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SecretaryMonday
Guest
That is so weird. :ehh:
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Iheartcoffee
Guest
Pets have a very pure love and loyalty. They can be a good example of loving for the sake of loving. Our love for our pets is also a very pure and wonderful love. God surely loves them deeply and I feel certain that God has a special plan for pets. I really don’t see how he would create something that pure and wonderful for us and then completely extinguish it. It seems as if completely extinguishing it would be the opposite of what God does, which is to perpetuate love.
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severus68
Guest
Yes,
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Ms_Manners
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No, just representative of a backwards and cold society.
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Pestos
Guest
Thanks for the post below…but can you tell us which country you are referring to when ou say that “in our country there are no pet cemeteries?” I have visited pet cemeteries old and new in France, Brazil, and Japan ( a Buddhist pet cemetery), so am interested to know which country has none at all…thanks!
In our country there are no pet cemeteries, so burial is not an option since it is illegal to bury them outside of a cemetery. Until a few months ago, the only legal option was to burn the bodies with medical and harmful waste, which always seemed horrible to me, after 15 or more years by my side, I’d literally have them thrown out like garbage. I must admit I had plans to bury them, I know a vet who’d help me out, and no one actually cares so there isn’t much chance I’d get caught.
There is now a company which does pet cremations, although I think they only work in our area. You can have a group cremation, then you don’t get the ashes, but it’s still a little better than the waste thing, or you can have your pet cremated individually and then you do get the ashes. But you have to keep them in your home again, because technically it is still illegal to scatter them anywhere or bury them. However, there is very little supervision so you’d get away with scattering the ashes as long as you didn’t do it in a very public place in the middle of the day.
In our country there are no pet cemeteries, so burial is not an option since it is illegal to bury them outside of a cemetery. Until a few months ago, the only legal option was to burn the bodies with medical and harmful waste, which always seemed horrible to me, after 15 or more years by my side, I’d literally have them thrown out like garbage. I must admit I had plans to bury them, I know a vet who’d help me out, and no one actually cares so there isn’t much chance I’d get caught.
There is now a company which does pet cremations, although I think they only work in our area. You can have a group cremation, then you don’t get the ashes, but it’s still a little better than the waste thing, or you can have your pet cremated individually and then you do get the ashes. But you have to keep them in your home again, because technically it is still illegal to scatter them anywhere or bury them. However, there is very little supervision so you’d get away with scattering the ashes as long as you didn’t do it in a very public place in the middle of the day.
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Melissa
Guest
I wish I could remember where I had read it, and who it was who I was reading, but it was a theological speculation that domesticated animals, by virtue of being “subject” to the person are able to share in the soul/immortality (whereas, if they revert to a more “wild beast” behavior, they lose that soul). I am summarizing, probably not all that well, but it’s been about 25 years since I had read this particular article.
But to answer the original post–mourning is mourning. When you have loved, you will grieve the loss whether it is the loss of Fido, Fluffy, Goldie the Goldfish, or humans of various degrees of relationship.
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UbiCaritas
Guest
I had a cat who I adopted when I was 8 or 9 as a terrified and, I suspect, formerly feral scrap of kitten. Eventually, she learned to trust me, and we bonded more than I’ve bonded with any animal since. In fact, she accompanied me on a cross-country move, would sleep on me or cuddled up against me every night, and generally lived a very happy and content 15 years.
When she died, I was completely heartbroken. I’d lived a really tough life: my parents were very abusive, and I was on my own from the time I was 18. I put myself through school by working three jobs at once. Coming home to someone who cared about me meant that I could keep going. There were weeks when I’d make myself bean soup or something similarly cheap and eat that for two meals a day all week in order to afford cat food…and I never questioned that for a moment because she was worth it.
She died two years ago, and I still miss her. I’m tearing up just writing this post.
It’s probably very sentimental of me, but I like to think that she didn’t go until she did for a reason. Three months before she died, I met my now-DH. I guess she knew she was leaving me in good “paws,” and that he’d take care of me.
When she died, I was completely heartbroken. I’d lived a really tough life: my parents were very abusive, and I was on my own from the time I was 18. I put myself through school by working three jobs at once. Coming home to someone who cared about me meant that I could keep going. There were weeks when I’d make myself bean soup or something similarly cheap and eat that for two meals a day all week in order to afford cat food…and I never questioned that for a moment because she was worth it.
