How The Rainbow Bridge Project Started

In Loving Memory of Bella

Bella was the heart and the beginning of it all. I welcomed Bella into my life in 2010 when I was just a child. She was my very first dog, my loyal companion and the biggest part of my growing years. Through laughter, tears, and countless adventures, she was always by my side. Bella wasn’t just my sidekick, she was my best friend and one of the greatest blessings I could ever have. She walked beside me through every chapter of life, even getting to see me marry my childhood sweetheart and best friend, Chester. Bella also shared a special bond with my grandpa, who passed away in April of 2023. The two of them were inseparable. Grandpa loved to spoil her with table scraps and endless belly rubs. She had a way of making everyone smile, a true people dog with a heart full of love. Bella lived a long, beautiful life of 13 wonderful years before she gained her wings on August 4th, 2023, not long after Grandpa’s passing. Losing her taught me the depth of love and the profound ache of grief. Through that loss, I came to understand how powerful and healing a photograph can be , and how it can preserve love, memory, and presence even after goodbye. In Bella’s honor, I founded The Rainbow Bridge Project, a heartfelt mission to provide free end-of-life photography for beloved pets. Through this work, I hope to bring others the same comfort and peace that I’ve found, knowing that love never truly fades, and memories can live on forever through the images we hold close. Bella will always be remembered, and through her, countless others will be, too. I am forever grateful to be part of something so beautifully bittersweet.

With love and blessings,

Laney Burton

Founder, The Rainbow Bridge Project