Some rescue stories begin with a carefully organized plan. Others begin with a feeling that something is terribly wrong.
In Susan Jaunsen’s Those We Meet at the Rainbow Bridge, the story of Beatrice and Bonnie begins when two Netherland Dwarf rabbits are placed in an aquarium on an apartment patio. Small, vulnerable and exposed to the weather, the rabbits are left without the kind of shelter, bedding or freedom they need.
Jaunsen notices their condition and becomes increasingly concerned. She speaks to their owner, hoping he will recognize the danger, but her concerns appear to go unheard. Then the rain comes.
As the storm intensifies, Jaunsen cannot stop thinking about the rabbits. She returns to check on them and discovers that her fears were justified. Beatrice and Bonnie are still trapped inside the aquarium, drenched by the rain and huddled together for warmth. Their small bodies are shivering and no one has stepped in to protect them.
In that moment, concern becomes action.
Jaunsen rushes home for a cat carrier, returns to the patio and removes the rabbits from the unsafe enclosure. She brings them into her home, gives them temporary shelter and begins learning everything she can about rabbit care.
This part of the story is especially meaningful because Jaunsen does not present herself as an expert. She admits that she initially knew little about rabbits. What mattered was her willingness to learn. She researched their dietary needs, suitable habitats, fresh hay, exercise and the gentle care required by such delicate animals.
Her cat Chloe adds a memorable touch to the rescue. Curious about the unfamiliar sounds coming from the room, Chloe watches the rabbits closely. Although her natural instincts could have made the situation tense, she seems to understand that Beatrice and Bonnie are not intruders or prey. They are guests who need protection.
Eventually, Jaunsen finds a safe foster environment with proper hutches, enclosed runs, fresh food and attentive care. From there, the rabbits are adopted by a loving family, where they can explore, play and live without fear of being abandoned in the rain again.
In Those We Meet at the Rainbow Bridge, Beatrice and Bonnie later appear in a spiritual reunion, healthy, joyful and eager to thank the woman who changed their lives. Their return gives emotional meaning to an act that may have seemed small at the time. To the rabbits, it was everything.
Their story also changes Jaunsen. It strengthens her belief that compassion cannot remain passive. Feeling sorry for a suffering animal is not enough when help is possible. Someone must notice. Someone must speak. Sometimes, someone must be willing to step forward when everyone else steps back.
That lesson makes “Beatrice and Bonnie” one of the most inspiring chapters in the book. It reminds readers that rescue does not always require extraordinary resources. It may begin with attention, courage and the refusal to look away.
Through these two little rabbits, Susan Jaunsen delivers a powerful truth: one compassionate decision can completely transform a life and can also transform the person who chooses to help.
