Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?
Do all dogs go to heaven? Some say yes, others no, and any variation in between. But why wouldn’t our beloved pets who shower us with unconditional love deserve a place in the next life?
Our Love Affair with our Pets
We Americans love our pets. And we put our money where our hearts are. Hence the multi-million-dollar industry around pets. When I was growing up, it was sufficient to make sure your pet had food and water. Now we buy clothes for our pets and lavish them with gifts on Christmas and birthdays. Not to mention the expense of medical care for these loved ones.
This is a first world phenomenon. When my daughter stayed in a village in Mali in high school, she asked the names of the dogs running around the village.
“Dog,” was the response.
“But what do you call him?”
“Dog,” was the repeated answer for each of these scamps. They weren’t pets, so did not have a name beyond their generic name.
When you are struggling to feed your children, there is no expendable money to support the lifestyle that pets in America enjoy.
Does Heaven Exist?
Our pets are beloved members of our families, hence the question, what happens to our pets when they die?
There are varying opinions on the matter. Some are straight out no. For those who do not believe in heaven, it is a moot point. Others are just as strong in their belief that beloved pets await us on death’s shore.
Just as there is no way to prove the existence of heaven, there is no way to prove what this heaven looks like or who resides there. While there are many accounts of near-death experiences wherein people tell of meeting a supreme being and loved ones, these are near death, and thus not positive proof of a hereafter. They could be just the brain’s way of shutting down before eternal darkness. Jesus died and came back but he was quiet on the subject of what he encountered during his stay in the tomb. So, we have no definitive proof.
Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?
That leave us with faith and belief in regard to the question, do all dogs go to heaven.
My church, the Roman Catholic Church, teaches that there is a life after this one and that people, “the communion of saints”, will be there. Whether this communion includes animals is not specified.
The other thing the Catholic Church teaches definitively is that we will be happy. As the Baltimore Catechism I grew up with states in response to the question why we are here: “To know love and serve God in this life and be happy with him in the next.” So, there is a next life, God will be there, and we will be happy. The ultimate pursuit of happiness leads us to God in heaven.
As to dogs and other pets, I leave it to you. If you can’t imagine being happy without your beloved pet, then that pet will be there when you reach the pearly gates. If that belief gives you comfort in this life, I see no problem with it.
What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you. I would also love to hear your stories about your pets. Send them to patricia@patriciamrobertson.com.
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