Pets afterlife?

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My uncle, who is not Catholic, has told my nephew that the family pets do not go to Heaven when they die. I have lost a lot of very beloved pets in my life, and I always thought I’d be reunited with them personally. But I heard something on EWTN a few weeks ago that made me question this. Is my uncle right? Does anyone know the Church’s teaching on animals when they die?

🙂 Lilder
I wish they could go to heaven, we already made their lives as hell :eek:
 
I am not entirely sure but I have heard some say that because animals have material souls and not immortal souls like humans, they will not have an afterlife. It is true that they do not have immoral souls. However, I do believe God could in His mercy recreate them with immortal souls so that they can be with us forever in Heaven! 👍
 
The best explanation I ever heard or read was this: The reason pets don’t go to heaven is because they wait outside the Gates for us, so when we die they can meet us and we will enter Heaven together. True or not, that though has brought me comfort. .
You had me in tears with that explanation.

I am an only child and sometimes cats were my only friends growing up. I guess I always thought they would be with God. As I got older and became a mom, our first family dog died. I made the mistake of mentioning that animals didn’t have an immortal soul and probably didn’t go to heaven. Then I retracted that statement because I heard about a book by Friar Jack Wintz WilI I See My Dog in Heaven? . I apologized to my children and explained that God is all good and I shouldn’t limit God. Who am I to say, our animals can’t be with God in all eternity.
 
I bet on my life they will be there. Not in our position as humans but as animals. They will probably be our servants.
 
😃 Which reminds me of two dogs. One dog would pray before meals and the other dog would fetch his owner a beer. 😃
Lol. My old neighbors actually taught their dog how to open the fridge and fetch them beers or food.
 
Pets in heaven? Who is willing to make a guess? My great hope lies in 1 Corinthians. “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Maybe, just maybe, God loves us so much that there will be shared space in heaven for the wonderful, non-human creatures of God who, in His goodness, God has placed on earth to share our lives and our joys and our sorrows. Maybe?
This is one of the most helpful things I have read. I am trying to trust God that he will
be taking care on my little Spottie until I get there. Sometimes I say a prayer and ask him to watch over him. I say to myself all will be well but it hurts to get doubts. A great priest here who has studied the scriptures told my grand son there is no doubt about it.
 
I’m so sorry to hear that. My 11 year old border collie is going downhill fast. since the middle of march her liver has been failing and she’s getting to the point where I am thinking of putting her down. She’s been my “kid” for so long, we were inseprable. she is irreplaceable. I trained her to do everything, she climbed ladders, rode my horse with me, gathered cattle, caught treats off her nose, she knows her left from right paw, gives high five (and 10), all the usual tricks and things, and I could go on. she has more character and is smarter than any dog I’ve seen. She had all these little quirty things about her that I’ve never seen in another dog… the idea I’m losing her has been killing me too, I’ve been up for hours every night thinking about it. I got a pup a few years ago as she was getting older, hoping it would make this easier. it didn’t. My only comfort is knowing that whatever we need to be happy we will have in heaven. if that’s your pit or my dog or someone’s cat, I have faith they’ll be there, wagging their tails when we arrive. God wouldn’t have given us the joy and partnership a good dog offers (or a good horse, I’m hoping to find a few of them I’ve known tied to the pearly gates too) and not allow us to be reconnected with them at some point. God bless you and your dog. :hug1:
 
This is one of the most helpful things I have read. I am trying to trust God that he will
be taking care on my little Spottie until I get there. Sometimes I say a prayer and ask him to watch over him. I say to myself all will be well but it hurts to get doubts. A great priest here who has studied the scriptures told my grand son there is no doubt about it.
I have loved animals as much as anyone here. And missed them sadly. But I would get no comfort at all from the idea that my pets might be in heaven. Surely, by such logic, they could also end up in hell? If pets can merit heavenly reward, then it stands to reason they can also merit eternal punishment as well.

