Rainbow Bridge Project

If you have ever lost a pet, and most of us have, your veterinarian’s office may have given you a sympathy card about the Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge is the place where your pets go when they leave this earth, but wait for you. The concept of the Rainbow Bridge comes from a beautiful poem that describes a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth where pets wait for their owners. When the owners die, they are reunited with their pets and cross the bridge into heaven together.

The Smoky Mountain Humane Society has announced they are building the Smoky Mountain Rainbow Bridge and Gardens in Newport. According to the Smoky Mountain Humane Society they are building a large enclosed area that is being made into a comfort and healing space where visitors can go to remember their pets. On the Rainbow Bridge, people can leave collars or rocks painted in remembrance of their pets. Around the bridge will be benches, gardens, walking paths and also an area where cremated remains of pets may be placed. There will also be a memorial for Police and Military K9 Heroes who have passed on.

The project is being built with donated materials and services, so no funds from the shelter are being used to pay for creating the Rainbow Bridge and Gardens. A small building in also being built that visitors will walk through first that will contain the names of sponsors and donors to the project. You can also purchase commemorative engraved bricks that will line the paths in the gardens. Those bricks are done through the website www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/rainbowsmhs

If you would like more information about the project or how you can donate, visit the visit Smoky Mountain Rainbow Bridge and Gardens Facebook page.