The "Rainbow Bridge" for deceased pets

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A dog is not going to be saved the same way a human can. As in, a dog is not going to behold the Beatific Vision.

That said: we anticipate a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth. I see no reason my dog couldn’t be a part of that. Presumably it’s not going to be a new earth devoid of animal life.
 
In heaven, our joy will be complete. We will lack nothing.

If you or I will lack the perfect joy without our pets, God knows that and will provide.

This is one of those things where we simply trust God.
 
God’s will is righteous, whatever it is. I don’t think he’s going to abandon, forget or neglect the lesser life forms of his creation. They ALL come from his hand.
 
I have changed my tune on this one. When I initially thought of heaven, I know the saints and angels are with God. Then later I realized that God plans a new heaven and new earth. A new earth. That is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to see it! There’s got to be some very special things planned by God to surprise and delight us. I am going to bet beloved pets will be included.

One recent video of dolphins off the coast of California gave me an idea of the surprises that God might come up with. It really is magical to watch this. May this just be another day in the life on the new earth.

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(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 
For what it’s worth, the Orthodox never came to a consensus on animals after death. We don’t answer questions that have no impact on our salvation either way. But there are arguments for the existence - Paradise has trees, fruits and vegetation, so who knows?
 
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I personally think and it is JUST me, that as animals have life they therefore have a tiny piece of the essence of God. Because they are not MAN they did not need redemption. So when they die they automatically go back to God . Whether or not we will see loved pets I have no idea, but it would be nice…but I for one would have quite a number to welcome.
 
RolandThompsonGunner said:
A dog is not going to be saved the same way a human can. As in, a dog is not going to behold the Beatific Vision.

That said: we anticipate a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth. I see no reason my dog couldn’t be a part of that. Presumably it’s not going to be a new earth devoid of animal life.
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Correct. Animals do not have immortal souls. They have material souls that cease to exist at death. This does not exclude the possibility of our animal friends being recreated. After all, animals are part of God’s creation, and while we and our animal friends exist in time, God doesn’t; our existence and theirs are part of the eternal Pure Act of Creation. So it is possible we will still have some kind of experience of our animal friends when we are in the Beatific Vision, but they will not be immortal in the same way we are.
 
Man is created in image of God, not animals.
They are here to help us (like cows, horses, chicken etc.), we can be amazed by seeing them as God’s creation and we can love them in one way but I don’t see point of theory “animals in Heaven” in the end.
Maybe there will be animals in New Earth but I don’t believe it will be the same as it is now.
I don’t believe in resurrection of animals.
 
Inbonum said:
Man is created in image of God, not animals.
They are here to help us (like cows, horses, chicken etc.), we can be amazed by seeing them as God’s creation and we can love them in one way but I don’t see point of theory “animals in Heaven” in the end.
Maybe there will be animals in New Earth but I don’t believe it will be the same as it is now.
I don’t believe in resurrection of animals.
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All things are possible with God, according to his will. It’s entirely up to him. I don’t think love can be extinguished that easily, whether it’s love for God, love for our fellow humans, or love for creation. And with love, there’s life.
 
The Holy Church has left open the issue of an animal afterlife.

That’s good enough for me.

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
The Holy Church has left open the issue of an animal afterlife.

That’s good enough for me.

ICXC NIKA
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Which means that the Church hasn’t closed the door on it, so those of us who believe it’s possible aren’t guilty of heresy, because it’s still an open matter.
 
Well…God destroyed the humans on the earth except for Noah and his family…AND…two of every kind of animal…so obviously he wanted to preserve his creation…after all when he made the heavens and the earth everything he created was GOOD…if people don’t think or care if they see their pet (s) in heaven…or a new earth…then they probably won’t…if others think they will see their pet(s) again in heaven or a new earth then the chances are just as great that they will…I fall into the latter and could care less what the doubters think…
 
I find the concept that somebody would need something apart from God to be happy in Heaven concerning. I love my cats dearly but I don’t need them for eternal happiness because the Beatific Vision contains everything I need. Animals are wonderful and give glory to God by their very existence but they are part of this world that is destined to pass away. God should be enough for us. If He isn’t, that is a problem.
 
Well, you could stretch that point further.

What about those who long for reunion with HUMAN loved-ones who have become victims of death? We all resemble that remark, do we not?

Is that really so different to those who gave love to a sentient being who differed from them in body, and then was lost to death?

As a priest confidant told me, “Heaven is not just you and Jesus.”

