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 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, someone who was 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 breaks 
from the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your 
heart. 
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together... 
Author Unknown

The Bridge
 
	Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold & gray, damp as a swamp & 
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 that had been waiting for their beloved 
people knew exactly what was going on & 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 & 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 & made healthy & 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 & 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 that 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 & saw a group of other animals like himself, elderly & infirm, or young, having left life to 
soon, not from injury or illness, but from euthanasia. 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 & waiting. One of the newest arrivals at The 
Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed & 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 & his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue & 
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. 
Those others, not the ones who passed unloved in old age, they are ones who last days were 
spent in a shelter." The first animal thought about this for a minute & then asked, "So what will 
happen now?"  "Just weight, one day you will see what will happen to them."
One day approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person. This was not unusual, as 
all people who have loved and lost an animal come to The Bridge to find them. Only this time no 
animal was running to great them. Suddenly among the old, and lost animals, a whole group was 
bathed in a golden light & they were all young  & healthy again, just as they were in the prime of 
life. So to, were some of the young, healed of their emotional pain.
A number of the animals awaiting their people came to the pathway & bowed low as the 
person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the 
ears. After the person had greeted each bowing animal he turned to the newly restored animals.  
He opened his arms silently to them, and all fell into line & followed him towards The Bridge. 
They all crossed The Bridge together. 
"What happened?" asked the new arrival, turning to one who been there longer.
"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, but loved if only for a shot time, across The Rainbow Bridge."