The Rainbow Bridge - For all TE members who have lost pets

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 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...

Thankyou Mary

Thankyou.

That is so beautiful Mary. Thank you.

When I had to have my Smokey put down 3 years ago, my heart broke, but as they were giving him his meds, I told him I would meet him at the rainbow bridge. We were very lucky that we had an angel of a vet (first time we'd met this doc). We walked a mile to the veterinarian's office with Smokey in his carrier (he hated that thing and normally cried the whole time he was ever in it) he was quiet, we both knew it was time. We were going to see if there was any way to save him if it was something not so serious (at his age financially there would have to be decisions made too) I knew as soon as the vet walked into the room before he even examined Smokey, it was grave. He told me without even taking xrays that he could feel that he was likely full of cancer. He gave us some time to say goodbye. It was near closing time and after Smokey was gone, I told the vet I wanted to take him home to bury him. We'd told him we walked him there and he offered and gave us a ride home. I rocked Smokey wrapped in a towel all the way home. That vet went above and beyond the call of duty to take us all home. He said no one should have to walk home after what we'd had to do. I've never forgotten that. After we buried Smokey, I went straight to the poem I'd seen online so many times and it gave me a bit of comfort. I still miss him, we hear him meow and feel him jump on the bed periodically, but I know when my time comes, he and my other non fur babies Merlin, Merlin, Yowler, and Gargouille (the beardies) will be waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
I hope it helped many of you as much as it helped me. When I miss him, I go to the Rainbow bridge poem and know he'll be there.

Mary,

The vet who helped me was similar. I've never used that office before (only boarded my pups there) yet when Dizzie collapsed on the side of the road, the vet and his assistant drove out to bring him to the office. (Dizzie weighed 120 lbs. - I wasn't moving him anywhere on my own.)

Just last night, I could have sworn I heard Dizzie whimpering outside the bathroom door. Seriously, I stopped, held my breath and listened. For the shortest moment, I thought it had all been a nightmare - that I just imagined he had died. Quickly, I realized it was a fan squeeking, but for just a moment, he was back with me. :(

Pedal Wench, please don't second guess yourself. If you thought Dizzie was there, he very likely WAS. I don't know about everyone else's beliefs, but I know we've seen, heard, felt Smokey. I have photos that I was taking of our two cats hanging out on the back of the couch recently and smack dab next to/on top of one of the girls, is an orb in the photo. I didn't see it until after I took the digital photo, but I know it was Smokey hanging out on the back of the couch with the other two cats, guessing he wanted the sweet spot that one of the girls had. I know they interact with unseen objects etc quite often, so I'm guessing they sense/see him as well. It doesn't freak us out, but when you feel him rub up against your leg, you get a warm fuzzy feeling just like when he was with us on this plane.
For those with different belief systems, I believe the poem can be altered to read for whatever your version of paradise/the afterlife would be. I know that Smokey will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge to the Summerlands.

I'm just serving up notice that I'll be despondent when my mutt Mae goes just so you gals know in advance.

She's a great pet and companion and she's literaly saved my life on several occaisions.

I've told her she long ago and many times over repayed me for rescuing her long ago, she can stop and just enjoy being a dog :D ;)

First was the time she alerted us that the gas was on downstairs, then she fought off an unleashed Rott and a Pitt on other walks and I feel both times she drew the dogs away from me.

While she can be a little "guardy" but she knows to let friends and family in, but the time the "fake UPS guy" tried to get me to open the door.....good dog Mae! :cool: she has a big bark and would not be quiet till he left.

But her favorite rescue technique is being obedient when I need it most.

A guy followed us on a walk and she simply did a series of perfect obedience commands. Mae "watch me" she looks up, "Mae turn" a smart about face, "Mae sit" doggie butt drops as we turned and faced the guy - he turned and ran.

Everyone give your dogs/cats/amphibians a hug, walk and a cookie :o

Mary9761 - thank you, and you made me cry, remembering Branwen (spaniel mutt) and Butters (ginger tabby) that died and disappeared respectively in the past year. I've felt Branwen and heard Butter's chirp meow-meow (one syllable meow) on more than one occasion. Yes, our fur-family will be waiting for us on the otherside.

thank you

I've been avoiding this thread. I don't want to think that we might have to let our Teddy go. He's our oldest fur kid - 16 years old.

We're trying to get him to eat. If we can keep getting him to hold down the tiny bits at a time of the liquid food, we might be able to avoid the IV fluids and feeding tube tomorrow....his blood work was good, it doesn't *seem* like it's time for him to go yet....

Thank you for reminding me that the journey to the Rainbow Bridge will be harder for me than for him...and at least he'll get to see Bill, Norton, Yogi and Giro. They will be happy to see each other at least. Just not yet.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

Thanks so much for sharing this!:)

We all love our pets! They are truly beautiful souls, gifts lent to us, as our family members!

Yes...I really believe some choose to "hang out" for awhile, especially if they were happy pets and they have other animals in the home/family/pack that were considered their animal "babies" at one time. We have seen many things that make us think this has been the case with our two dogs! The eldest was euthanized out of necessity. Her presence had continued show up blatantly and in so many ways! More about this another time.;)

Thanks again!:D

~Hoping Each and Every Soul Finds a Place of Inner Peace~