She died two years ago, and I still miss her. I’m tearing up just writing this post.
It’s probably very sentimental of me, but I like to think that she didn’t go until she did for a reason. Three months before she died, I met my now-DH. I guess she knew she was leaving me in good “paws,” and that he’d take care of me.
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Bruised_Reed
Guest
I’m happy you had each other. It’s stories like yours that soothe the heartache I feel when I see abandoned and abused animals.
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UbiCaritas
Guest
Thanks for your kind words. She was a really special cat. Honestly, I adopted her because I was pretty sure no one else would. When I got her, she hated and feared all humans, and if you picked her up and she couldn’t escape, she’d sit there trembling and miserable until you let her go, but I couldn’t walk out of the shelter and leave her to be put down. One of the best decisions I ever made, let me tell you.
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His_helpmeet
Guest
As I understand it, the Church teaches that animals will not see for themselves the beatific vision as humans will, because they do not have immortal souls. That said, God knows what we will require in heaven for us to enjoy it as He intended. Consequently, if God knows that it is essential to our eternal happiness that our pets be with us in heaven, they will be waiting for us there.
I agree that pets are part of the family. We always had cats when I was growing up. They were indoor/outdoor cats, so for most of them we did not know when they passed - they just didn’t come home anymore. After I moved out on my own, I had a beautiful mackerel tabby named Froggie whom I had to surrender when she was 6. She did not do well with my stepdaughter - became frightened when my stepdaughter would play. I sincerely hope that she went to the “Senior for a Senior” program that our Humane Society has - they will place senior cats (over 6 years) into the homes of seniors free of charge. She would have been ideal for that given her temperament. We had a second cat since who ran away shortly after we moved
But yesterday, we adopted 2 new kitties. Jenette (2 1/2) is a domestic short hair with a tuxedo pattern - black with a white abdomen. She is very affectionate and loves my stepdaughter. Winter (3) is a domestic short hair orange tabby. He is also very affectionate and LOVES to sit on somebody’s lap. I know that when they pass, I will miss them - and I’ve only known them for a day.
In summary, as I understand it the Church doesn’t teach that it is wrong for us to mourn our pets. Caring for a pet and demonstrating respect for domestic animals is part of good stewardship, and consequently it is to be expected that we will mourn the passing of a beloved companion.
I agree that pets are part of the family. We always had cats when I was growing up. They were indoor/outdoor cats, so for most of them we did not know when they passed - they just didn’t come home anymore. After I moved out on my own, I had a beautiful mackerel tabby named Froggie whom I had to surrender when she was 6. She did not do well with my stepdaughter - became frightened when my stepdaughter would play. I sincerely hope that she went to the “Senior for a Senior” program that our Humane Society has - they will place senior cats (over 6 years) into the homes of seniors free of charge. She would have been ideal for that given her temperament. We had a second cat since who ran away shortly after we moved
But yesterday, we adopted 2 new kitties. Jenette (2 1/2) is a domestic short hair with a tuxedo pattern - black with a white abdomen. She is very affectionate and loves my stepdaughter. Winter (3) is a domestic short hair orange tabby. He is also very affectionate and LOVES to sit on somebody’s lap. I know that when they pass, I will miss them - and I’ve only known them for a day.In summary, as I understand it the Church doesn’t teach that it is wrong for us to mourn our pets. Caring for a pet and demonstrating respect for domestic animals is part of good stewardship, and consequently it is to be expected that we will mourn the passing of a beloved companion.
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severus68
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severus68
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I understand how you feel. You did a wonderful deed in adopting her.
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Petaro
Guest
Pets bring much joy to our lives, and thus are part of God’s glorious creation made for our benefit. We have a right to mourn any loss of good in this sad world. I personally cannot comprehend the nature of Heaven but have a childish hope that my dog Marsha will be part of it. Silly, given the teachings you have wisely stated supported by such greats as Aquinas; however we are told to be like little children in our faith in a surprisingly loving God.
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Ms_Manners
Guest
Croatia, Balkans.
Actually there were pet cemeteries, I think there were only two very small ones for the whole country (I know there was one, someone told me there was another), but when they were full, they didn’t accept any more pets (which does make sense). That was years ago.
Pet cemeteries are considered a silly whim of people with nothing better to do with their time.
