Pets afterlife?

[Bushwhacker]

Question:

I have read a number of theologians who state that, in their opinion, only man has an immortal soul. I believe St. Thomas Aquinas says this also, if memory serves me.

However, the statement, “Man is made in the image of God” does not prove, in and of itself, the assumption/claim that “ONLY that which is made in the image of God has an immortal soul.” Nor does it, in and of itself, warrant the assumption that man is the ONLY creature made in the image of God. Nor does it warrant the assumption that “only that which has an immortal soul (at the tiime of its creation) can live forever.” All this has to do with the rules of logic, and is not intended as a statement of any alleged fact, so don’t ASSUME I am claiming any fact here and jump all over me !!!

So, the question is this: Is there a definitive dogmatic statement by the Church, that must be believed by all Catholics, as a matter of Faith, concerning the presence of animals in heaven? Where, when, and what is the name of, that statement? What Pope or Council declared it? Otherwise, we are dealing only with the OPINIONS of theologians, and they could be WRONG!

 

[Meggie]

Because God can do anything in heaven if we wanted our pets we could have them, in any form that they were, or even better…but animals have material souls…there dead for now

 

[JCPhoenix]

nobody:

I
Thinking of what my past dog did to comfort me in her lifetime, and her death (among other things) that helped lead me to seek answers and back to the faith…

Seeing what my present dog does with disabled and suffering children…

And countless stories from others about what their pets have done to help themselves and others… I have often wondered if they are truly angels, using the animal body in this world to reach us, and we will meet them again in heaven.

OK, by this, I take it to mean that you have taken your dog through a therapy dog program? Yes?

I’'m hoping to adopt a greyhound soon and take that dog along with my current German Shepherd through the training together. Of course, I realize they need the “aptitude” to do this type of work, but could you share some of your experiences with the rest of us? Can you talk a bit about the training, process, organization you’re with (if any) and how this affects your faith?

I’m all “ears” here, and believe programs like this need more attention. So many people dont’ know anything about it, but I’ve read so much about how a simple visit from a well trained pet can seriously alter an ill person’s life. This is what leads me into it.

Please tell! Should we start another thread as this topic is kinda off the original purpose (but still related). :bounce:

 

[darcee]

We lost a beloved pet about 2 years ago.

His name was Tom and he had been with us nearly ten years. That cat was with me through 3 moves, a divorce, 2 births not to mention my conversion… My children loved that cat so much. He is burried under his sunny spot in the rose garden where he used to nap. We have a St Francis statue to mark the place.

When he died my eldest would pray to St Francis to find the soul of someone in heaven who would look after her good friend until she could get there to be with him (I am starting to tear up here).

I have no doubt that that God will honor that request, that somewhere the spirit of that patient, dignified, furry friend is awaiting our family reunion. Not for his sake but for ours.

-D

 

[hermit]

I have always seen our fellow creatures through the eyes of St. Francis as God’s creations. Sometimes we humans have overly exalted opinions of ourselves as the pinnacles of creation.

“Man created God in his image and man returned the favor”
Voltaire

“Heaven goes as favor not merit otherwise your dog would get in and you would not.”

Mark Twain

 

[Joanna]

I heard on EWTN that animals have animal souls, tree have tree souls, etc. as they are animated by God’s will. Not like ours, of course, which are made in the image of God and destined by God for eternal life.

My thought on the subject is that if my beloved animals are part of my memory, my heart and soul, I will find them with me in heaven. God willing, of course!

Revelations 19:11; "Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was (called) “Faithful and True.” Jesus rides a horse in heaven. That’s hope enough for me!

 

[Leo44]

Forgive me in advance, but I think we are looking at “pets” in the wrong light. I think people extend the care and attention to amimals that is reserved for people. I grew up on a farm, we raised rabbits, they were sunday dinner, same for chickens, the young calf born to our milk cow became meat. In our society we have advanced to the stage where we do not see amimals this way, but most of the world does. What was Gods plan for animals…? Are we now miss applying our attention on creatures that were put here for mans use?

 

[JCPhoenix]

Leo44:

Forgive me in advance, but I think we are looking at “pets” in the wrong light. I think people extend the care and attention to amimals that is reserved for people. I grew up on a farm, we raised rabbits, they were sunday dinner, same for chickens, the young calf born to our milk cow became meat. In our society we have advanced to the stage where we do not see amimals this way, but most of the world does. What was Gods plan for animals…? Are we now miss applying our attention on creatures that were put here for mans use?

I acknowledge and understand your concerns and yoru opinion, but I don’t share it entirely.

