The Rescuers

[MisserGil]

The Rescuers...

 

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 arescuer. 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. "

 

 

 

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal.

 

 

 

"So does GOD", was the reply.

 

 

 

-- Author Unknown

[Guest Greymom]

What a wonderful story. I'm at work, but I have tears in my eyes.

[Guest 8_Greyt_Greys]

o my gosh that was wonderful. starting the day out with tears.that was beautiful story.

[Guest trevdog]

[Guest how888]

Wow, what a beautiful story, I can just see my precious Howie sitting there watching, makes me want to run out and rescue another one today!!!!!!!!!!!

[grey14me]

tears here, too....thanks for sharing that!

[Cindy_Hanson]

(Cross-post from Off Topic forum)

 

I've seen this story before, and it disturbs me.

 

In the "original" version of the Rainbow Bridge story, when the animals go to the 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 and maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

 

The story goes on, of course, to explain that the dogs are happy and content except for one thing: they miss the special human(s) that they left behind.

 

So in the original version of the story, our departed pets get to the Bridge just fine. They're just waiting for us. And the Bridge itself is beautiful.

 

In THIS version, the animal arriving at the Bridge is sad, moving slowly, hanging his head . . . he's obviously missed out on whatever the other dogs got that restored their youth and health . . . even the weather is crappy ("cold and gray, damp as a swamp, and dismal"). And . . . what's this? Who is this ANGEL who is now checking IDs at the door? The Bridge has a BOUNCER??

 

The original version of the Rainbow Bridge story provides comfort to grieving pet owners. It's lovely to think that there's a place where our broken dogs are made happy and whole again, and we'll get to see them when we get there. The "Rescuer" version is something different altogether . . . it introduces the existence of miserable dogs who miss out on all the other "perks" that the other Bridge travelers get (why?), and the Heavenly Bouncer who won't let pets near the Bridge if they died under the "wrong" circumstances (i.e., if they died in Rescue).

 

Now, as "heavenly" rules for passage, none of these additions to the story make sense to me. Shouldn't the fundamental, lovable Goodness of Dog be enough to get him across the Bridge? The dog's circumstances certainly aren't HIS fault; why should his ability to cross the Bridge be determined by his circumstances on earth, rather than his essence? (It's sort of like saying that shut-ins and homeless people won't be allowed into Heaven until they can be escorted by a social worker.)

 

The rules of this version of the story ONLY make sense as they set up the payoff for the rescuer. The clouds part, the rescuer appears, the dogs bow their heads and are "restored," and they cross the Bridge together.

 

This makes me wonder: Is the Rescuer version of the Rainbow Bridge story really about providing comfort to the grieving, or is it more about helping those of us who are active on behalf of animals feel good about ourselves?

 

Nothing wrong with feeling good about what one does, of course, but it appears to me that the story element added to glorify the Rescuer is misery. The Rescuer version doesn't resonate without the presence of the broken dog who can't cross the Bridge without the Rescuer as an escort.

 

And I find that sad and disturbing. Personally, I'd like to think that all dogs go to Heaven happy and whole. Especially those poor dogs who die in rescue; I don't like to think that they get shuffled off to into some Purgatory after death where they end up waiting, just as they did on Earth.

[grey14me]

Yikes, now I'm really crying. I guess, I didn't really think about the dogs in this version as much as I was thinking it was a nice tribute to people who work in rescuing dogs. I would certainly agree that it would be nice if the dogs were healthy, happy and whole again, and just missing their rescuer...like all the other dogs there.

[MisserGil]

Yes I thought it was a nice tribute to those working with animals...

[Jiffer]

OMG, that is very sad but still very hopeful. Thank you for that beautiful piece! It is very touching!