Is the Rainbow Bridge really real?

[AnnieA]

thanks to all who contributed to the this thread. I have been having a difficult time, it will pass, but I took comfort in reading this thread. God bless you all and your sweet babies.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by movin'on

I know it sounds wonderful, but right now if anyone can share any stories of how it's real, I would really appreciate it.

I put my beloved dog to sleep on Saturday and the cremation service was yesterday. He was groomed and placed in a blue bed with a blue blanket and looked angelic. I kissed him and told him how much I loved him and then, well, you know.

Anyway, I am devastated and heartbroken. I had one dog die tragically three years ago, but my Teddy got me through it. Now this house feels like a morgue. I have zero interest in even cleaning it or taking care of myself. Something disturbing happened at 4 a.m. last night and now I'm afraid to sleep, even though I am exhausted. I think I may be losing it. I am supposed to start a new job this Monday and it feels like why even bother.

Anyway, I would really appreciate input about the Rainbow Bridge. I had hoped Teddy's spirit would stay with me for awhile, but I told him to go to the Rainbow Bridge.

We are sadly facing having to put our Mastiff down if she does not improve soon. I am beyond devistated but have to share a story with you. My dad was a police officer and when I was 11 he came home with this darling lab/dalmation mix pup, she litteraly fell in the front door and slide across the entry. Her name was Snoopy. He took this dog to work with him almost every day as he was a detective/ Lt. by then. She would go down the table in the lunch room and steal the lunches from the other cops. Anyway, years flew by and when my dad way dying in a nursing facility I stopped in to visit him for the day as I did every day. This one day he seemed sharper than normal and he told me that Snoopy was in his room the previous night. I thought it might be that he just dreamt it but he said his father was with her and they talked. He said Snoopy would be waiting for him. He passed that week. I think it is real and we see our pets and loved ones again. I can only hope we do.

[Summering]

Today my little guy Meister got his wings. He was 16 years old and has followed me around for all that many years. Every turn, every move I made......he was there.
We have a very sad and empty home today. Nothing feels quite right. All those little barks and needs are gone. No greeting at the door.....no waggin' tail.
It is difficult, very hard. We will always remember him and his sweet, smart ways......
We have come to feel in our family that the hardest part of owning a dog is this ending process....
When you love your dog as much as most of us do, it is undiscribably painful to let them go.

[priscillaxx19]

Im so hearthbroken right now I feel so empty nothing is the same with out my 3 year old cocker spaniel..He was my life my everything Frankenstein was hospitalized 4 night ago I finally brought him home saturday I gaved him he's medicine as i was told..Stayed with him till 2am, then went of to sleep, sunday morning when I woked up the first thing that I did was go over to the cage where he would always sleep at night along with my other coker spaniel Princess, I saw him he didn't breath heavily like the night before, so I called him "Frankenstein lets go baby get up" no response, I open the cage and called him again...nothing, that's when I went on my knees to touch him, he was cold my baby had passed away that's when everything inside of me collapse, he tooked half of me with him, I waited at night hoping I would see him to say my goodbyes to him since I didn't get a change I never thought he would pass away, I waited to tell him how much I loved him and how much I miss him that nothing will ever be the same without him but my room was dark and empty, silence was my only company I felt a slepp but would wake up now and then hoping that when I opend my eyes he would be there next to me to assure me that he's waiting for me on the other side..I'm never going to lose that hope to see him once again to hold him tightly and give him a last goodbye kiss..I love you very much my baby boy you will always live in my heart and memories that's how i'll go on with life untill we reunite for eternity. Frankenstein 06/03/2012

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by priscillaxx19

Im so hearthbroken right now I feel so empty nothing is the same with out my 3 year old cocker spaniel..He was my life my everything Frankenstein was hospitalized 4 night ago I finally brought him home saturday I gaved him he's medicine as i was told..Stayed with him till 2am, then went of to sleep, sunday morning when I woked up the first thing that I did was go over to the cage where he would always sleep at night along with my other coker spaniel Princess, I saw him he didn't breath heavily like the night before, so I called him "Frankenstein lets go baby get up" no response, I open the cage and called him again...nothing, that's when I went on my knees to touch him, he was cold my baby had passed away that's when everything inside of me collapse, he tooked half of me with him, I waited at night hoping I would see him to say my goodbyes to him since I didn't get a change I never thought he would pass away, I waited to tell him how much I loved him and how much I miss him that nothing will ever be the same without him but my room was dark and empty, silence was my only company I felt a slepp but would wake up now and then hoping that when I opend my eyes he would be there next to me to assure me that he's waiting for me on the other side..I'm never going to lose that hope to see him once again to hold him tightly and give him a last goodbye kiss..I love you very much my baby boy you will always live in my heart and memories that's how i'll go on with life untill we reunite for eternity. Frankenstein 06/03/2012

We lost our Motley in April this year and then my mom passed away in May. I do think we see them again, I really do. I dream about my Mastiffs, Fiona and Motley and see them so clearly in my dreams. I don't believe anything but time can stop the hurt and it still stings after that.

