Pets afterlife?

[Alix1912]

Animals do not have immortal souls, which means they would not live forever after their physical death.

When my kids asked the same question a few years back, I answered that God has promised that we will be perfectly happy in heaven. If we need our pets to be perfectly happy, then he will make sure they are there. This explanation can’t be found in the catechism, but I felt it was appropriate for the little ones.

Jimmy Akin said if you need a pet in heaven in order to be happy, God will provide it.

A couple weeks after our dog died we were walking out of Mass and stopped to shake Father’s hand. One of my daughters had been having a harder time with it than she let on and as she was shaking his hand she told him that her dog had died and she wanted to know if she’d be in Heaven. Father said, “If you loved her, she’ll be there waiting for you.” I liked that answer and figured I’d stick with it.

This is what our pastors always told little kids who had pets die. I think it is a good explanation. I think the velveteen rabbit idea kinda exists with pets…Love makes you real. I think telling any version of the above explanations to a child to help ease their grief is fine.

As an adult do I believe they are in Heaven…I don’t know…and it’s not something I dwell on. I don’t think they have souls like humans do, so I have no idea, and it’s not something I lose a lot of sleep over, or think about often. I guess growing up in the country and dealing with animals passing away (be they field mice eaten by our cat, baby bird falling from a nest, or a pet) has made me realize that; Yes it’s sad when a pet dies, but it’s not the same as when a person dies.

 

[504Katrin]

I’m now really really concerned we might not see our pets again in heaven because, we done some research and everyone says that pets won’t go to heaven, even Muslims say the same thing, their Quran addresses it and says that pets don’t go to heaven. So if everyone says it it must be true. Dear God…

 

[Alix1912]

I’m now really really concerned we might not see our pets again in heaven because, we done some research and everyone says that pets won’t go to heaven, even Muslims say the same thing, their Quran addresses it and says that pets don’t go to heaven. So if everyone says it it must be true. Dear God…

Remember Heaven is paradise. If we get there, we will be happy and in the presence of God himself, I would think that would be amazing beyond words, regardless of the whole pets going to heaven thing.

 

[ryanhn]

I was raised a Catholic and I don’t remember ever being taught that animals have no soul so I’m not sure where that belief comes from. Personally, I believe every living creature has a soul as I believe that God breathing the breath of life into Adam represents the soul entering the physical body giving it life. So if it’s the soul that gives life to the physical I don’t see how anything can be alive here in the physical world without having a soul. Plus, look into the soulful eyes of your canine companion and try to tell me where that soulfulness comes from if not from the soul. As for what happens to that soul when they die and whether or not we are reunited with them when we die, all I can say is that I hope we are. My yellow lab is still with me but he just turned 12 so I don’t know how much longer he’ll be with me. With my deep, deep love for him I can barely imagine the emptiness I’ll be left with once he’s gone and I can’t imagine anything in heaven filling that emptiness short of being reunited with him. Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without him.

 

[Joan_M]

Animals simply do not have immortal souls, only people do.

People who think that they would be unhappy to be in Heaven if their pets are not there have absolutely no idea of what heaven is like. We will be so ecstatic in the presence of God we will not even think about the pets we had.

 

[_L]

I don’t understand how it can be reasoned that pets are in heaven. They have no immortal soul, when they die they simply fade away. Animals have no immortal spirit to enter into the spiritual realm so how can they be there? They can’t. You will not even be thinking about your pets in heaven, the sight of God Himself is enough to satisfy for eternity.

 

[DrFloyd]

My priest, and spiritual director, told me regarding this that we “simply don’t know”. That’s good enough for me.

 

[Nanny_PK]

My priest, and spiritual director, told me regarding this that we “simply don’t know”. That’s good enough for me.

My thoughts exactly!!! Nobody knows exactly what Heaven will hold – it might hold different things for each of us depending on our personalities, our loves, our enjoyments. If it gives someone peace to think that they might see a beloved pet in Heaven, that makes me happy; if pets are not your thing, maybe there’s something else that brings you joy that you would hope to have in Heaven.

 

[severus68]

I’m now really really concerned we might not see our pets again in heaven because, we done some research and everyone says that pets won’t go to heaven, even Muslims say the same thing, their Quran addresses it and says that pets don’t go to heaven. So if everyone says it it must be true. Dear God…

It does not matter whether anyone says otherwise, it is God who decides. Our pets are his creatures too and he loves them. That is why I know they go to heaven.

 

[mary_bobo]

My thoughts exactly!!! Nobody knows exactly what Heaven will hold – it might hold different things for each of us depending on our personalities, our loves, our enjoyments. If it gives someone peace to think that they might see a beloved pet in Heaven, that makes me happy; if pets are not your thing, maybe there’s something else that brings you joy that you would hope to have in Heaven.

I agree. My grandmother always told me that when we go to Heaven we will have everything that makes us happy. I choose to believe that.

