Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All 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 dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other dogs, 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 the other dogs waiting at THE BRIDGE, this one had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward THE BRIDGE, he watched all of the other dogs 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 dogs who were with their people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly dog turned toward the fields before THE BRIDGE and saw a group of other dogs like himself, also elderly. They weren't playing, but rather simply laying on the green grass, starting 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 just witnessed and asked one of the dogs that had been there for a while to explain it to him. "You see, this dog was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older dog 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 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 dog thought about this 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, a woman. Among the older dogs, the whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, and they began to frolic around the field. A second group of dogs from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the woman neared. At each bowed head, she offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears.

The newly restored dogs fell into a line behind the woman, and followed her over THE BRIDGE. "What happened?" "That was a Rescuer. The dogs you saw bowing in respect were those who found new home because of her work. They will cross when their 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 animals that they couldn't place on earth across THE RAINBOW BRIDGE."

--Author Unknown