TORRINGTON, Conn. — Anyone who has a furry family member knows it’s never easy to lose a pet. The pain for some can feel like losing a human loved one.
Pet owners in one Litchfield County community, who have experienced this grief themselves, have come together to offer a public space of healing.
It’s said that our pets "cross the rainbow bridge," when it’s their time to go. In Torrington, the comforting thought has evolved into a physical memorial for grieving pet-owners in communities all over the state to come and honor the memory of their beloved animals.
“It’s really part of my healing journey as well as a way for me to honor my girl in my heart,” shared Torrington resident Karen Rakyta-Bozak, the leader of the "Over the Rainbow Bridge" project.
"What prompted me to bring this project was the loss of my dog, Lilly, who was 12 and a half years old, and she died unexpectedly in my arms in bed one night,” said Rakyta-Bozak. “I haven’t gotten over her loss yet and it’s been two and a half years.”
Not long after the passing of Lilly, Rakyta-Bozak took a trip to North Carolina and discovered a physical rainbow bridge, decorated with all kinds of pet memorabilia. She felt inspired to construct a similar kind of memorial back home.
“I thought I need to do this, I want to do this in Torrington,” said Rakyta-Bozak.
She then quickly connected with town leaders, like Doug Benedetto, who’s on the city board of Public Safety.
“It hit home when I lost my dogs, so it was an idea I thought would be fantastic for the city of Torrington,” said Benedetto.
As a city employee, he’s connected with folks from all walks of life. He thought of reaching out to some scouts in need of an Eagle Scout project to get involved.
“When Doug came up to me and asked me if we were interested in in doing this, we jumped on 100%,” said Mark Jacquemin, troop leader of Troop 3 in Torrington. “I am also a dog lover and my eagle scouts are too."
Scoville Zielinski is a Life Scout of Troop 3 in Torrington, working toward his Eagle Scout. He said he wanted to choose something meaningful to earn his Eagle Scout title, and the rainbow bridge was a perfect fit.
“July 2nd mark[ed] the two-year date since I lost the dog that I’ve grown up with, that my mom got right before I was born. Losing her was very hard for me, I still tear up thinking about her. Trying to keep them back right now actually.”
Another Troop 3 Life Scout, Anthony Uliano, had a similar motivation. He and Zielinski divided up the work with the help of their troop leader, putting in countless hours to quickly get both the space at the John Toro Sports Complex ready and the bridge itself built.
“Me and Mr. Jacquemin have been working on making the trail, laying out all the trees; we’re going to be lying down some weed cloth and wood chips,” he said, as work was in the early stages.
To make this an Eagle Scout project meant not only constructing the bridge itself but also the adjoining path and other added memorial elements, like decorative paw-prints. Scouts also must raise the funds themselves.
“The paw prints are part of a fundraiser that we’re doing so they can take it home, paint it, bring it back and we’ll place it in the paw print garden,” said Rakyta-Bozak.
The scouts have raised thousands of dollars through paw print sales, which are priced at $50 each. All proceeds directly fund the rainbow bridge project.
In just a few short weeks, they were able to transform the space into a completed path. Together the crew laid down the wood chips, cleared the area where the paw prints will be laid and ultimately constructed the main event: the rainbow bridge.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Rakyta-Bozak.
“It’s a short walk but it’s a meaningful walk,” said Jacquemin.
Other plans are in the works for the future of this space, including decorative boards that will honor local and state police K9s.
“Bring your pet, let your pet walk this because someday your pet will be over that rainbow bridge,” said Benedetto.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the John Toro Sports Complex, just past the Dog Park. Those behind this project invite the public, including those beyond the Torrington area to check out the space.
“When the time comes that they have to face losing their pet, they know that they have a beautiful area to visit and to memorialize their beloved family member, their fur baby,” said Rakyta-Bozak.
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Kaelee Collins is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at kcollins@fox61.com. Follow her on X, and Instagram.
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