What if my beloved Fifi or Fido tormented the neighbourhood birds once too often? Stole food from other animals’ food bowls when they weren’t looking? What if all those ‘playful’ nips and scratches (and I know I got a few) were deliberate and intended to harm?

And what’s this sentimental claptrap about ‘God gave us pets to love so we must be destined to reconnect with them?’ I’m sure the rich man in the gospels loved his brothers - he wanted to save their souls by sending Lazarus back to them, after all - but that didn’t guarantee either his entrance into heaven or theirs.

Heck, I seriously love a good margarita and Lindt chocolates - I suppose we’ll have to have them in heaven too?
 
Like most other mysteries in life, I suppose we’ll never know until we go to Heaven and see for ourselves.

Personally, I would like to believe that animals do go to Heaven. Or if not Heaven, then at least maybe they’ll appear when heaven comes on earth. I mean, God created them for a reason and He loves them as well. Not as much as He loves us for sure, but still. He made them in His divine image so I’d like to think that He wouldn’t forget about them when this world comes to an end. So…I guess we’ll find out.
 
Like most other mysteries in life, I suppose we’ll never know until we go to Heaven and see for ourselves.

Personally, I would like to believe that animals do go to Heaven. Or if not Heaven, then at least maybe they’ll appear when heaven comes on earth. I mean, God created them for a reason and He loves them as well. Not as much as He loves us for sure, but still. He made them in His divine image so I’d like to think that He wouldn’t forget about them when this world comes to an end. So…I guess we’ll find out.
No no no. God made MAN in His divine image. Nowhere in scripture or anywhere else is it taught that animals were made in the image of God. God cares for all creation, yes, does that mean He loves it all equally? I might paint a picture with my own hands and love it in a sense, as it is my creation. That love cannot possibly compare with the love I would have for my own child, which must of necessity be vastly superior. Such is the gulf between the love God has for us and that He might have for His lesser creatures.

Look at the way in which He created us. Humans are the only ones, unique among all creation, into whom God breathed His own breath (the Holy Spirit). This didn’t happen with the animals. They came about in the same manner as other lesser creation - including inanimate matter such as the earth and seas, sun and moon. All created in exactly the same way, God said the word and all the animals, plants, sun and moon etc etc sprang into being. Shows us roughly what level the animals are on. Yes, they are living creatures (an attribute they share with plants) and mobile and warm blooded as well, but that doesn’t make them anywhere near on a par with humans.

Only with humans did God take the time and effort to form us with His own hands and breathe His own life into us. Only humans, being fashioned thus, are made in His image and likeness.
 
Seriously though, if dogs make it into heaven, so do pigs.

Including all the pigs I’ve eaten.

Which would be weird, because I’m no so sure I want to see those pigs romping around again.
 
No no no. God made MAN in His divine image. Nowhere in scripture or anywhere else is it taught that animals were made in the image of God. God cares for all creation, yes, does that mean He loves it all equally? I might paint a picture with my own hands and love it in a sense, as it is my creation. That love cannot possibly compare with the love I would have for my own child, which must of necessity be vastly superior. Such is the gulf between the love God has for us and that He might have for His lesser creatures.

Look at the way in which He created us. Humans are the only ones, unique among all creation, into whom God breathed His own breath (the Holy Spirit). This didn’t happen with the animals. They came about in the same manner as other lesser creation - including inanimate matter such as the earth and seas, sun and moon. All created in exactly the same way, God said the word and all the animals, plants, sun and moon etc etc sprang into being. Shows us roughly what level the animals are on. Yes, they are living creatures (an attribute they share with plants) and mobile and warm blooded as well, but that doesn’t make them anywhere near on a par with humans.

Only with humans did God take the time and effort to form us with His own hands and breathe His own life into us. Only humans, being fashioned thus, are made in His image and likeness.
Do you think animals have souls?
 