Even many people who have pets think we don’t need one, the mentality concerning companion animals (and animals in general) is very backwards here.
I actually live in the capital and our mayor kept promising to open one, but there were always excuses, corruption and bribery is normal here, and I think in the end part of it was that he just didn’t want to make himself look bad with such an unpopular project.
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Pestos
Guest
Hello Everyone, and thanks for so many very thoughtful and deeply felt responses to my original post. It has been a great conversation covering a lot of ground.
Here’s a slightly different question about how people mourn pets. If you, as a Catholic, bury your pet in a pet cemetery or even in your backyard, would/could you include the sign of a cross on the stone marker? Or erect a cross to mark the place? When I visited a French pet cemetery in Paris, the cemetery head said they were not allowed to include such a religious symbol on the headstones for the pets there even if people requested it because it was contrary to Church policy. I don’t know if it is the same in the U.S. Have you done so (included a sign of the cross)? or, do you think it would be appropriate to do so? Has anyone asked their own priest about this when you pet died?
Thanks for thinking about this!
Here’s a slightly different question about how people mourn pets. If you, as a Catholic, bury your pet in a pet cemetery or even in your backyard, would/could you include the sign of a cross on the stone marker? Or erect a cross to mark the place? When I visited a French pet cemetery in Paris, the cemetery head said they were not allowed to include such a religious symbol on the headstones for the pets there even if people requested it because it was contrary to Church policy. I don’t know if it is the same in the U.S. Have you done so (included a sign of the cross)? or, do you think it would be appropriate to do so? Has anyone asked their own priest about this when you pet died?
Thanks for thinking about this!
T
Tax_Collector14
Guest
@ joie de vivre
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Animals have material souls, when they’re dead, they’re dead. *
So does that mean that God cannot give them back to us in eternity? I think it’s not so much a question of whether they have material souls or not, but rather whether they are good parts of creation…obviously they are, God is our Father, he loves us, of course we do not want to presume, but of course He can give them to us again in heaven…
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Animals have material souls, when they’re dead, they’re dead. *
So does that mean that God cannot give them back to us in eternity? I think it’s not so much a question of whether they have material souls or not, but rather whether they are good parts of creation…obviously they are, God is our Father, he loves us, of course we do not want to presume, but of course He can give them to us again in heaven…
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kbachler
Guest
I had a border collie, named Spot. He was easily the smartest dog I ever had, understood words, and clearly he lived by a sort of “code of behavior”. When sick, for example, he refused to throw-up in the house, and when he got stomach cancer was highly embarrassed on the few occasions when he couldn’t make it outside.
The following story has made me wonder about what place pets have, and I leave those decisions up to God to decide.
Spot had a favorite toy - a stuffed octopus with long stringy tentacles (he preferred toys with draping appendages…). Spot loved this particular toy so much that he didn’t even like others touching it (not true of any other toy) and would growl if another dog came near it.
One day my dad was visiting us, and brought his dog Buddy. Buddy was a nice dog, not particularly sharp - but good and always hungry.
Spot watched Buddy, tried to engage him a couple of times socially.
Later in the day, Buddy had an accident in the house. My dad scolded Buddy, and Spot watched, very wide-eyed, as Buddy went to lay down, cowering from his scolding.
I watched as Spot went to his toy box, and picked up Octopus, took it to Buddy and laid it down in front of him, shoving it toward him with his nose. Buddy didn’t seem to understand, but Spot was clearly trying to cheer him up.
When a dog shows compassion, when he is willing to sacrifice a material thing that he truly loves, then I have to wonder about whether or not he has a place in heaven.
I have to say, I sometimes wish that I could live my life with the duty, the honor, and the simplicity of Spot.
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Graceejou
Guest
No one really knows what Heaven will be like. But when people are suffering the loss of a beloved pet, showing them grace and kindness is definitely how Jesus would want us to treat them. Not argue the theology of the whereabouts of their precious companions souls. God knows all. He created our little cats, dogs, hamsters etc. to comfort us during our time on earth. Either as companions, service animals for handicapped or to protect us from people who wish us harm.
It brings us comfort to imagine that our dear little furry friends will someday be with us in heaven. The Bible doesn’t say definitively so err on the side of kindness when dealing with people who love animals and are experiencing loss of a friend.
J
Joie_de_Vivre
Guest
Beatific vision
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