Unlike 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.”

Wally and Abby

Both Rescues