Bessamour Border Collies - The Rainbow Rescue Bridge

Rescue is an institution or person who takes in dogs that are no longer wanted by their owners for whatever reason that may be, and to rehome them to suitable homes, where hopefully they will stay for the rest of their lives. Homes and people are vetted to check if they are suitable or not. A Rescue institution is there to find homes for dogs, not careers! Every detail should be transparent and truthful/honest about where the dogs/puppies came from, how they were acquired etc.

Breeders of the dogs, if known, should always be advised one of their breeding is in rescue, and should be allowed to retrieve it if they so desire.

There should be no "fibs," inventing stories as to what the dog will be perfect for, capable of (i.e. excellent for agility, obedience, flyball, showing etc and/or could be a future champion/winner of any discipline), particularly if the animal has never had access to training to assess it. Nor should stories be invented about what an awful past the dog has had which can cause people to adopt out of pity rather than because they want that particular dog.Ideally a dog's name should be changed. New life, new name.A dog must be properly assessed before rehoming so that the dog and new owner are suited to each other.

A dog can be intimidated by being abandoned by it's owner, and finding itself in a rescue situation manifests behaviour that is out of character. (yes, dogs DO know the difference between boarding kennels and rescue kennels!)

These dogs are living creatures, often damaged, that can, and are sometimes later discarded after having being adopted because they don't come up to par in the competition world in spite of the promises from the rescue people/institutions that have rehomed them.

Rescue is not about rescuing dogs for their "status," papers, looks, colour, etc, with mainly dog sports/showing homes being sought.

Rescue is also not about rescuing a dog in an unhealthy condition and rehoming it in the same condition before having it treated for its problems.

Rescue is also about all donation money being used to feed the dog, heating, material, vets fees, and to make the dogs as comfortable as possible. Not to waste money on registration fees or adding the rescues affixes to dogs names.£12 for transfer of ownership (cost of approx 24 days food for a dog)£8 addition of a kennel name/affix (cost of approx 16 days food for a dog.

Dog rescue is NOT about finding a home for a dog then refusing to take it back if the new owners cannot cope.

Doing rescue is a thankless vocation, and most rescue volunteers don't look for awards or status for the work they do. They just get on with it.

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm Spring weather. The old frail animals are young again. They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing, they are not with their special person who loved them so much on Earth.

Each day they all run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears rise up! The eyes are staring! Then suddenly, this one runs from the group! You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her into your arms and you both embrace. Your face is licked again and again and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated

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.

Author unknown