Do you really believe in The Rainbow Bridge?

To me, I get a lot of comfort thinking that there is a Rainbow Bridge and that my old pets are watching over me. My dear Gracie we think is 17 now and is slowing down. Pills and herbs have helped ease her pain and anxiety (thanks Callie) but I am coming to terms with the fact that soon it will be her time to leave. And if need be, I must help her across when she is ready.

It is easier for me to pray to my dogs at the Bridge rather than to some dead saint I never met. All of my dogs have been rescues, and I believe that they are angels that were sent to teach me lessons. And I believe that whether I get into heaven depends on what those dogs say about me. To me, heaven has to include my dogs, and my dogs have to have a nice place to wait for me.

Incidentally, here is a link to the Rescue Rainbow Bridge http://www.novareinna.com/bridge/rescuerain.html also copied below.  But I warn you, you will need a whole box of tissues.

It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at RainBow Bridge for a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the RainBow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. They way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody 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 all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn't place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.

--Author Unknown--

Agnes

Agnes L.

Unlike most days at RainBow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch. They knew this was something special.

It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at RainBow Bridge for a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the RainBow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. They way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody 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 all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn't place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.

--Author Unknown--

That ^^^ is beutiful. Sad, but beautiful.

Agnes I was practically sobbing by the time I got to the end.  Thanks so much for posting this.

misstrouble

refuse to die unless I know my Tucker will be waiting for me on the other side of the Pearly Gates

I remember when I was young and invincible. But never fear, you will see your pets again when it is your time to go.

Agnes,

That was a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

It has been over a month, but I still see my Mickey running around the house. I even saw him in my dreams more often than before, and each time it was so real,  was able to touch his ears and hug him into my arms.  Sometimes I woke up in the middle of my dreams and thought Mickey was really there next to me.

I know many people have said I did the right thing by letting him cross the bridge, but sometimes I'm still not sure. What I see now (most of the times) is he was a happy dog and he enjoyed rolling on the grass, enjoyed eating and enjoyed being with me. But a part of me remebers his deteoriating body and hopes that I did the right thing. I guess it's part of grieving to have regrets of what had happened. I just haven't felt much better. If I don't think about Mickey, I'm fine, but when I see anything that reminds me of him, it feels just like fresh pains.

You all have been very supportive and  I love reading all your point of views on the rainbow bridge. I truly hope and pray that when its time for me to go, God will bring my Mickey, Boo and Lucky (and Tippey if she goes before me) to welcome me to the other world.

Your grief is fresh and it TAKES TIME -- sometimes lots of it.  It literally took me about 7 or 8 **YEARS** to bring my grief full circle over Prissy.  And yes, I had other dogs in the meantime and would just dissolve into tears at times over Pris. 

Grieving is a process -- part of the point of your dreams is to help you recall the reality of the good.  Not to make you feel guilty. 

Have you done something in memorial?  either taking some items of Mickey's to a shelter or even making a memorial at home.  For me it helped to write about what Pris had done FOR ME. 

Don't expect the pain to not be clear and fresh yet -- I lost Foxy almost THREE YEARS ago (this coming Feb 28) and there are still things that will make me grieve fresh. 

If Mickey hadn't been very special you wouldn't have grieved that way -- the very fact that Mickey WAS indicates that your grief IS a testament to him and how important he was.

He is ****WORTH**** grieving for!  Let yourself!

I have a private theory about animal souls, most of which I won't share as it's boring and way too theoretical.  I am sure of two things about the after life, however:

1. There's no tears.  I can't imagine God would cause any twinge of regret when it would be easy enough (and consistent) to guarantee the permanence of animal spirits.
   
2. There ARE animals in the eternal world.  Many mentions of them are made in Scriptures.  Residents of the spiritual world are deathless and therefore those animals are immortal.  Where did they come from?

There's a couple things about animals that I'm convinced of:

1. They have souls.  There's a story in the Old Testament about a man whose donkey is allowed to speak to him after the donkey tried to save his life and got beaten for his loyalty.  I don't think anything magic happened - the donkey was simply enabled to express the point of view he had in a way a human could understand.
2. Not only are animals possessed of Spirit, but they have a deeper connection we've lost.  This is significant to me because I personally have found that interactions with animals can revive that connection.

The last point is interesting.  The first thing that the first man was instructed to do was name and care for the animals in the Garden.  The care of animals enhances and indeed was to be the center of our experience in the "Shadow Lands" as C. S. Lewis calls our earthly experience.  Certainly we would not have that task, and then progress to the Eternal without the companions of our souls here on earth.

I read a book once that described an old Scottish legend.  It suggested that when an animal is loved by a human, it receives an eternal soul.  At the very least, I believe this.

We will see our non-human friends again, I'm sure of it. 

mickeyboo

I truly hope and pray that when its time for me to go, God will bring my Mickey, Boo and Lucky (and Tippey if she goes before me) to welcome me to the other world.

 

To me, it is beyond faith and hope, it is a certainty. I am more likely to wonder at those who do not believe in the Rainbow Bridge. It's like not believing the Sun is visible from Earth. Granted, my experiences are personal but they are real to me and I know, not just believe, but know the Rainbow Bridge exists. And, as a human, it is impossible for me to conceive of a creature that dreams and not have a soul. Dogs dream, they have a soul. The soul survives the failing body. Period, paragraph, new book.

And you will see your beloved pets, again. I would bet on it. How much money do you wager?

And you will see your beloved pets, again. I would bet on it. How much money do you wager?

There's no reason to bet on a sure thing. 

spiritdogs

There's no reason to bet on a sure thing

I know but I thought I could make some quick money. I couldn't give high odds. Sure things never have high odds. As in, imo, betting against the Rainbow Bridge is a sucker's bet.