UGLY
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in, knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage and shall we say....Love. The combination of these things, combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been, was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side. His left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unusual angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gold tabby striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck and even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Everytime someone saw Ugly, there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!" All the children were warned not to touch him. The adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come into their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction, if you turned the hose on him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up, he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find. One day, Ugly shared his love with the neighbors dobermans. They did not respond kindly and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment, I could hear his screams and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape. A gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him terribly I thought, then I felt a familar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye toward me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in his greatest pain, that ugly, battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection and perhaps some compassion. At that moment, I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards. I thought about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit and to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures or talk show specials ever could. And for that, I will always be thankful. Ugly had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside and it was time for me to move on and love truly and deeply and to give myself totally to those I cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked and beautiful. As for me, I will always try to be like Ugly.

~Author Unknown~

Pets That Have No One
So, what happens to those pets that have no one special? Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold, damp and grey. As dismal a day as you could ever imagine. The pets who had recently arrived were confused and concerned for they had never experienced a day like this since they had arrived at the Rainbow Bridge. They had no idea what to think. But the pets who had spent some time waiting for their loved ones knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway that led to the Bridge. They knew that this was something special and they wanted to watch. It wasn't too long before an elderly dog came into view. His head hung heavy and low, his tail dragging the ground. The pets on the pathway, well at least the ones who had been at the Bridge for some time, knew his story straight away, for they had seen this happen far, far too many times. He approached the Bridge slowly. Although it was obvious that his heart was heavy and that he was completely overcome by emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the dogs waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was neither full of health nor of vigor. As he made his painful, slow journey he watched the pets who were by now all watching him. He was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He instinctively knew that the sooner he could pass over, the happier he would be. But, it was not to be. As he approached the Bridge, an angel appeared and stood in his way. The angel spoke softly and apologizing to the old dog and told him that he could not pass, for only those pets who were with their special people were allowed to pass over Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people. Not here at Rainbow Bridge or on Earth below. Having no place to go, the poor elderly dog turned towards the fields before the Bridge. In a separate area close, he saw a group of elderly, infirm and sad-eyed pets, both dogs and cats just like himself. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these pets were not playing. They were just laying around on the green grass, staring forlornly and full of misery towards the pathway which led to Rainbow Bridge. He knew that he had no choice, he had to join them. So he took his place amongst them, just watching the pathway and waiting.... One of the newest arrivals, who was waiting for his special people could not understand what it was that he had just seen and asked one of the pets that had been there for some time to explain it to him. "That poor dog was sent to the dog pound when his owner got tired of him. The way you see him now with his greying fur, cloudy old eyes was just the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and he passed on with only the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable, unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family, or special person to give his love to he has no one to escort him across the Bridge." The first pet thought about this and asked, "But what will happen now?" He was just about to get his answer when suddenly the clouds parted and the all invasive gloom lifted! Coming toward the Bridge was a lone man. A man who on Earth had appeared to be a quite ordinary man. A man, who just like the elderly dog had left Earth forever. He turned toward the sad group of old animals and held his outstretched palms toward them. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all the elderly pets were bathed in the purest golden light. In an instant, they were all young and healthy again. They were all in the very prime of life. Another group of pets from within the midst of the pets waiting for their special people moved toward the pathway. As they approached the man, they each bowed low. He passed them and patted each of them on tenderly on the head and softly spoke their name. Eventually, the newly restored pets fell into line behind the man and quietly followed him towards the Bridge. They all crossed together. "What happened?" "That man spent his whole life trying to help pets of all kinds. The pets that you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his unselfish work. They will cross over when their new families arrive. Those pets you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a man or woman who spent their entire lives helping animals arrives, they are allowed to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor pets that they could not help on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see....ALL animals are special to them just as they are special to all animals.

By: Graham Lake

A Dog Sits Waiting
A dog sits waiting in the cold autumn sun.
Too faithful to leave, too frightened to run.
He's been there for days, with nothing to do
But sit by the road, waiting for you.
He can't understand why you left him that day,
He thought you and he were stopping to play.
He's sure you'll come back, that's why he stays,
How long will he suffer, how many days?
His legs are weak, his throat parched and dry,
He's sick from hunger and falls with a sigh.
He lays down his head and closes his eyes,
I wish you could see how a waiting dog dies.