ICXC NIKA
 
What if those human loved ones ended up in Hell? Surely, God wouldn’t recreate them in Heaven for your happiness. It would be contradictory to His nature. While Heaven is full of saints we should be of the mindset that even if it was us and Jesus it would be enough for perfect eternal happiness.
 
I, personally, don’t believe that God creates in love something that He later winks out of existence any more than I believe I wink out of existence at the end of my life. I also think it’s a non-issue. Heaven is the place where God exists. Sin cannot enter. Therefore, man, who is a sinner, must make conscious, concrete decisions in life in order to be rid of the sin that keeps him out of Heaven. If man is in Heaven, he experiences the Beatific Vision in a very intimate and endlessly stimulating way. A “high” level of experience, if you will. Animals, OTOH, from the sparrow to the pet to the whale, are not only born without original sin, they are not capable of sinning. Therefore, there is not really a question of where they spend their existence. They will spend it with their Creator. Their experience of the Beatific Vision will also be endless and intimate, but in a different way that is suited to their intellect. A “lower level” if you will. I don’t see it as a controversy so much as it just doesn’t have any thing to do with human intervention or will.
 
Inbonum said:
Man is created in image of God, not animals.
They are here to help us (like cows, horses, chicken etc.), we can be amazed by seeing them as God’s creation and we can love them in one way but I don’t see point of theory “animals in Heaven” in the end.
Maybe there will be animals in New Earth but I don’t believe it will be the same as it is now.
I don’t believe in resurrection of animals.
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Of course the New Earth won’t be the same as it is now. It will be pure, clean, safe and filled with eternal love and life. Whether or not there will be present upon it the same animals we knew here is up to God.

According to the Catechism, our role on earth from the beginning has been to help God perfect and complete his creation. That tells me that his creation shall be perfected and completed in the New Heaven and the New Earth. God’s creation isn’t limited to just the angels and us. It’s everything he has created and continues to create until the end of time.

We really don’t know what the New Earth will be like, or what will be on it or in it, only that it will be perfect and complete, peaceful and glorious. And God will be at the helm.

I and many others believe that it’s very possible our beloved pets as well as wildlife that lived and continues to live currently on our planet will also be present in the New Earth, because that just makes sense. But note, I’ve always said it’s possible. I’ve never stated as absolute fact that it shall be, because only God knows that.

I also believe that love is eternal and cannot be extinguished. We don’t stop loving just because those we have loved are no longer here, and I don’t believe God does, either.
 
JanR said:
The Psalms are numbered a bit differently in my Douay version of the Catholic Bible, so if you look this up, depending on the version you have, it may be Psalm 34 or 36. In my Douay Bible, this is Psalm 35:

Verse 6: "Oh Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to the clouds.
Verse 7: "Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord;
Verse 8: “O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God!”
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Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord;

Beasts are “designed only for man’s benefit, and will end with time” per Haydock Commentary, which see below:

Verse 7
Of God. A title which is often given to things of superior excellence. So divine condimenta of Plautus, (Pseudol.) denote ragouts or sauces of the best quality; (Haydock) and sacra fames of Virgil, means great hunger. See Jonas iii. 3., Canticle of Canticles viii. 6.
— Deep. After praising the mercy of God, the psalmist expresses his admiration of his inscrutable justice, Romans xi. 33. (Calmet)
— Preserve, salvabis. The latter are designed only for man’s benefit, and will end with time. (Haydock)
— But man is destined for eternal happiness, ver. 9. (Calmet)
— God wishes the salvation of both the learned and of the stupid, (St. Jerome; Worthington) of the Jew and Gentile, (Arnob.; 1 Timothy iv. 10.) of good and bad. He makes his sun to shine on both, Matthew v. 45. (Eusebius) (Piscator) (Calmet)
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Personal Opinion:

I think there will be animals/nature once God creates the new Heaven and the new Earth. I say this based on how I understand God (and yes I know what St. Thomas Says about animals etc. but lets remember that he wasn’t infallible, though he was extremely gifted). To me it seems that if God creates something He means to create it for good and has no intention of destroying His creation. Why doesn’t God destroy or “erase” people who go to hell? because He created them good and they will exist forever, its just that they chose to be separated from God.

I find it hard to believe that God created all these magnificently unique and special creatures that interact with each other in such beautiful ways just to say it was all for this temporary period. In my opinion this doesn’t really do justice to God having a reason for everything (Honestly I think its human understanding trying to box God within an intellectual argument). I think its possible that animals/nature will exist in the next life, its just that your specific dog/cat named “scruffy” might not exist in the next life if that makes sense since they don’t have rational souls (can’t choose good/evil).

Plus we all know that at a very minimum dogs go to Heaven haha (just kiddin’)
 
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