 

[ryanhn]

Can anyone please explain to me where their conviction that animals have no immortal soul originates from, as there appear to be several people here with strong opinions to that effect. As I said in my earlier post I don’t remember ever being taught that, including during my years in Catholic school, but I confess I’ve never even read the entire Bible so I’m definitely no expert. Is there a passage in the Bible, in particular something that Jesus said, that makes clear unequivocally that such is the case? If it’s a case of being something declared by a Pope or other higher up in the Church without a basis in Scripture that wouldn’t really hold any weight for me.

 

[Joan_M]

Can anyone please explain to me where their conviction that animals have no immortal soul originates from, as there appear to be several people here with strong opinions to that effect. As I said in my earlier post I don’t remember ever being taught that, including during my years in Catholic school, but I confess I’ve never even read the entire Bible so I’m definitely no expert. Is there a passage in the Bible, in particular something that Jesus said, that makes clear unequivocally that such is the case? If it’s a case of being something declared by a Pope or other higher up in the Church without a basis in Scripture that wouldn’t really hold any weight for me.

Not everything is found in the Bible.

St. Thomas Aquinas dealt with this in his Summa Theologica. It is available on the net.

Remember, it was only human beings that Jesus came to save, not animals. Only we have the power to think and reason, animals do not. Animals simply do not have immortal souls. How anyone could think that they do is beyond me. Pure sentimentality.

 

[Nelka]

Not everything is found in the Bible.

St. Thomas Aquinas dealt with this in his Summa Theologica. It is available on the net.

Remember, it was only human beings that Jesus came to save, not animals. Only we have the power to think and reason, animals do not. Animals simply do not have immortal souls. How anyone could think that they do is beyond me. Pure sentimentality.

Exactly.

Could you imagine how many cats and dogs there would be? And what animal would you stop at? Rats? Insects?

 

[severus68]

Can anyone please explain to me where their conviction that animals have no immortal soul originates from, as there appear to be several people here with strong opinions to that effect. As I said in my earlier post I don’t remember ever being taught that, including during my years in Catholic school, but I confess I’ve never even read the entire Bible so I’m definitely no expert. Is there a passage in the Bible, in particular something that Jesus said, that makes clear unequivocally that such is the case? If it’s a case of being something declared by a Pope or other higher up in the Church without a basis in Scripture that wouldn’t really hold any weight for me.

Exactly It was St Thomas Acquinas. Our saints and doctors of the Church may be good men but it is God who decides.

 

[severus68]

Not everything is found in the Bible.

St. Thomas Aquinas dealt with this in his Summa Theologica. It is available on the net.

Remember, it was only human beings that Jesus came to save, not animals. Only we have the power to think and reason, animals do not. Animals simply do not have immortal souls. How anyone could think that they do is beyond me. Pure sentimentality.

Jesus came to save only humans as animals do not need to be saved. They have no free will and do not sin. We may have intellectual superiority but we also have arrogance etc. It may be pure sentimentality to you but thank goodness it is not your decision. I thank God for His animals.

 

[severus68]

Exactly.

Could you imagine how many cats and dogs there would be? And what animal would you stop at? Rats? Insects?

I myself would not worry about numbers and other semantics, I would be deliriously happy that I was in heaven with all my loved ones, human and non human. It is not ours to decide who goes where.

 

[Catholicpotato]

This thread is so odd. It is as of someone has taken the logical out of a theological question. Why would pets be in heaven?

I know some of you people love your cats, I know that you think that your cat is different than any other cat. Or that your dog is just like a person… But PEOPLE Cmon!

1. I do not want your beloved fido sniffing my privates in heaven, I do not want to be woken up at a the (ungodly hours) of the morning by your cat in heat outside of my window.
2. Animals do not have immortal souls
3. The Church DOES take a stand on this, tell your priest you are praying for intercession from st fido and see what happens.
4. Why is it so unfair to non domesticated animals, from the mosqito to the whale how does this enter into the equasion. Fido gets to go to heaven but the wolf in the mountains doesn’t?

I think this whole discussion brings the myopia that people have when you talk about pets.
I dont think pike the pitbul should roam around heaven leaving his little presents for my feet all over no matter how much good ole spikes owners love him.

Wierd

I have a dog, a fish, and a bunny, I have loved horses of mine that have died. THEY ARE DEAD!

 

[severus68]

This thread is so odd. It is as of someone has taken the logical out of a theological question. Why would pets be in heaven?

I know some of you people love your cats, I know that you think that your cat is different than any other cat. Or that your dog is just like a person… But PEOPLE Cmon!

1. I do not want your beloved fido sniffing my privates in heaven, I do not want to be woken up at a the (ungodly hours) of the morning by your cat in heat outside of my window.
2. Animals do not have immortal souls
3. The Church DOES take a stand on this, tell your priest you are praying for intercession from st fido and see what happens.
4. Why is it so unfair to non domesticated animals, from the mosqito to the whale how does this enter into the equasion. Fido gets to go to heaven but the wolf in the mountains doesn’t?