No no no. God made MAN in His divine image. Nowhere in scripture or anywhere else is it taught that animals were made in the image of God. God cares for all creation, yes, does that mean He loves it all equally? I might paint a picture with my own hands and love it in a sense, as it is my creation. That love cannot possibly compare with the love I would have for my own child, which must of necessity be vastly superior. Such is the gulf between the love God has for us and that He might have for His lesser creatures.

Look at the way in which He created us. Humans are the only ones, unique among all creation, into whom God breathed His own breath (the Holy Spirit). This didn’t happen with the animals. They came about in the same manner as other lesser creation - including inanimate matter such as the earth and seas, sun and moon. All created in exactly the same way, God said the word and all the animals, plants, sun and moon etc etc sprang into being. Shows us roughly what level the animals are on. Yes, they are living creatures (an attribute they share with plants) and mobile and warm blooded as well, but that doesn’t make them anywhere near on a par with humans.

Only with humans did God take the time and effort to form us with His own hands and breathe His own life into us. Only humans, being fashioned thus, are made in His image and likeness.
You’re being far to litteral about the whole “Man being made in God’s divine image” deal. Everything God makes is in His own divine image. Becase He himself is Divine. That’s what I meant to say.

And I already said that God doesn’t love animals or plants as much as He loves us humans. But He loves them to a degree. And I for one believe that He wouldn’t create all these things just to discard them when heaven comes on Earth. That’d be kinda pointless imo. But hey, I’m not God so I don’t know. And the truth of the matter is nobody knows. Until we die and go to Heaven we will not know if animals go to heaven or not. That was basically my main point.
 
No no no. God made MAN in His divine image. Nowhere in scripture or anywhere else is it taught that animals were made in the image of God. God cares for all creation, yes, does that mean He loves it all equally? I might paint a picture with my own hands and love it in a sense, as it is my creation. That love cannot possibly compare with the love I would have for my own child, which must of necessity be vastly superior. Such is the gulf between the love God has for us and that He might have for His lesser creatures.

Look at the way in which He created us. Humans are the only ones, unique among all creation, into whom God breathed His own breath (the Holy Spirit). This didn’t happen with the animals. They came about in the same manner as other lesser creation - including inanimate matter such as the earth and seas, sun and moon. All created in exactly the same way, God said the word and all the animals, plants, sun and moon etc etc sprang into being. Shows us roughly what level the animals are on. Yes, they are living creatures (an attribute they share with plants) and mobile and warm blooded as well, but that doesn’t make them anywhere near on a par with humans.

Only with humans did God take the time and effort to form us with His own hands and breathe His own life into us. Only humans, being fashioned thus, are made in His image and likeness.
I have talked to acouple psychic people. One of them was a retired priest. He is one of the most religious people I’ve ever met in my life. He has told me many things about my past or people that are in my family and hes always accurate. So accurate actually that he is able to name all the people, what they look like, their birthday, where they live.
Everything. He is very psychic.

He does not know anybody in my family, he has had no history of me, i told him nothing, and yet he still knew it all.

When I first saw him, he told me that my dog, named “zeus” was in the room with us. I asked him what the dog looked like. He said he was a big about 100 pound lab with a white spot on his chest. He said that they were here with us. I asked him what my other past pets were, he named them all and explained what they looked like. He said they were in heaven and watching over me and my family.

Having many conversations with this man about all sorts of things and everything he seems to know, I trust his judgement. I do believe 100% pets go to heaven.

He is not the first psychic to tell me about pets going to heaven either. But thats another matter.

**How do you explain this then? Show me proof that he is wrong or didn’t know what he was talking about. He was not wrong, I do in fact, know the history of my life, and there was no way possible he would have known.

So, how on earth do you explain him knowing about my past (even pets when I asked, by naming them, and explaining what they looked like) and literally saying that they were with me, their spiritual form and that they were in heaven. Nobody has ever been able to refute my statement about how he knew. He obviously has a gift from God and he acknowledges that by helping people with his gift. Its not like he told me this for no reason. There was a reason. Why else would I enter a room and he automatically starts telling me that?
How would he know these things? You cannot debunk him, can you?

