The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum Alley has a new installation, Hattiesburg’s Rainbow Bridge. “Our Rainbow Bridge is a place to honor and recognize our four-legged family members,” said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which oversees and manages the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum alley. People are encouraged to attach their pets’ tags and collars to the rail of the bridge to memorialize them and remember their love.
The idea for Hattiesburg’s Rainbow Bridge came from a bridge in Lake Lure, North Carolina where Artist Amy Wald made and painted the bridge after losing her dogs Molly and Barkley. She attached their collars and encouraged others to do so in remembrance of their four-legged friends. After learning about the Lake Lure bridge, Vicki Taylor, volunteer for the Pocket Alley contacted local artist Lissa Ortego about creating a similar concept for the Alley.
John Harrington, owner of JRH Custom Woodwork, constructed the bridge. Lissa Ortego painted and designed the bridge, inviting young artists from her after school art program at Bristles Art Studio to add images of remembrance to the bridge, resulting in a colorful display of love.
The donors who made the Rainbow Bridge a reality are Dr. Sharon & Carey Varnado; Rick and Vicki Taylor; Judie H. Pruett and Lissa Ortego. Sharon Varnado is a retired veterinarian and Carey is a local attorney who has practiced for many years in the Hattiesburg area. A bronze sculpture of their dog, Andy stands watch over Hattiesburg’s See Spot Run Dog Park on W. Pine Street. Both of Rick and Vicki Taylor’s dogs Jake and Ollie, who they credit with “raising their boys”, are memorialized on the Rainbow Bridge with their collars. Judie Pruett is a foster mom of both dogs and cats. She is a volunteer with the Southern Pines Animal Shelter and is affectionately ‘called’ “Nanie Biscuits” by the dogs in her family.
