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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope I'm not double posting this but so many have
goneto the bridge lately and a lot of them are rescues so checked with Helen and
am sending what she sent in for the many 'to the bridge' bassets. It is so
appropriate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Helena Poist" <<SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A
href="mailto:helena@proplanner.com"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">helena@proplanner.com</SPAN></A></SPAN>><BR>Subject:
[Dailydrool] longer version of the rainbow bridge<BR>To: <<SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A
href="mailto:dailydrool@dailydrool.org"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #810081; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">dailydrool@dailydrool.org</SPAN></A></SPAN>><BR>Message-ID:<BR><<SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A
href="mailto:BDFA80E3AEFFA241AE593B8A01E53F4A975B8E@ppmail.Proplanner2.local"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">BDFA80E3AEFFA241AE593B8A01E53F4A975B8E@ppmail.Proplanner2.local</SPAN></A></SPAN>><BR>Content-Type:
text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<BR><BR>I still cry at the story.. this appears to
the longer version.<BR> <BR>Rescue Rainbow
Bridge<BR> <BR> <BR>Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day
dawned cold and gray, damp <BR>as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined.
All the recent arrivals <BR>were confused and concerned. They had no idea what
to think for they <BR>had never experienced a day like this before. But the
animals who had <BR>spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew
exactly what was <BR>happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the
Bridge to <BR>watch. They knew this was something special.<BR> <BR>It
wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung <BR>heavy and
low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on <BR>the
pathway...the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for a while...knew<BR><BR>the
story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen
far<BR>too<BR>many times.<BR> <BR>Although it was obvious the animal's
heart was leaden and he was <BR>totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt,
there was no sign of <BR>injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the
Bridge, this dog <BR>had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither
health nor <BR>vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets
who <BR>were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no
<BR>resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could
<BR>cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the
<BR>Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke
<BR>softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he
<BR>would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their
<BR>special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no <BR>special
beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.<BR> <BR>With no
place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the <BR>fields before the
Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted <BR>a group of other
sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. <BR>Unlike the pets waiting
for their special people, these animals weren't <BR>playing, but simply lying on
the green grass, forlornly and miserably <BR>staring out at the pathway leading
to the Bridge. The recent arrival <BR>knew he had no choice but to join them.
And so, he took his place among <BR>them, just watching the pathway and
waiting.<BR> <BR>One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting
for his <BR>special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and
<BR>asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it
to<BR>him.<BR>"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew
<BR>tired of him. They way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, <BR>cloudy
eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the <BR>kennels. He never,
ever made it out and passed on only with the love <BR>and comfort that the
kennel workers could give him as he left his <BR>miserable and unloved existence
on Earth for good. Because he had no <BR>family or special person to give his
love, he has nobody to escort him <BR>across the Bridge."<BR> <BR>The first
animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So <BR>what will happen
now?"<BR> <BR>As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly
parted and <BR>the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be
seen a <BR>single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a
<BR>person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. <BR>This
figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended <BR>outstretched
palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed <BR>gently above them and
all were bathed in a pure and golden light. <BR>Instantly, each was young and
healthy again, just as they had been in <BR>the prime of
life.<BR> <BR>>From within the gathering of pets waiting for their
special people, a <BR>group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As
they came <BR>close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a
tender <BR>pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even
<BR>brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the
<BR>newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly
<BR>followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed
together.<BR> <BR>The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed.
"What<BR>happened?"<BR> <BR>"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That
person spent a<BR>lifetime <BR>trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you
saw bowing in respect <BR>were those who found new homes because of such
unselfish work. They <BR>will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw
restored were ones <BR>who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are
permitted to <BR>perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort
those poor <BR>pets that couldn't find a place on Earth across the Rainbow
Bridge. You <BR>see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special
to all <BR>animals."<BR> <BR>"I think I like rescuers," said the recent
arrival.<BR> <BR>"So does God!," was the
reply.<BR> <BR> <BR>--Author Unknown-</DIV></BODY></HTML>