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The Rainbow Bridge

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RAINBOW BRIDGE...

Just 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 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 have 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 begins to quiver. 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...

The rescuer at Rainbow Bridge

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, "Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.” The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?” Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see.”

In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm, and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug.

One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?” The cat responded, "That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, "So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven."

Beyond The Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wonderous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright.
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord that no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

"Beyond The Rainbow" Copyrighted © 1995 by Cate Guyan.
All rights reserved. Reprinted with her permission.

I saw the Bridge

A true experience as posted by Sharry Daniels

We had to have Pismo put to sleep on Nov. 6, 1993. He was an 18 year old, 6 pound yorkie. Most of Pizzy's life I was sick and confined to the house. He stayed with me every min. of every day. On days when life didn't seem worth living his unconditional love for me kept me alive. I know he was a gift from God. Without that funny little mutt I wouldn't be here today.

By the time I got better Pizzy was old and sick. Now it was my turn to stay with him. I should have let him go before I did, but I couldn't. He was so much a part of me, that having him put to sleep was almost like committing suicide. BUT I DID IT!!! It was horrible. I can't even think about it. Pizzy was gone and I never had my heart hurt so bad. I didn't know where to go or what to do. Everything reminded me of him. For 2 days my husband and I sat in shopping centers and in the car in shopping center parking lots and cried and cried and cried. All I could think of is where do dogs go? Is there a place for animals or is my Pizzy in that cold ground in our yard? Whose taking care of him? Where is he? Where's my Pizzy?

On Nov. 8, two days after he had died, my husband and I were sitting in the car in the Hill's Shopping Center parking lot. It was four o'clock in the afternoon. The sky was bright blue without a cloud anywhere. It had not rained all day and again there was not even a cloud in the sky. We were facing west , looking toward the setting sun. I was sobbing and sobbing and screaming, "Please, God, please. Tell me where Pizzy is. Please, God, tell me! Where is my Pizzy! Where is he!!! All of a sudden my husband said, "Look Sharry, Look!!!! He was pointing to the sky and when I looked up I saw a perfect RAINBOW in that cloudless blue sky right next to the setting sun. At the time I didn't know about the rainbow bridge, but at that moment I did know that God in His kindness was telling me that my Pizzy was somewhere over the rainbow and that he was okay.

About 5 months later my friend called me. She was all excited and told me to read the article in Dear Abby. I read it and just couldn't believe it. I read about the meadow and the RAINBOW and my sick dog wasn't sick anymore and he had water and food and he was playing and best of all I WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN. I am a skeptic and if I had just seen the article, I would have had doubts, but I SAW THE RAINBOW BRIDGE. I know it's real.

Up until last week I thought my husband and I were the only ones who believed the meadow and the bridge really exist and take comfort in its existence. Then I accidentally stumbled onto this bulletin board. I was and am still amazed, but so grateful that we share this hope with so many others. I never write on BB, and I wasn't going to this time either, because it's so hard for me to put my feelings into words. But I really feel that God would want me to share this with you guys in case there's someone out there who is a skeptic and needs a little extra bit of proof that God does have a special place for your pet to be cared for until you go to pick him up and cross the bridge together, never again to be separated.