Yes, animals were put here for our use. Although I’m sure some of us are vegetarians, I’d bet that most of us are carnivores…we like meat! I love a good steak, barbecued chicken, and I would like to try rabbit. I love venison but can only get it by hunting. I believe we are the ranking life on this planet (humans) and I don’t belive humans are animals as so many evolutionists would have us believe.

However, God had many purposes for the animals and plants on this planet as he did for us.

He gave us animals not only as food, but remember, first they were companions to Adam, who was all alone.

To this day, pets are companions to people who are all alone. I am one of them. She is my family and she is far more loving and loyal than any human I will likely ever know. (I pray to find someone to prove me wrong). Yes, she is a dog and I treat her as such…but I also respect her for the life God gave her and for the gifts she gives me every day. She’s already saved my life from a faulty furnace…through God’s will.

Maybe you never cultivated a bond with one of your farm animals, but that is a coping mechanism…after all, would you want to eat the calf you bottle fed, made a pet…and then had to butcher just for the enjoyment of the veal? A professional separation is there and when one lives in that context it’s hard to discern sometimes where “family” of the animal world and “food” of the animal world boundaries lie.

I"m sorry if you think the rest of us who disagree are frivolous, but if it were not for my pets I would have self destructed long ago. God foresaw this and sent me the animals to ground me and actually lead me back to his fold. I am reconciled with the church because of a horse or two, I am a member of a prayer group because of my dog…and if anyone ever tells me that pets aren’t part of God’s will I will not walk but RUN away and pray for that person as I go. I thank God every day for the gift of a pet God gave me…and I’d guess others do the same.

Consider therapy animals. Both full time and part time. Animals that go with their owners to visit nursing homes, childrens units, etc. There are documented stories about how these animals broke down barriers…and I know that this is part of God’s plan. They serve us, and to a point, we serve them by necessity.

We share the planet and are all part of the chain of life. No, pets are not humans…but they are not unworthy of love and affection due for payment of the gifts they give us every day. We can and do learn a lot from them.

 

[Joanna]

Leo44:

Forgive me in advance, but I think we are looking at “pets” in the wrong light. I think people extend the care and attention to amimals that is reserved for people. I grew up on a farm, we raised rabbits, they were sunday dinner, same for chickens, the young calf born to our milk cow became meat. In our society we have advanced to the stage where we do not see amimals this way, but most of the world does. What was Gods plan for animals…? Are we now miss applying our attention on creatures that were put here for mans use?

What better use to put them to than to enjoy and appreciate them forever in heaven and be forever grateful to God for their service and the ways in which they enriched our lives, delighted our hearts and graced our planet.

 

[Maurelian]

I have a theory. I’m not certain it’s completely in line with Church teachings, but I don’t think it contradictory to any…

I see humans as having a physical body, an eternal life-giving spirit, and an immortal soul - that part of us which is made in the image of God. It’s the soul that has our free will and power of reason, and separates us from the rest of the animals. When our physical bodies expire, it’s the state of our soul that determines where we end up, and our spirit, as a part of us, naturally goes with the soul to Heaven or hell.

An animal has no soul, but I do believe it has this life giving spirit which is also created by God…just as our souls and spirits and bodies were. There must be something spiritual to animate these blobs of flesh running to the door to lovingly greet us whenever we come home. Some life force, some spirit. And whatever this something is (that I’ve been calling a spirit) was certainly created by God. So when an animal’s physical body expires, with no soul that can be stained by sin, with it’s spirit pure, I feel yes, they do go to Heaven. They are as sinless as the angels, although this is nothing spectacular; for they have no souls, no power of reason, no free will with which to accept or reject Christ. But they do have something that gives them life. I prefer to think whatever it is is eternal and will be one with God someday.

Basically, I’m making a clear distinction between a spirit and a soul. I know most people might equate the two, but for lack of a better term, I choose spirit to mean some life giving force that God breathes into all animals (man included) that brings our physical body to life. Once the body is gone, the spirit moves on to be with God. But for man, having a soul made in the image of God, the spirit will move to where the state of the soul determines - to be with God, or not.

Well, that’s what I think anyway…

 

[buffalo]

Seeing and being with God will make us perfectly content. Bathing in this light I don’t believe our earthly attachments will be very high on the priority list.

 

[Maurelian]

buffalo:

Seeing and being with God will make us perfectly content. Bathing in this light I don’t believe our earthly attachments will be very high on the priority list.

