Hurricane Helene descended on the mountains of western North Carolina like a black shroud, dumping as much as 31 inches of rain on the region late last September. Lives, homes and businesses were swept away. So was the Rainbow Bridge at Lake Lure, a sweet spot of pilgrimage for hundreds if not thousands of pet owners who came there to leave mementos and embrace memories of four-legged loved ones.
When Elizabeth Accomando, director of Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, and her volunteers heard about the wreckage, they experienced a “heartfelt need” to create such a bridge at the organization’s Loxahatchee-area facility.
“When the bridge in the Carolinas was devastated by the hurricane, many hearts were shattered,” Accomando wrote on the Barky Pines Facebook page. “People from all over went there to place their beloved pet’s collars, harnesses and even favorite toys… We hurt for them. We wanted something accessible for people here.”…