What is the rainbow bridge and why do we think dead pets cross it? If you've lost a pet, chances are you've heard of the Rainbow Bridge. This bridge is a mythical overpass said to connect heaven and Earth — and, more to the point, a spot where grieving pet owners reunite for good with their departed furry friends.
Today, it's widely accepted that all types of animals not just cats and dogs, are eligible to cross the Rainbow Bridge and make it to heaven.
The first known debut of the Rainbow Bridge in relation to animals is believed to come from a poem by Paul C. Dahm, a grief counselor in Oregon. He wrote the first Rainbow Bridge poem in prose style: “Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
RAINBOW BRIDGE. The Rainbow Bridge (as beautifully encapsulated in a poem of the same name - see below) is a mythological place to which cats (and other pets) go upon their death, eventually to be reunited with their carers.
Rainbow Bridge Poem
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
The pets that we had to say goodbye to are alive in heaven right now in their spiritual bodies and we will see them again if we accept Jesus as our Savior. Your Pet Is Not Gone Forever.
“I know that your pet was near and dear to you. I am very sorry for your loss. Hopefully, your other pets will be a source of comfort for you during this difficult time.”
Christians don't believe that "going to heaven" happens automatically; it's the result of conscious decisions made during one's life. While the Bible is very specific about the requirements for human salvation, it says nothing about salvation for animals.
It may be difficult for them to understand your feelings of loss. Remember, it is as perfectly normal to grieve over the loss of a beloved pet as it is over the loss of a beloved person.
Why Pet Loss Hurts. “One reason why losing a pet is such a deep loss is because animals' love is so unconditional and accepting,” she said. But it's also because so many aspects of people's lives are impacted. “Every single facet of life is part of the loss,” she explained.
Depending on local regulations, your options will include a backyard burial, burial in a pet cemetery, a private cremation (just your pet, and you get the ashes back) or a communal cremation (a group of pets cremated together, and you don't get the ashes back). If none of that suits you, some other options exist.
The Rainbow Hotel | Dog Friendly Pub in Fitzroy | Pupsy.
Psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren't just losing the pet. It could mean the loss of a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and maybe even a protégé that's been mentored like a child.
So the answer is, there is no correct time. You are trying to balance your need for Buddy with Buddy's quality of life. There is no precise moment when the scales tip, and suddenly Buddy's life is too painful to justify not leading him to the Rainbow Bridge.
numerous strictures against wanton or cruel killing of wildlife and domestic animals. Ecclesiastes (3:19-21) asserts that humans are vain to believe that their destinies differ from those of animals: “For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other.
Animals have exactly the same soul as Humans , Electrons and chemical reactions in the brain .
We do not conclude from scripture that euthanizing pets, if done for humane reasons, is not a sin. God has given us the authority and responsibility to care for our animals, and euthanizing them is, in certain situations, a God-honoring expression of our care.
Here are some examples of what not to say when a pet dies: "Don't cry." Crying is part of the grieving process for many people. "It's just a [dog/cat/etc.]." A comment like this that downplays the loss is mean and thoughtless. You don't know what the pet meant to that person.
Many people who have just lost a dearly loved one, and who are in the throes of grief, experience this phenomenon of “phantom sounds.” If you are experiencing this, you are not alone. It may be unsettling, and it might make the pain of loss even more potent in those moments. But it is not forever.
“A companion is gone … but the memory lives on.” “The most difficult thing about having a dog is the goodbye.” “Grief is not a sign of weakness, but the price of love.” “If the kindest souls were rewarded with the longest lives, dogs would outlive us all.”
Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it's important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold. Feeling sad, shocked, or lonely is a normal reaction to the loss of a beloved pet.