I wrote this a couple of months ago as a way of dealing with the sudden unexpected loss of Betty, an injured stray dog that I adopted.
At the time of Betty's demise, just five weeks after I found her, her arrival was still recent enough that I thought of her as "the poor abandoned pup"; had more time passed, her earlier life would have faded and she simply would have been one of my loving furry companions.
I grieved deeply upon her death but it was for more than simply losing a sweet dog who had suffered too much for such a short life—Betty was, at that time for me, the representative of all the abandoned and unloved dogs of the world who passed away alone. I grieved for them all, for all that they had missed out on in their lives, all the happiness and contentment they would never find.
The Rainbow Bridge story is familiar and comforting for many of us when we lose beloved pets. The traditional story didn't offer me any comfort because it really is a story for me, to tell myself that someday my sorrow will be abated when I am reunited with my canine companions. I needed a story that would be about them, the hopeless and neglected dogs of the world—a story that would offer hope that their sorrow, not mine, would be lifted someday and that they would find the joy that they deserve.
This is that story. I humbly dedicate it to Tricia, the Pootie Queen, whose heart was big enough to be the hero of this story. All that the reader needs to do is change the dogs to cats in his or her mind and imagine Tricia as she arrives at the meadow—and I would like to think that things happened just this way when she did.
In the traditional story, we are told of beloved pets restored to health as they await their human companions in a meadow just this side of Heaven. Our dear pets are not the only ones waiting there …
In one corner of the meadow many other dogs are running, chasing and playing. They too have been restored to health, their missing parts made whole and instilled with the vigor of their youth. Some have made new friends and others have been reunited with brothers and sisters who shared their fate. But these dogs nevertheless bear a certain wistfulness and sadness because they know they will never cross the Rainbow Bridge.
You see, these are the dogs who were abandoned, neglected and cast out in life. They died alone and unloved and have no human for whom they wait.
There is Buster. He was born in a puppy mill but no pet store wished to buy him so he was thrown out in an alley in the dark of night. Buster tried to survive by scavenging through garbage but older, stronger strays drove him away, until he was too weak from hunger to continue trying.
There is Daisy. She was devoted to her mistress for many years and became just as loyal to her husband when they married. When Daisy grew old, her family decided that they needed a new puppy to be an active playmate for their young children. Daisy was left behind at a distant campground, bewildered as her beloved family drove away. Lost in the mountains, Daisy froze to death when the snows came.
There are Rex and Princess. Princess was born with a lame hind leg and Rex had mismatched eyes. Their family didn't find any neighbors or friends who wanted them so they abandoned them in the countryside with the foolish notion that they would thrive on their own as 'natural' dogs. Even more foolishly, their family linked them with rough cords around their necks so they would remain together, ensuring that they could never hunt or forage successfully. Princess died first, leaving Rex tethered to his sister's body.
There is Max. Max's master wanted him to be a guard dog, not a beloved pet, and trained him to be aggressive and to bark furiously at anything and everything. When his master died, his son took Max home with him. But Max's continuous barking angered him and one night in a drunken fit, he wrapped wire around Max's muzzle to keep him quiet and then beat him until he ran away. Unable to eat or drink, Max languished and died two days later.
These and others have found a better life in the beautiful meadow than they ever knew on earth, enjoying friendship, cool water to drink, and endless food to eat. Yet they wish that they too, like the other dogs in the meadow, knew what it is like to be soothed by a loved one's voice, to be touched by a caring hand, to know the joy of their loved one returning home.
Then one day the gentle breeze in the meadow ceases; the water running in the brook grows still; the light of the sun shines brighter. The dogs awaiting their loved ones have seen this before and understand. They stop their play and lie down, paws in front, heads held high and eyes alert: a Great Soul has arrived.
A Great Soul is someone who cared for the unwanted and unloved dogs of the world during his or her life. This person may have provided a loving home to abandoned dogs, tended to the injuries of body and spirit of a sad and lonely stray, or sought caring families for dogs left in shelters or on the streets. The Great Soul has a heart of unlimited compassion and brought comfort and aid to those dogs who needed it most.
The waiting companions of the Great Soul race to greet the familiar face, capering with delight at their reunion. When they have expressed their joy and received enough caresses, they pause and gaze up expectantly at their human. The Great Soul looks toward the unloved dogs in the corner of the meadow, and laughingly calls out "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on over here!"
Buster, Daisy, Rex, Princess, Max and all the other unwanted dogs suddenly feel that generous heart pour out its boundless love to them. They know that at last they are wanted and cherished and that they will never again be alone. They joyously race across the grass to their human, never to be parted. Together, the Great Soul and companions, both old and new, stroll across the meadow to the Rainbow Bridge.
Tricia, I wish you a wondrous journey with all of your companions, those you knew on earth and those I know you will embrace with love, for the first time, when you find them in the meadow.
Monday, Mar 7, 2016 · 9:12:30 PM +00:00 · Krotor
People have inquired about permission to republish this story elsewhere. I believe that Daily Kos' policy is that all content is free for anyone to use. However, just to make it clear and official, I will state that I release it under the Creative Commons license.
That means you are free to publish it where you like, you can edit it to improve it if you wish, you can publish just the tale or the introduction or parts of either, you can translate it to other languages, and so on.
In short, please put it to good use however and wherever you think it will comfort or inspire others. And if you want to thank me, do so by adopting a stray or shelter animal and giving him or her a loving home—be a Great Soul :)