Rainbow Bridge 
 Author Unknown
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 and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who have 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 begins to quiver.  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 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 together you and your special pet cross the Rainbow Bridge...

Dog Heaven

When dogs go to Heaven, they don't need wings because God knows that dogs love running best.  He gives them fields.  Fields and fields and fields.

When a dog first arrives in Heaven, he just runs.  Dog Heaven has clear, wide lakes filled with geese who honk and flap and tease.  The dogs love this.  They run beside the water and bark and bark and God watches them from behind a tree and smiles.

And, oh, the dog biscuits.  Biscuits and biscuits are as far as the eye can see.  God has a sense of humor, so he makes his biscuits in funny shapes for his dogs.  Every angel who passes by has a biscuit for a dog.  Every dog becomes a good dog in Dog Heaven.

God turns clouds inside out to make fluffy beds for the dogs in Dog Heaven, and when they are tired from running and barking and eating ham sandwiches and biscuits, the dogs each find a cloud bed for sleeping.

Dogs in Dog Heaven have almost always belonged to somebody on Earth and of course, the dogs remember this.  Heaven is full of memories.  So sometimes an angel will walk a dog back to Earth for a little visit and quietly, invisibly, the dog will sniff about his old backyard, will investigate the cat next door, will follow the child to school, will sit on the front porch and wait for the mail.  When he is satisfied that all is well, the  dog will return to Heaven with the angel.

The dogs in Dog Heaven who had no real homes on Earth are given one in Heaven.  The homes have yards and porches and there are couches to lie on and tables to sit under while the angels eat their dinners.  There are special bowls with the dogs' names on them.  And each dog is petted and reminded how good he is, all day long.

Dogs in Dog Heaven may stay as long as they like and this can mean forever.  They will be there when old friends show up.

They will be there at the door.  Angel Dogs.

Author:  Cynthia Rylant.