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The pup was enjoying a lovely day at the Reflecting Pond, quietly watching Momma and sending her a rainbow and his love. He smiled to himself. "She'll know, rainbows don't usually happen on sunny cloudless days." Suddenly the waters reflected a bright sky and a stunning rainbow, not the one he had sent and he couldn't see Momma. He looked up and saw all manner of animals gathering. "How odd," he thought. "There are too many here to be one family, and too many different kinds," as he watched them assemble. Most were dogs, large powerful dogs, and some horses, and there were some others he couldn't see how they fit in as one group, like pigs.
An angel appeared in the glen by the Reflecting Pond, gently laying a large powerful looking dog in the soft grass. She carefully removed a collar with a bright shiny bit of metal on one side and a vest from the sleeping dog, "You don't need these any longer, you wore them proudly but now it is time for you to just have love." As she softly petted his head his eyes drifted open. The pup recognized the look in his eyes, amazement at the beauty around him, at how well he felt, and confusion. The angel smiled at him and spoke in a voice that sounded like a beautiful song, "You are safe, you have done your job well and now you may rest." With that she disappeared.
Now the others there moved forward, but not the happy tumble he had seen before. Some held back, more observers although he could tell they were waiting with barely contained excitement. The larger dogs, horses, and some of those he could not see how they fit in stepped toward the newcomer - and they seemed to have formed into ranks like a parade. They remained quiet, standing tall and proud as if acknowledging someone very special.
The pup saw the Silver One approaching, "Well, to be sure he can explain this to me," the pup thought as he started toward him. An angel appeared at the pup's side and quietly put a hand on him to stop him. "Wait, he wishes to welcome him. After he has been welcomed there will be time to explain." The pup was confused, newcomers were greeted with great joy, and while there was joy here, this greeting seemed to be more. When the Silver One reached the newcomer he bowed silently then sat in the ranks with the others.
Almost as if the Silver One's greeting was a cue, when he took a place in the ranks near the newcomer they all shifted slightly forming a path through them. A tall man with a strong bearing approached with two other dogs that also carried themselves with a purposeful bearing. The newcomer looked up, suddenly he ran toward the man and the other two dogs and they also broke into a run. When the four met they fell into a tumble of love and happiness, and the joy the pup had seen when others arrived took hold, a loud, happy, love-filled joy. After a moment they were joined by others, kitties and pups who seemed not so powerful, but obviously part of the same group. The angel absently scratched behind the pup's ear and he felt her love. "Now, Little One, you may go ask," and she disappeared.
The man and what seemed to be those who belonged with him moved away to be together. The pup made his way to the Silver One. "What just happened? Why was this time different? What were the items the angel who brought him removed? Why was everyone so quiet?" The Silver One grinned at the pup, "Slow down. The dog you just saw arrive is a special dog, he was a Service Dog. Some Service Dogs are helpers, like the ones who help people who are in wheelchairs, or who cannot hear, or who are blind. Some Service Dogs help keep people safe, like those who work in the military or are police or rescue dogs. The items you saw the angel put away for him were his badge and his service vest. When a Service Animal travels to Rainbow Bridge all those like them greet them, they assemble first to show their pride in their fellow Service Animal. If their human is here they are allowed to meet before we all play together. The dog that just arrived was a police dog, the young man was his handler and his human and the first two dogs that arrived with him were also police dogs he belonged to. The other kitties and pups who joined them were family companions who the man also belonged to. All the animals you saw form ranks were also law enforcement and rescue and military animals. Some helped catch bad people, some helped find lost or injured people, some carried their humans, and some sniffed out bad things for their humans." The pup looked at the others now with awe, "All of these then were . . . . .? Wow." The Silver One nodded and smiled at the pup. "Come," he said kindly. "His tasks are now done, now he can rest and play. And now it is time for us to go and join in his celebration."
(C) Candace 5/18/10
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The title photo is a composite of police pictures from the web and a photo i took in a botanical garden.
~*~ This Page is in appreciation to all those who risk so much to keep us all safe. ~*~
Click the link below to go to the K9 Data Index (on a different site for just Service animals, a wonderful tribute to all they give for man)
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