How on earth do you explain that? Is he wrong, does he not know what hes talking about?
Yeah, I don’t think so… **
 
I firmly believe that when I reach heaven (in a very long time), I will be greeted by my pets that have gone before me. I have always felt this way, however, this belief became stronger in 2003.

My grandmother, who I adored, passed away on Palm Sunday, 2003. We had known she was dying because she insisted on saying her good-byes to everyone. When I went to say good-bye, she told me that my grandfather (who passed away in '94) had been visiting her and telling her “to hurry up” because he “can’t wait much longer”. I could picture him saying that…it was what he would say when they would take me to the mall. LOL! So, like I said, her death wasn’t a surprise…we even sensed she would pass during Holy Week…little did we think that she would kick it off. That first Easter was very hard, but now, Holy Week means more to me…it’s more special.

Anyway, I tell that story to get to this one…

I had a cat that my ex-husband and I had found when we lived in Germany. After our separation (2001, during his last year being stationed over there) and divorce (about 6 months after his return to the states), he refused to give me Angel back…and she looked like an angel. She was a seal face siamese with crystal blue eyes…just beautiful. And she was my baby…she would give me hugs (literally) and kisses and was a big snuggler. In August 2003, he suddenly calls me and asks if I want her back…DUH!! We met up that night and he gave her to me. I was ecstatic…but there was a problem, she was throwing up all the time. I tried changing the food…type, quantity, etc…anything I could think of. I talked to the vet pretty often and he suggested these options first.

In September 2003, I came home from work and Angel walked into the kitchen to greet me and promptly threw up on the kitchen floor…only this time, she threw up a puddle of blood. I immediately called a near by animal hospital…the vet was closed by this time. They said to bring her in…I called my ex and he met me there. Long story short, we had to put her to sleep. She passed away exactly at the moment 11:59 was becoming midnight (that exact second of in between), on September 30, 2003 (into October 1).

That night I had a dream…I was observing a beautiful field…vibrant green grass, flowers of every color, a stream and trees. In the middle of this, next to the stream and under a large tree, sitting on a tree trunk laid out on the ground was my grandmother. She had her hand outstretched and she was making a calling sound…when I looked over, there was my Angel. She was racing across the field to my grandmother, right to her hand. As my grandmother was petting her, she was telling Angel that everything was ok. Where they were, there was no pain, only joy and love. She told Angel not to be sad because someday, her mommy (me) would be with her again.

I woke up crying to that…however, it proved to me that, not only is there a Heaven, but my babies (the furry ones) will be waiting there for me with my family.
 
I hope I will see my tortoise I had as a kid. I wasn’t the best of masters but I loved the animal. And I will never know if I didn’t cause its death myself through accident or negligence (will spare you the details) just before I graduated from university. I still can’t handle it, even though it was almost four years ago.
 
I hope I will see my tortoise I had as a kid. I wasn’t the best of masters but I loved the animal. And I will never know if I didn’t cause its death myself through accident or negligence (will spare you the details) just before I graduated from university. I still can’t handle it, even though it was almost four years ago.
😦

I’ve had 10 cats and 12 dogs in my lifetime, along with a rabbit and a loadddddd of fish. I love them all. I love animals to death. Hence why I volunteer at the humane society and want to become a zoologist or something where I can work with animals. I was also going to volunteer to work with baby bears, tigers, lynx’s and lions. I got to cuddle with a tiger once. Amazing.
I love animals soooooooo much I can’t even explain. I didn’t have any blood siblings so growing up with animals along with friends made it complete. They are a part of the family and I could never imagine a heaven without our animals frolicking about. Plus, I have had enough reassurance in my life to know that they will be there. I bet my life on it. Animals cannot sin so I’m sure they will be welcomed in heaven. Since animals can’t sin, they don’t need to worry about being saved. That is why their salvation is not mentioned in the bible. However they are still Gods creation, and I just think heaven wouldn’t be complete without them.
 
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