Actually, I wouldn’t disagree with this. My theory was meant to be more academic than emotional. But your statement isn’t much comfort to animal lovers. And to me, that’s what theories of what Heaven is are all about. Comfort to our temporal selves.

Personally, I don’t think it’s too important what anyone thinks Heaven will be like, because everyone is wrong. I don’t think there is any way our feeble selves can ever comprehend the beauty and glory of God or what it will be like to be in His presence. (Isn’t that part of what Purgatory is about…purifying the “humanness” from our souls, so that we can be in the Divine presence?) So no matter what idea of Heaven we come up with, I don’t think it will ever come close to the awe and wonder of the reality of it. Envisioning Heaven is all about thinking of what makes you happy now, infinitely multiplying that feeling, and then realizing that it still won’t come close to the real thing.

So if it comforts someone to think that in Heaven he/she will be sitting on a cloud, playing a harp, and watching dogs and cats play together in a huge field of monkey grass, then more power to 'em!

 

[nobody]

JCPhoenix:

OK, by this, I take it to mean that you have taken your dog through a therapy dog program? Yes?

I’'m hoping to adopt a greyhound soon and take that dog along with my current German Shepherd through the training together. Of course, I realize they need the “aptitude” to do this type of work, but could you share some of your experiences with the rest of us? Can you talk a bit about the training, process, organization you’re with (if any) and how this affects your faith?

I’m all “ears” here, and believe programs like this need more attention. So many people dont’ know anything about it, but I’ve read so much about how a simple visit from a well trained pet can seriously alter an ill person’s life. This is what leads me into it.

Please tell! Should we start another thread as this topic is kinda off the original purpose (but still related). :bounce:

Yes, one of my dogs is a therapy dog, and I “accompany” her on our visits. For anyone who is interested, there is alot of info on the web - google “therapy dogs”, and insert your city name if you want local info. Also, anyone can private message me if they want to talk to me about it.

 

[buffalo]

Could a therapy dog fulfill a void that God could not?

 

[Maurelian]

buffalo:

Could a therapy dog fulfill a void that God could not?

Perhaps God fills the void through the therapy dog?

He does move in mysterious ways…

 

[buffalo]

True, but God never ceases to draw man to himself. I just wonder if this is moving in the wrong direction.

 

[sparkle]

lilder:

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

Dear Lilder:

I know pets go to heaven–and of course we will be reunited with them all someday! Don’t fret fellow animal lover–I’ll find out more details about it!!! I have a friend who has verified that they do–for they are all such kind, pure souls. They are resting peacefully with their Creator.!!! I adore my pets too!!! And could never live without my beloved animals.

Have you ever noticed that folks who do not love animals are ones you never quite get along with? I have.

God Bless~~~~

P.S. Do you have “Chicken Soup for the Animal Lovers’ Soul”? It is THE best book!!!

 

[buffalo]

sparkle:

Dear Lilder:

I know pets go to heaven–and of course we will be reunited with them all someday! Don’t fret fellow animal lover–I’ll find out more details about it!!! I have a friend who has verified that they do–for they are all such kind, pure souls. They are resting peacefully with their Creator.!!! I adore my pets too!!! And could never live without my beloved animals.

Have you ever noticed that folks who do not love animals are ones you never quite get along with? I have.

God Bless~~~~

P.S. Do you have “Chicken Soup for the Animal Lovers’ Soul”? It is THE best book!!!

You know for sure? How?

 

[raphaela]

It woudl be nice if pets went to heaven. My dog, she would. She is the best dog in the enitre world. We got her after my mom’s poodle died (it wasn’t a very nice dog). It was funny because my mom didn’t want a dog, her friends dog had had puppies and she let us go see them, but little did she know that while she was watching us with the puppies, my step-dad payed her friend $500 for the first pick. we got the runt. Her mother stepped on her leg and twisted it before it was fully developed, so she has always had a bad leg, but now she’s 9 and has bone cancer. The vet gave her 6 months before we’ll have to put her down. I hope she will be in heaven waiting for me, like she always did when ever i left the house.

woooo, i’m teary.

My cat won’t go to heaven, i don’t think…she’s a holy terror, but i love her anyway!!! LOL!!

 

[buffalo]

I know this is going to be hard on many people, but all living things have souls. Souls are what animates them. Only humans have an immortal soul. When we die our soul separates from our body. Our soul holds us reponsible for our actions. Animals do not have immortal souls and are not held responsible for their actions. They cannot choose for or against God. Because of our souls we can see God. Since their soul is out of existence when they die, they cannot see anything. By this reasoning it is unlikely we will see animals in heaven.