Horseshoe is pictured here with his friend Casey, who is, apparently, partial to blue hats.

Horseshoe and Casey

His friend, Sarah asked me to check in on Horseshoe today.

I spend a lot of time on the other side, talking with animals who have passed away, and I rarely cry. The other side is a happy place, a peaceful place, a place of joy.

Today, I cried.

I said, “Hey Horseshoe…”

and he said, “Hey! I’m kind of busy.”

I said, “What are you up to?”

and he showed me what looked like an airport gate. He showed dogs walking out of a door and into the bright light of the room. There were all kinds.

He said “These are the dogs that died without having anyone to grieve for them. I welcome them back.”

When animals reach the other side, they are whole again. I didn’t understand the expressions on some of the dogs’ faces. Some of these dogs looked ticked off. There was a black and tan dachshund with a cranky expression.

I said, “Why does that dog look so crabby?”

He said, “Many dogs feel bad that they didn’t have a human relationship. And they don’t remember why they were sent to earth in the first place. I’m here to remind them of their work.”

I asked, “What’s that?”

He said, “Their job is to teach compassion and love.”

I felt so many things when he said this. I had been talking with God the other day and he said that our job here was to learn compassion and love, and now to hear Horseshoe say it too, it just struck me.

And also, I felt guilty and angry at how many animals suffer while we try to learn these lessons.

And also, hopeful, thinking of all of the animals and people I know who have deep love for each other.

And of course, happy that Horseshoe is there to greet them.