Some Give All to Those Who Simply Give Love

*****I promise this is to be the last of my "sweet" blogs.  I have decided to return to my original caustic and bitchy self after this one.  But I had to get this out of my system since my friend (KK) is in the middle of rescuing her first dog and trying to find it a good home.  So fair warning. Future blogs will be back to the old yipping, mean and ho-ho/xanax filled self! So if you don't like it...tuff nookies*****

My sister is fond of saying I have spent more money on animals that are not my own than anyone she has ever met. I guess it is true in some way. I know I have spent more on the fur-babies that steal my covers at night and bring me amputated grasshoppers.  Almost two years ago I lost my sweet Baby Kitty.  A rescue my sister brought me.  BK was small enough to hold in the palm of my hand and never outgrew her "Baby Kitty" name (even if she was a bit "full-furred").  So I started thinking about all the animals I have loved and who have loved me ... if for a few brief minutes. 

Binky

The Rescues

Freeway - Found on I-10 in Houston.  A great vet and the local country radio station helped us find him a home.

Binky - was thrown out of a truck window in a box (with his already dead siblings).  He was the sole surviver and now lives the high life in San Antonio.  Recently crowned a runner up by Humane Society of Bexar County in their El Rey Fido contest.  He helped convict of puppy mill owner of Felony Animal Abuse.

B. Bush Kitty - ran across the street in College Station across from TAMU. We rushed her to the Vet school.  She died in my arms while the vet students tried valiantly to save her.  She left this world to the sound of our voices saying "we love you".  We never found her owner.

Ripley and Jonesy and the several other strays outside my old office building - Myself and a few others fed these strays until someone could capture them and give them a home.  Two now live the barn cat life in the country.

Thomas O'Malley ~ adopted from a local rescue agency in KC.  Stolen from me by my Dad after a weekend of Cat-sitting.  Thomas now enjoys blue-blankies and all the hair ball medicine he can stand. 

Turbo - My sweet, sweet Turbo.  Who moved with me all over the country.  I had to put her to sleep when she became so ill she couldn't eat.  I cradled her in my arms and sang "Baby Mine" as she slipped away.  

So to everyone who has ever rescued a pet from the pound, saved a stray from the streets, felt the love of a cold nose and the wag of a happy tail.  To those who believe that the gentle purr of contentment and the goofy look of a face blowing in the breeze out the car window, are the sweetest signs of happiness.  To all those who wait so patiently for us for the day we can hold them again and cross that "Rainbow Bridge".  This is for you:

I have seen this in other forms but this one is the best. Author unknown:

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of 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 animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, 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 of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals 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 those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring 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 had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal 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 he 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 animal thought about this for a minute 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 and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.
"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new 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 poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

"I think I like rescuers", said the first animal. "So does GOD", was the reply.