http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ Daily Kitten Chat Forum Topic: The Rescuers Final Reward en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:52:46 +0000 http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276733 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:54:25 +0000 poochi7 276733@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>wow. what a beautiful story. thank you shelley </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276723 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:45:09 +0000 Shelley 276723@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I am glad that everyone is enjoying this but I have to clarify that I didn't write it--I found it on another website but forgot to put that the author is unknown--sorry guys, honest mistake. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276722 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:42:23 +0000 artistabobbi TX 1/17 276722@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Sniffling.<br /> (And I thought I was being maudlin and teary-eyed.)<br /> What a sweet, poignant story, shelley! I have always said there is a special place in heaven, or whatever you believe is the equalivent, for people who rescue our abandoned babies. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276717 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:34:36 +0000 krazikat 276717@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Good thing I keep a box of Kleenex on my desk. Between this and Petpntr's post it is very misty around her! What an awesome story Shelley. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276709 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:25:56 +0000 Emma 276709@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Shelley, I love your image of the forgotten animals and the rescuer. You write beautifully and it really touched so many of us! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276579 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:26:24 +0000 JoanfromNewJersey 276579@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thank you Shelley - beautiful.<br /> {{{OW}}} </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276578 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:24:52 +0000 2bpurring 276578@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>OMG!! the first post I've read this morning...I'm in tears!!!Thank you for sharing this!! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276576 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:21:35 +0000 SammyandOliversmama 276576@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Well said, Lisaeylau!! Amen. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276575 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:15:19 +0000 sullis 276575@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Bless you Lisa! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276573 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:13:14 +0000 lisaeylau 276573@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Shelley, thank you so much. This is a sweet, sweet story. I don't do nearly as much for my ferals as I would like. But I have a core family of 6, and they're just like my own children. I know, that sounds batty. People inform me of my batty-ness every day.</p> <p>People tell me feeding them is crazy and that I'm crazy for doing it...their reasons are legion...I'm endangering myself....I'm endangering my own cats....CJ and Misty could get fleas or a disease....I could get cat-scratch fever (I don't say how many times I've already had it). I don't have the money to feed them. What if they're hurt and need surgery? Blah, blah, blah. </p> <p>And I appreciate the care, and the spirit in which this advise it meant...truly!!! </p> <p>But I'm an adult, and I CHOOSE to keep my feral colony cared for! Nothing anyone can say will alter my behavior!! The joy it brings is has no parallel!!! That's why I only talk about Tex and Mia, and Raven and Trixie and the Calicoes to you guys. You're the only ones who understand. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276202 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:40:09 +0000 Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 276202@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Wonderful story-thank you! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276058 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:45:41 +0000 Karenopa 276058@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thank you Shelley for such a wonderfully touching story. TDK indeed consists of many, many rescuers. There will always be one to escort the field dwellers into their timeless reward. *Someone please pass the tissues* </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276050 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:12:06 +0000 Crazycatman - CA 276050@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thanks for sharing that wonderful story Shelly </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-276014 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:27:13 +0000 paulajeanne 276014@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I thought I was all cried out. Then I made the mistake of reading this again this morning. I'm glad I wasn't at work while I read this; would have been hard to explain. It is the thought of all those poor animals who will never have a loving home that tears me to pieces. I can't seem to stop crying over their fate. And I do try to do what I can to help the true rescuers but it doesn't seem to be enough. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275979 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:34:56 +0000 spacecatsgarden 275979@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Its been a while since ive cried, and cried a happy cry. Thanks for sharing that beautiful piece of writing :)</p> <p>&lt;3 </p> <p>Chey </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275977 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:19:01 +0000 miu 275977@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Sobbing here - what a beautiful touching story! Rescuers are really blessed!!! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275931 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:36:27 +0000 AV 275931@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>It hurts my heart to think any animal (or human) would have to depart this world without knowing love!!! {{{{{{{{Tears}}}}}}} </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275930 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:24:51 +0000 SammyandOliversmama 275930@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>*sobbing* What a beautiful story Shelly. Thank you. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275923 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:12:59 +0000 AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew 275923@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Beautifully written, thank you Shelley! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275922 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:08:00 +0000 sullis 275922@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>What a beautiful story, Shelley..thank you </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275882 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:27:01 +0000 owlwatcher_974 275882@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Wow... *wiping tears from her eyes* </p> <p>My friend who just passed away sometime last night.... she was a rescuer in a way .. she took care of all the stray and feral cats who came to her. She found homes for several of these animals. All the cats who were abandoned in that area came to her. I wonder if she was able to lead any lonely animals across the bridge..</p> <p>I wonder what her poor babies down her will do without her...</p> <p>*lowers her head and cries* </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275859 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:03:35 +0000 Kitten Whisperer 275859@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>What a beautiful story, Shelley. Thanks for sharing it!! Those who rescue are saints living on earth!! Bless each and every one of you! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275857 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:01:48 +0000 Shelley 275857@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>You are welcome everyone...reminded me of so many of our family members who save the ones they can and mourn the ones they can't. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275853 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:00:20 +0000 paulajeanne 275853@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I can't stop crying. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275851 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:57:01 +0000 paulajeanne 275851@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Oh gosh, I'm bawling, not crying, bawling. And I'm thinking of the beautiful angel rescuers we have on this site. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Gotta go get some kleenex now. Thank you, Shelley, for this most beautiful story. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275829 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:43:53 +0000 Ivory Bill 275829@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>That's twice today something on this site has made me cry. Blessed be the rescuers. Thank you, Shelley. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275824 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:42:01 +0000 feral 275824@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thank You Shelley for the lovely story. And Thank You also CBM. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275822 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:41:19 +0000 Buttercup 275822@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Wow that is a beautiful story Shelley,thanks. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275818 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:37:12 +0000 CheetahBoysmommy 275818@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>What a beautiful story. I hope those among us who rescue ferals and cast off pets here on earth read this and realize that the sacrifices they make in this world are rewarded in the next. (Susie, are you there?) </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/11272#post-275803 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:30:14 +0000 Shelley 275803@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>The Rescuer's Final Reward</p> <p>Almost all animal rescuers know of the Rainbow Bridge, where departed animals wait for their people to meet them for the last joyous walk across the Bridge together. This story is also about the Rainbow Bridge, but concerns those animals who never found their forever homes on earth. </p> <p>Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.</p> <p>Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.</p> <p>But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing for what he was waiting.</p> <p>One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, "Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge." </p> <p>The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?" Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see."</p> <p> In the distance was a single person, and as she approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?"</p> <p>The cat responded, "That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had never found forever homes. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge."</p> <p> The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers." The cat smiled and replied, "So does God, my friend. So does God." </p>