J ust this side of heaven is a place called
Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that
has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are
meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are
restored to health and vigor.

Those who were hurt or maimed are made
whole and strong again, just as we
remember them in our dreams of days and
times gone by. The animals are happy and
content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them,
who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day
comes when one suddenly stops and looks
into the distance. His bright eyes are intent.
His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins
to run from the group, flying over the green
grass, his legs carrying him faster and
faster. You have been spotted, and when
you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to
be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face;
your hands again caress the beloved
head, and you look once more into the
trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone
from your life but never absent from
your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  U nlike most days at Rainbow Bridge,
this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a
swamp and as dismal as could be imagined.
All of the recent arrivals had no idea what
to think, as they had never experienced a
day like this before. But the animals who
had been waiting for their beloved people
knew exactly what was going on and
started to gather at the pathway leading
to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came
into view, head hung low and tail dragging.
The other animals, the ones who had been
there for a while, knew what his story was
right away, for they had seen this happen
far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great
emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or
illness. Unlike all of the other animals
waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not
been restored to youth and made healthy
and vigorous again. As he walked toward
The Bridge, he watched all of the other
animals watching him. He knew he was out
of place here and the sooner he could cross
over, the happier he would be.

But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his
way was barred by the appearance of an
Angel who apologized, but told him that he
would not be able to pass. Only those
animals who were with their people could
pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place
else to turn to, the elderly animal turned
towards the fields before The Bridge and
saw a group of other animals like himself,
also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing,
but rather simply lying on the green grass,
forlornly staring out at the pathway leading
to The Bridge. And so, he took his place
among them, watching the pathway
and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge
didn't understand what he had just
witnessed and asked one of the animals
that had been there for a while to explain
it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue.
He was turned in to rescue just as you see
him now, an older animal with his fur graying
and his eyes clouding. He never made it out
of rescue and passed on with only the love
of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his
earthly existence. Because he had no family
to give his love to, he has no one to escort
him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a
minute and then asked, "So what will
happen now?" As he was about to receive
his answer, the clouds suddenly parted
and the gloom lifted.

Approaching The Bridge could be seen a
single person and among the older animals,
a whole group was suddenly bathed in a
golden light and they were all young and
healthy again, just as they were in the
prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal.
A second group of animals from those
waiting came to the pathway and bowed
low as the person neared. At each bowed
head, the person offered a pat on the head
or a scratch behind the ears. The newly
restored animals fell into line and followed
him towards The Bridge. They all crossed
The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw
bowing in respect were those who found
new homes because of his work. They will
cross when their new families arrive.
Those you saw restored were those who
never found homes. When a rescuer arrives,
they are allowed to perform one, final act of
rescue. They are allowed to escort those
poor animals that they couldn't place on
earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

  Author unknown...