Some animals enter our lives for years. Others remain only briefly. Yet even the shortest encounter can leave a lasting impression, changing how we understand love, responsibility, grief and compassion.
In Those We Meet at the Rainbow Bridge, author Susan Jaunsen offers a heartfelt tribute to the animals who shaped her life. Through personal memories, rescue stories, poetry, spiritual reflection and imagined reunions, she celebrates the unique ways animals become companions, teachers and unforgettable members of our families.
The book introduces readers to a wide range of creatures, each with a story worth remembering. Beatrice and Bonnie, two Netherland Dwarf rabbits, are discovered in an unsafe glass enclosure on an apartment patio. When heavy rain leaves them cold, wet and vulnerable, Jaunsen refuses to look away. She brings them to safety, learns how to care for them and helps place them in a loving home.
Their rescue becomes more than a single act of kindness. It strengthens the author’s belief that compassion must lead to action. Caring begins with noticing, but it becomes meaningful when someone chooses to step forward.
The book also recounts the relocation of honey bee colonies. Instead of viewing the bees as unwanted pests, Jaunsen seeks the help of an experienced beekeeper who carefully moves them to a safer location. Watching the beekeeper work gives her a deeper appreciation for the organization, loyalty and shared purpose within a hive.
Clarence, a neglected cockatoo, brings another emotional layer to the story. Confined in a dark laundry room and deprived of stimulation and companionship, he represents the suffering that can occur when an animal’s needs are misunderstood. Jaunsen speaks up for him and imagines a hopeful future in which he finds healing, friendship and freedom.
Cats hold an especially important place in the book. Siam, Smokey, Mischief, Little Boy, Shadow, Chloe, Oliver and many others appear through stories of rescue, trust, veterinary care, adoption and loss. Each animal has a distinct personality. Some are cautious and independent, while others are affectionate, demanding, playful or deeply loyal.
At the heart of the book is Willow, Jaunsen’s beloved grey-and-white cat. Willow was more than a pet. He was her closest animal companion, staying near her when she was unwell, greeting her at the door, sleeping beside her and providing comfort during difficult moments.
When Willow dies, his absence becomes central to the book’s exploration of grief. During a near-death experience following a car accident, Jaunsen reaches the Rainbow Bridge and encounters many animals she once loved and helped. Yet Willow is missing.
The question “Where is Willow?” leads to the book’s most powerful message: the bonds we share with animals may continue beyond physical separation. Love does not disappear simply because a life ends. It remains in memory, influence and the compassion we carry forward.
Those We Meet at the Rainbow Bridge is Susan Jaunsen’s tribute to every animal who offered comfort, inspired action or left a permanent pawprint on a human heart. It reminds readers that animals do not merely share our homes.
They help shape who we become.
