooper she thought would make an excellent candidate serving as a cadaver dog. Half German Shepherd, half wolf - Harley Bella was a force to be reckoned with. After having made it to her new home she decided she had other things in mind such as relaxing and enjoying a simple life rather than being a working dog. With a great love of the outdoors, Harley Bella spent her days soaking up the sun’s rays and exploring outside, living life to the fullest until she was around 10 years of age. “I remember coming home one day and I heard her cough. I knew in my heart something was not right,” Becky recalls. A short time later, the vet diagnosed Harley Bella with cancer that had spread throughout much of her body. “I could actually see tears when she would cough. I knew, once again, I could not in good conscious allow her to suffer and one day, she just gave me ‘the look’,” Becky said. Anyone who has owned a pet in the final phases of life is likely to know exactly what Becky is referring to. She said she knew another difficult decision was on the horizon and it would soon be time to send another beloved family member to cross the Rainbow Bridge. “It’s so hard having to say goodbye, but knowing they will be 40 APRIL 2024 | INTHEVUE.COM there waiting for me, that’s what keeps me going. I do not have any children of my own, so these animals, they are my children,” Becky said. It was last year when Becky stumbled across an article about a Rainbow Bridge that had been built as part of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in North Carolina. The vibrantly painted bridge had been draped with hundreds of pet collars and dog toys, left lovingly by owners wishing for the memory of their beloved pet to be memorialized and honored at this symbolic site. “I remember seeing that and thinking – hey, why can’t I do that same thing here in Marshall County?” Becky said she immediately went to work putting a team together of those who she knew to be passionate about animals - one of those people being Benton Mayor Rita Dotson. Within a week, the perfect spot had been identified in HH Lovett Park with a team of community volunteers ready to go to work. “Keaton and Amy Beard have committed to actually building it for us, we just need to raise the money for the lumber and a few other materials,” Becky said. She created a Facebook group for the team, the Benton Kentucky Rainbow Bridge project to help get the word out. Several community partners have already stepped up and volunteered to assist. Becky said 3A Composites in Benton has generously donated the Alucobond for signage that acknowledges project sponsors and the owners of Tri- State Outdoor Solutions & Market have offered to provide landscaping materials. The project will feature another special tribute to a beloved community pet – the Benton Dog. This stray dog captured the hearts of Benton city residents many years ago and made a name for himself on social media. Unwilling to be tamed, he sought to spend his life roaming free, living life to the fullest while enjoying free meals, love, and attention from households and businesses all around the city. “It’s a testament to how much joy
