Who will wait at the Rainbow Bridge?

By Linda Spurlin

Most of us, religious or not, have heard the stories of Saint Peter standing at the pearly gates waiting to let the worthy among us in. The dog lovers among us tell stories of The Rainbow Bridge, where our beloved pets cross when they leave our earthly side to pass to the great beyond where they will once again chase rabbits through endless fields on legs made young again. Our concern if our pets will be with us in the great hereafter is reflected in Will Rogers words, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” Most of us cannot imagine a life without dogs.

The Rainbow Bridge stories always conclude with a dutiful dog patiently waiting at the end of the bridge and leaping joyously when he sees, (after decades of chasing angel rabbits) his master, who has now passed on too. Together they cross the bridge, and young again, they play fetch in the endless fields beyond the starry skies.

What a beautiful story. So now what about all those poor dogs that never had a master? Or the dogs that had three or four masters in their short lives before they were left at the pound to wait for master number five 5 who never arrived in time. Who are they going to wait for at the end of the Rainbow Bridge?

I think about this sometimes and wonder how many dogs will be waiting for me. Will some of them turn their backs on me, unforgiving and not willing to make allowances for what I thought was the right thing to do at the time? Will other dogs I barely knew wait joyously for me because although I knew them only a short while, I was the only one that ever loved them? Who will wait at the Rainbow Bridge for me?

Who will be there waiting to escort you to the lands of milk and honey? Will it be an old friend with a cold nose and an eagerly thumping tail? Will he proudly lead you past Saint Peter and vouch for you as a kind and considerate master? Or will he look away as you approach the Rainbow Bridge and denounce you as you denounced him when he needed you the most.

To be assured of a four legged welcoming committee waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for you, contact Becky’s Best Buddies at (509) 935-6635, The Colville Pet Refuge at (509) 732-4126, or Stevens County Cat Care at (509) 935-MEOW. These local animal assistance programs can help you find a furry friend to cheer your time here on earth. Most of these animals can be yours for a donation to cover their spay/neuter, shots, and food while in foster care. If you don’t have room in your home for another companion, a monetary donation towards spaying or neutering a homeless dog or cat could help prevent the next generation of homeless pets.