I think this whole discussion brings the myopia that people have when you talk about pets.
I dont think pike the pitbul should roam around heaven leaving his little presents for my feet all over no matter how much good ole spikes owners love him.

Wierd

I have a dog, a fish, and a bunny, I have loved horses of mine that have died. THEY ARE DEAD!

If you really believe what you are saying, why on earth or in heaven is it necessary for you to put down people who believe their pets go to heaven and try to hurt them. Surely this issue is not at the heart of Catholicism - I know it is not. This is important to many, you do not believe, so what? Is it think it is right to call others and what they believe wierd.? They do not affect you and you are being very rude to say the least.

You do not have to worry, no animal lover will let their pets near you in heaven or perhaps God will put you in a special heaven.

 

[ryanhn]

Not everything is found in the Bible.

St. Thomas Aquinas dealt with this in his Summa Theologica. It is available on the net.

Remember, it was only human beings that Jesus came to save, not animals. Only we have the power to think and reason, animals do not. Animals simply do not have immortal souls. How anyone could think that they do is beyond me. Pure sentimentality.

Sorry, but I’m not swayed by personal opinions, whether it be those of a priest, Pope, or even a later declared Saint. I don’t believe any human being has a direct phoneline to God when on this earth, regardless of how much reverence they’re given in life or after their deaths. To argue that only humans go to heaven because only humans need to be saved has no basis in logic. If animals don’t need to be saved wouldn’t that make them even more deserving of heaven than we are? And as far as numbers are concerned in reference to another’s post about the hoards of cats and dogs that would be in heaven if they went there, people are the most populous species on the planet. If there’s enough room for all of us in heaven there’s plenty of room for all the animals that ever have or ever will live. As far as where you draw the line, I don’t see a need for one. My personal belief is that our physical world is but a reflection of Spirit, and that everything that exists here first existed in spirit and returns to spirit upon death. Yes, that includes all the mosquitoes, rats, and other undesirables that have no place in a lot of people’s idea of heaven. If it’s any consolation, I don’t believe mosquitoes bite us in the hereafter It seems to me that the only people who have a real problem with envisioning animals in heaven are those who have never truly bonded with one. Perhaps Thomas Aquinas was among that crowd. In any case, whether you’ve personally experienced such a bond yourself or not, I think it’s shameful to belittle the bonds others experience with their loved ones whatever form they take. Not everyone is lucky enough to find their soulmate in life. For many, short of family the love of a pet will be the only form of unconditional love they experience in this world, and even a family member’s unconditional love is not always as pure and steadfast as that of an animal companion. When an animal bonds with a human it is their nature to love unconditionally without question. In my opinion, that makes them more God-like than we’ll ever be.

 

[severus68]

Sorry, but I’m not swayed by personal opinions, whether it be those of a priest, Pope, or even a later declared Saint. I don’t believe any human being has a direct phoneline to God when on this earth, regardless of how much reverence they’re given in life or after their deaths. To argue that only humans go to heaven because only humans need to be saved has no basis in logic. If animals don’t need to be saved wouldn’t that make them even more deserving of heaven than we are? And as far as numbers are concerned in reference to another’s post about the hoards of cats and dogs that would be in heaven if they went there, people are the most populous species on the planet. If there’s enough room for all of us in heaven there’s plenty of room for all the animals that ever have or ever will live. As far as where you draw the line, I don’t see a need for one. My personal belief is that our physical world is but a reflection of Spirit, and that everything that exists here first existed in spirit and returns to spirit upon death. Yes, that includes all the mosquitoes, rats, and other undesirables that have no place in a lot of people’s idea of heaven. If it’s any consolation, I don’t believe mosquitoes bite us in the hereafter It seems to me that the only people who have a real problem with envisioning animals in heaven are those who have never truly bonded with one. Perhaps Thomas Aquinas was among that crowd. In any case, whether you’ve personally experienced such a bond yourself or not, I think it’s shameful to belittle the bonds others experience with their loved ones whatever form they take. Not everyone is lucky enough to find their soulmate in life. For many, short of family the love of a pet will be the only form of unconditional love they experience in this world, and even a family member’s unconditional love is not always as pure and steadfast as that of an animal companion. When an animal bonds with a human it is their nature to love unconditionally without question. In my opinion, that makes them more God-like than we’ll ever be.

That was a great post, very Christianlike and charitable ( I see you state you are an agnostic). About your last sentence, my parish priest on one of his sermons at the Blessing of the Animals service, talked of the closeness of animals to God. As a Christian I know animals came from God. Since God loves all his creatures, why wouldn’t He want them back. Christ did not say anything to the contrary.