My recent articles about Muppy’s passing and the reference to The Rainbow Bridge have sparked some thoughtful questions from friends, so I decided to research the poem and discuss it here.
For those of you who are not aware, The Rainbow Bridge is a poem that addresses where our pets go when they pass and leave this earthly realm. I’ve been aware of the poem for many years, and it has always brought me comfort when a pet passes.
Most agree that “The Rainbow Bridge” is a natural, beautiful place that meets all our pets' physical, mental, and emotional needs, and where they go when they pass. Restored to their youthful vigor, our furry friends play, enjoy one another's company, and have amazing adventures, all while waiting for us to reunite with them when we leave this earthly realm. It is basically a paradise for our pets, but without us.
I love the general concept because it captures exactly what I want for all the furry companions who have been part of my life. The only thing I would add is that I hope my pets can continue to watch over me and show up in a dream or in some other manner to spark fond memories. Incidentally, I’ve had two such wonderful dreams since Muppy passed.
Some of you who know that I am not religious might be thinking, “Don, the Rainbow Bridge, really?” While not beholden to any specific religion, I do consider myself spiritual and believe that all the good energy in the universe is interconnected. All of those I have loved and who have loved me will be together again in some form we do not yet understand.
Many of us, me included, have mistaken “the Rainbow Bridge” as pet heaven. However, if we look closely at the first line, “Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge,” the author clearly intended that the bridge crosses into heaven, and our pets wait for us there, so we can cross-over together.
If I look at The Rainbow Bridge from a non-human-centric point of view, I see no reason our pets should have to wait for us before crossing into heaven. In fact, I have seen some hilarious cartoons that show all pets automatically going to heaven because they have had to tolerate humanity. So, in my version, my pets are waiting for me in a wonderful afterlife, hoping I don’t mess up so I can join them someday. Now you know why I want them to keep looking out for me.
The History of The Rainbow Bridge
Over the years, various versions of The Rainbow Bridge have been published with no author cited. And in that time, countless people who were not the author took credit for a beautiful poem and copyrighted The Rainbow Bridge.
The search for the real author was documented in National Geographic on February 22, 2023, by Rachel Nuwer in The ‘Rainbow Bridge’ has comforted millions of pet parents. Who wrote it? Nuwer’s article discusses how Paul Koudounaris, a big fan of the poem, tracked down the original author, Edna Clyne-Rekhy. It was 1959, and the author, then 19, wrote The Rainbow Bridge as she grieved the passing of Major, her Labrador Retriever. Her mother suggested she write about Major to help deal with her grief, and the result was The Rainbow Bridge.
Over the years, Clyne-Rekhy typed out copies of the poem that she shared with a few friends, never listing herself as the author or claiming copyright. For obvious reasons, the poem was widely shared, and in 1994, someone sent a copy to Dear Abby, who published it in her column. Suddenly, “The Rainbow Bridge” was everywhere as people who had lost a pet or who knew someone mourning a furry friend shared it to help a friend deal with their grief.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of clarity on copyright issues regarding “The Rainbow Bridge”, I cannot include Edna Clyne-Rekhy's beautiful poem in my article; however, you can read the National Geographic article I cited above and see it in its entirety at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rainbow-bridge-poem-pet-death-mourning-origin-revealed
Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors, Steering Committee, and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson. ©2026, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved