A Scottish Artist‘s Secret
The poem “Rainbow Bridge” has comforted millions of pet owners worldwide. For decades, no one knew who wrote it. At least fifteen people claimed ownership. Art historian and author Paul Koudounaris decided to find the truth. He had spent years researching pet cemeteries and repeatedly encountered references to the Rainbow Bridge in his work. The anonymity bothered him. He said that a text of monumental importance to the world of animal mourning should not remain uncredited.
In February 2023, National Geographic made a stunning announcement: the true author of the Rainbow Bridge is Edna Clyne-Rekhy, an 82‑year‑old Scottish artist and animal lover. Until that moment, she had no idea that the poem she had written over sixty years earlier—in memory of her dog, Major—had brought comfort to so many others. She said: “I’m absolutely stunned. I’m still in a state of shock.”
1959: A Girl Loses Major
Back in 1959. Young Edna Clyne-Rekhy was only a Scottish girl. She lost her loyal, steady Major. Grief overcame her. But for this Scottish artist, grief could not just be tears. She picked up a pen and wrote down, word by word, where she hoped Major had gone. She wrote: every pet that leaves this world runs to a beautiful meadow. There is no pain, no weakness, only endless running, endless play, and infinite sunshine. When your own eyes finally close, they will be waiting. You will be reunited with your pet there. The poem that the world would come to know as “Rainbow Bridge” was born in that tiny Scottish room.
For more than sixty years until 2023, she had no idea that her work was being shared around the world. Not until National Geographic called her, telling her how much effort they had put into identifying her. Koudounaris compiled a list of about 25 names with any connection to the poem. He investigated each one, crossing them off one by one. Edna Clyne-Rekhy was the last name on the first list—an artist living in Scotland.
From Scotland to Dear Abby: The Poem Spreads Across America
How did the Rainbow Bridge poem become so famous across America and then the world? The year was 1994. A reader in Grand Rapids, Michigan, sent a copy of “Rainbow Bridge” to the famous advice column Dear Abby. The letter said: “You must print this! Please warn your readers to get out their handkerchiefs.”
Dear Abby printed the poem in her column. Across the US, a million readers shed tears, but they also quickly realized that no author was credited. “If anyone in my reading audience knows who wrote it, please let me know.” But no one came forward. After that, “Rainbow Bridge” seemed to grow wings. It was used by veterinary clinics; it was read aloud by heartbroken owners. According to records, as of 1995, Koudounaris found 15 separate claims filed under the title “Rainbow Bridge” with the United States Copyright Office. More than a dozen people had tried to claim authorship.
The Rainbow Bridge as an Icon of Pet Memorials
The Rainbow Bridge is not just a poem. It has become an emotional symbol worldwide. A real “Rainbow Bridge” exists in Lake Lure, North Carolina. It was reportedly destroyed by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. But the City of St. Cloud, Florida, built a new Rainbow Bridge memorial park in April 2025. And this week, a Rainbow Bridge Day of Remembrance was held there, with participants from California to New York.
In mid‑April 2026, university students in South Carolina joined the remembrance. They painted a Rainbow Bridge honoring the school’s beloved unofficial mascot, Riley Knox—a golden retriever, Bassett Hound mix. Riley passed away in May 2025. When chemistry student Abbey Vincent missed her own dogs back home, Riley brought her comfort with his gentle eyes. Riley had been called a beloved surrogate, filling that void with her gentle spirit. So when Dave Knox told her about painting the Rainbow Bridge, she volunteered without hesitation.
A Real Rainbow Bridge in Picayune, Mississippi
Picayune, Mississippi, just opened a new Rainbow Bridge pet memorial. Visitors can clip a pet’s collar or keepsake to the cable along the bridge. Memorial tags are also available, with proceeds benefiting the local animal shelter. This is a collective effort—eleven community groups, local artists, civic organizations, and the city working together.
On a larger scale, these Rainbow Bridges connect the living and the departed. Their names are engraved on weathered tags. Their old collars are strung back onto steel cables. Like a pet tombstone, they become a place to display love.
The Rainbow Bridge and the Pet Tombstone: Shared Comfort
The Rainbow Bridge poem and the pet tombstone both offer an emotional anchor for those who have lost a pet. A real‑world Rainbow Bridge brings together grieving owners from all over the world. A pet tombstone does the same—a stone carved with a beloved pet’s name tells every passerby: this life was deeply loved. The Rainbow Bridge gives a pet’s soul a place to go. The pet tombstone gives an owner’s longing a place to rest.
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