[elliebellesmom]

Yes, the rainbow bridge is real. How do I know this? Because my soulmate cat, Ellie-belle, went to the bridge to wait for me on July 13th. I cried for days until I got her ashes back. That day I got a card in the mail with the rainbow bridge poem in it. There was a picture of a double rainbow forming the sides of the bridge. I'd been praying that my Ellie would send me a sign. The next morning driving to work I saw...a double rainbow! How rare is that to see? Since then I've recieved several signs from her that she is waiting there for me. I went to a movie to take my mind off of things and one of the main characters in the movie was named Ellie. There was a rainbow in the movie. I've been trying to find a kitten that looks like her and I found one online. Her name? Rainbow! I didn't get her (it's too soon, I feel disloyal) but I got the message.

[Anthonyatanasio2]

I lost my cat three months ago. I don't know why but lately its been
Affecting me greatly. He was so nice. We didnt even name him. He
Was an outdoor cat and he didnt come back. Every day for two months
I went outside calling for him. I miss him so much. My family didnt even
Care and i think that's what affected me so much. I know how much it hurts.
I just read about the rainbow road, and I feel that
It just has to be real. Waiting for me at rainbow road, rainbow road
My pretty little kitty is waiting for me at rainbow road, rainbow road, rainbow road

[Hopes]

I'm sorry you lost your kitty, Anthony. I can understand how it would hurt to not have others not care. I had the same experience when I cared for a friend's pet rat. I never realized how much I bonded with him until he died. Nobody in my family cared---he was a rat. But he really was a sweet rat and I was sad that I hadn't done more for him.

I don't know if sharing my thoughts will help or hurt, but this is what I think of Rainbow Bridge. I don't believe in rainbow bridge, heaven or paradise. Not even for people. I do believe that everyone in our lives becomes a part of us. They shape who we are. As a result, they never leave us. They are with us always, just in a different way. That's just my take on life and death, and it gets me through difficult times.

I suppose it's possible to believe in Rainbow Bridge and embrace my beliefs at the same time---they are always here within us and waiting on the other side too.

[dazeddude8]

my awnser, my opinon is I really don't know if the rainbow bridge is real and I really don't see how one can prove either way with complete certainty that there is or there is no rainbow bridge. Myself I believe it is real, whether we call it rainbowbridge, heaven or whatever, I do believe there is someplace or something that happens after death. Can I prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt?-No I can't and that is ok. If someone believes pets just die and that's that, that's okay too, I don't see it as my job or mission to convert people to believing in the rainbow bridge or an afterlife.

Id say take whatever comfort you can find and use that to heal. If that comfort involves believing in a rainbow bridge or a Valhalla or nothing at all, then that's fine. Take whatever is comfortable and live with that.

What keeps me going after my dog died are primarily 2 reasons, reason one being slightly more important than reason two.

1) Knowing that he lead a wonderful life, a life where he was loved and gave love everyday. He lived a life that mattered every single dam day, even if he only mattered to me. My life and his life was made better by intersect, that for all the pain and grief brought upon by his death, I would endure it again and again because Sk (my dog) was worth it. You have to ask yourself when your dog dies, ask yourself was it worth it? Was it worth the time, love and money put in to care for him, ask yourself was it worth it. And if the answer is "yes" then there are no regrets and any day spent mourning over my dog, any moments or days spent in anger and grief and sorrow is worth it- because he was worth it.

2) Belief in an afterlife, a heaven or whatever you want to call it. Belief that I will see SK again. As said earlier I cannot say with complete certainty either way if there is a heaven or not and that is ok, that doesn't bother me.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

We are sadly facing having to put our Mastiff down if she does not improve soon. I am beyond devistated but have to share a story with you. My dad was a police officer and when I was 11 he came home with this darling lab/dalmation mix pup, she litteraly fell in the front door and slide across the entry. Her name was Snoopy. He took this dog to work with him almost every day as he was a detective/ Lt. by then. She would go down the table in the lunch room and steal the lunches from the other cops. Anyway, years flew by and when my dad way dying in a nursing facility I stopped in to visit him for the day as I did every day. This one day he seemed sharper than normal and he told me that Snoopy was in his room the previous night. I thought it might be that he just dreamt it but he said his father was with her and they talked. He said Snoopy would be waiting for him. He passed that week. I think it is real and we see our pets and loved ones again. I can only hope we do.

This, combined with my own experience, makes me believe this is true. My own experience is that before my mom died, she would tell me that she had dreams about/talked to "people I haven't seen or thought about in years, people who are dead. " She also told me she saw her mother. I have no doubt that my mom for a while before her death had one foot in each world and was at times seeing people on the other side. Your dad's experience confirms that this happens, and also that not only are our family and friends there, but our pets. Your post has given me great comfort.