Rainbow Bridge (pets)

The Rainbow Bridge is the theme of several works written first in 1959, then in the 1980s and 1990s, that speak of an other-worldly place where pets go upon death, eventually to be reunited with their owners.

Among those who have claimed authorship are: However, American author Paul Koudounaris, a member of The Order of the Good Death, published an article in February 2023, in which he detangled the history of the poem and provided proof, including the original handwritten manuscript of the text, which make it clear that the author is Edna Clyne-Rekhy, who wrote it as a teenager in Scotland in 1959 to mourn the death of her dog Major.

Eventually it was introduced to U.S. readers in 1994 when "Dear Abby", an advice column with a wide newspaper circulation, printed it in its entirety, but unattributed.

A Washington Post reporter opines that: "It is, in free verse form, 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' for an exploding $69 billion pet care industry.

[6] Other posts from 1993 suggest it was already well established and being circulated online at that time, enough for the quotation of even a single line to be expected to be recognized by other newsgroup readers.