Do All Dogs Go to Heaven

A Pet Lover’s Guide to the Other Side

When a pet passes on, it can be so heartbreaking . . . almost like our whole world has been turned upside down. Suddenly, the front porch once so full of life looks lonely and bare without that wagging tail awaiting us from beneath our favorite rocking chair. And it’s funny how that once aggravating habit they had of barking madly at the passing midnight train becomes a sound that we never thought we’d long to hear.

Most of all, when a pet passes away we are in need of a comfort that can come only from knowing the answer to the age-old question . . . Do all dogs go to heaven?

If we were to take a peek into the Bible, we would find the mention of animals widely spread throughout each book. From Genesis to Revelation, it seems that God has a heart for animals . . . just as we do.

Let’s begin with the first book . . . In Genesis God revealed that He formed us both, man and animal, from the ground. That means that even though we are very different, we were formed in the exact same way. Our bodies are very, very similar. Isn’t it interesting that God grouped us together this way? It’s almost as if He were saying we are of equal importance . . . and if you were to read the Bible from cover to cover you would find many verses that imply this exact truth.

As we journey on through Genesis, we learn of the story of Noah and his mighty ark – one of the most beloved stories of all time. While God certainly could have simply seen to it that Noah and family floated away safely – He didn’t stop there. He didn’t skimp out on the size of the ark. He made certain that Noah built an ark big enough to hold two of every animal in the world – and that’s a whole lot of animals!

Just think of all the beautiful creatures in our world today. Isn’t it cool to think that your pet is a descendant of one of these very creatures that once sailed on the most famous forty day cruise of all time?! As the story goes, after the flood came a rainbow and a covenant made by God that He would never flood the earth again . . . this covenant was not only between God and Noah but also between God and the animals.

Perhaps one of the most assuring of all passages comes from Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 as Solomon tells us this . . .

“I said in my heart, Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place:”

And if you are a follower of the Bible, you know that place” is called heaven. It’s a place where there will be no more death or tears. It’s a place where Jesus promised to take us someday. He even described this perfect place with these words “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together.”

And so simply goes the love story . . . that not only did God love the world, but He also loved the men and animals upon it. He loved them so much that He didn’t stop at creating the world . . . He also created a heaven that someday where He was we might be also.

When we lose our pets, we don’t have to live on the notion that our time with them is over. Just as loved ones who’ve gone on, we haven’t lost a great love . . . Heaven has simply gained a new angel. As you journey through life, turn your face towards the sun and rest in the comfort of knowing that somewhere in heaven, right this very moment is one little, healthy, happy doggie chases the tail of shooting stars, walking alongside the Creator and patiently awaiting the day you’ll meet again.

It’s a sweet and sovereign salvation this one of our Father. In my heart I believe, that when we come to our journey’s end we will each have a group of happy, wagging tails so eagerly welcoming us home . . . slippers in stow.