There isn’t a single animal lover whose world does not come crashing down with the passing of their furry friend. Losing an animal you love can be overwhelming. The grief is often a disenfranchised one, something that not everyone can empathise with. Yet, for those who have lost such love, the grief can feel like a seemingly permanent void, the loss irreplaceable, and the heart – beyond repair. Where does one look for solace in such grief? What hope does one cling to as life goes on?
In 1959, then 19-year-old Edna Clyne-Rekhy, of Inverness (Scotland) lost her labrador Major, the best part of her heart. In an outpouring of grief, she penned the poem ‘The Rainbow Bridge’ – a concept of life after death so powerful, it would come to be a source of comfort for animal people worldwide.
The Rainbow Bridge
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. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.
What a relief for those of us who lose our companion animals. Now we have a place, albeit in our imagination, where our beloved absent animals are happy, healthy, full of vitality and life, waiting for us.
But we needed one right here on earth too, to channelise our earthly emotions, to cope. So much so, artist Amy Wald breathed life into a real-life Rainbow Bridge in her own dog’s memory. The commemorative area is tucked away in an enchanted mountain in North Carolina, USA, and houses more than 30 themed gardens and shaded footpaths where owners can take their animals or visit themselves to grieve those they have lost.
Grief is personal – there is no right or wrong way to get through the death of one’s beloved animal friend. It’s important to remember though that life itself is impermanent and our animals (being more intuitive and perceptive than we could ever hope to be) would never want us to spiral down that dark abyss eternally.
No.
They would want us to be happy. To remember them with the love and joy they filled our lives with. There are uplifting ways to navigate this labyrinth of sadness. We can take positive steps to keep their spirit alive in our hearts. We can memorialize them with items and keepsakes. Plant a tree, create a garden, gather loved ones to share stories of our companions and celebrate their beautiful journey. Donate to an animal shelter – help the memory of one to heal another. Give another animal a home and our love – after all, aren’t our hearts much too large to stay empty for too long?
Most importantly, we allow ourselves time to heal, seek support if needed, and be kind to ourselves.
Till it is time to love yet another animal, like before.
Warmly
Shreyasi
