Tribute to Yukon Jack: Biped Tissue Alert

This post is a tribute to Yukon Jack and the amazing person who helped him be saved and to MaPaw SHR, who helped him to survive another 8 months in rescue. Sadly, Yukon Jack went to join his friends at the Rainbow Bridge on Thursday, September 27, 2007.

Yukon Jack had quite an amazing story. A good samaritan walking along the Perkiomen creek in Pennsylvania heard a dog barking along the creek/river where no dog should be. Upon investigation, he saw Jack who had fallen down the steep side onto the ice and was trapped. By the time the man reached him he had collapsed and could not stand. Jack was taken to the SPCA to recover, in case someone was looking for him, but no one came forward during the "owner claim" time period, so MaPaw took him in. This quote from a MaPaw volunteer, "So when we think of the people we want to strangle over their treatment of dogs, just remember the good samaritan who climbed into the ravine to save a dieing dog".

The following poem is very touching and we believe a very fitting tribute:



The Bridge



Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and
gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be
imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to
think, as they had never experienced a day like this
before. But the animals who had been waiting for their
beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started
to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.



It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head
hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who
had been there for awhile, knew what his story was right
away, for they had seen this happen far too often. He
approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but
with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other
animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been
restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As
he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other
animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and
the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But
, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by
the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that
he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were
with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no
place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the
fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals
like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing
, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly
staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he
took his place among them, watching the pathway and
waiting.



One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand
what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals
that had been there for a while to explain it to him.



"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to
rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his
fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of
rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to
comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he
had no family to give his love to, he has no one 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
gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single
person and among the older animals, a whole group was
suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young
and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.



"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of
animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed
low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person
offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The
newly restored animals fell into line and followed him
towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.



"What happened?"



"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect
were those who found new homes because of his work. They
will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw
restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer
arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of
rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that
they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."



Author Unknown...

Jack lived the remainder of his life in a loving foster home never getting to find his furever home. May Jack wear his silver harness proudly as he goes across the bridge.