It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head
hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other
animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for
a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had
seen it happen far too many times.
Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was
totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of
injury or  any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this
dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither
health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all
the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place
here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.
But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the
appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and
apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to
pass. Only those animals  who were with their special people could
pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.
With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the
fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he
spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm.
Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals
weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and
miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The
recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he
took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his
special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and
asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.
"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew
tired of him. The way you see him now, with graying fur and sad,
cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the
kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love
and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his
miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no
family or special person to give his love, he has nobody 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 all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be
seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite
ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left
Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals
and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever
heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and
golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.
From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people,
a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they
came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a
tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew
even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the
newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly
followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.
The recent arrival, who had been watching, was amazed. "What  happened?"
"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime
trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect
were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They
will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes.
When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final
act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that
couldn't be placed on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all
animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."
"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.
"So does God," was the reply.

-Author Unknown-