DO ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?

by Dan Schaeffer

“A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, But the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10 NASB)

"I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. (Psalms 50:11 NASB)

“Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” George Eliot

For many people, their most trusted and loved friends have four legs and a tail. In

a PET LOVER POLL done by America On Line in September 1999, the question was

asked of over 20,000 people: What level of importance does your pet hold relative to

other family members? Do they hold more, equal, or less value? Almost 15% of those

surveyed said their pets hold more value than family members, and fully 51% said their2

pets hold equal value. Only 28% said their pets have less value than their family

members (1). It seems that these statistics may hold true for Christians as well as non-

Christians.

Author and artist Joni Eareckson Tada found out just how strongly many

Christians feel about their animals when she suggested in her book, Heaven…Your Real

Home, that pets would not be resurrected from the dead. She received more critical

letters over one paragraph than all her other writings combined. One person after another

questioned how she could possibly say that their pets would not be in heaven.

After rethinking her position, she decided “If God brings our pets back to life, it

wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with his

generous character.” She went on to say, “heaven is going to be a place that will refract

and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who

delights in lavishing love on His children.” So will pets be in heaven? Who knows?!(2)

In his book, Resurrection, author and Bible expert Hank Hanegraaff detailed

Joni’s dilemma, and then commented. “Is Joni barking up the wrong tree, or is she right?

As usual, I’d say she’s right on. While we cannot say for certain that the pets we enjoy

today will be “resurrected” in eternity, I, like Joni, am not willing to preclude the

possibility. In the final analysis, one ting is certain,” Hanegraaff writes, “scriptures

provide us with a sufficient precedent for suggesting that animals will continue to exist

after the return of our Lord. Isaiah provides a particularly stirring image in Isaiah 11:6-

9. (3)

Hanegraaff points out that some of the keenest Christian minds, such as C. S.

Lewis, have believed that not only animals in general, but pets in particular will be3

restored in the resurrection. As Lewis says, pets “may have an immortality, not in

themselves, but in the immortality of their masters.”4 “Very few animals indeed, in their

wild state, attain to a ‘self’ or ego. But if any do, and if it is agreeable to the goodness of

God that they should live again, their immortality would also be related to man—not this

time, to individual masters, but to humanity.”(5)

While most Christians seem to enjoy animals in general, not all are quite ready to

assign our pets places in heaven.

As Dr. Robert Saucy, Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Talbot

School of Theology, says, “My understanding is that animals are souls, rather than

having souls. Scripture calls them “living creatures” which in the original is literally

“living souls,” exactly the same as with humans in Genesis 2:7. Animals are described as

having “the breath of the spirit of life.” (Genesis 7:22, also Ecclesiastes 3:21 NIV).

While Saucy tends to think that there will be animals in heaven, he doubts they will be

the same individual animals we know and enjoy today.

While animals have a spirit or life force, he explains, it is not of the same quality

as that of a human being, the difference being the origin of their life in creation. In the

case of animals, God simply calls them forth from creation (Genesis 1:24). It seems to

Saucy that God infuses the life power in creation into individual creatures. (Genesis

1:20). When the animal dies, and the “spirit” leaves the body, it goes back where it came

from, creation in general. Thus, the particular animal does not exist any more, whereas in

humans our spirit comes from God in heaven, and will return to Him.

Gary Richmond disagrees…sort of. Richmond’s background has given him

ample time to consider this issue thoroughly. Presently a singles pastor in Fullerton,4

California, he was a former veterinary assistant at the Los Angeles Zoo. He is the author

of a number of books about animals, including the best seller, A View From the Zoo, and

his latest, It’s a Jungle Out There!”

While agreeing with Saucy on many points, he believes strongly that pets will be

in heaven. Richmond appeals to the story of Noah’s Ark to show the redemptive process

of both man and animals being saved from a judgement. He says, “We like the idea that

all the animals were saved, but try very hard to divide ourselves from the animal

kingdom. What a person can say with absolute authority is that there is no indication in

the scripture whatsoever that animals won't go to heaven. The Noah’s Ark story is a

strong indication of the redemption of the animal life.”

Yet even Richmond’s stand produces nagging questions. “Does that mean every

flea or every ant goes to heaven? He admits, “I don’t have a good answer for that.” But

he doesn’t believe animals can go to hell. “They are not moral beings and hell is reserved

for those who are disobedient to Him, and the Bible teaches that animals honor Him. He

feels that animals are attracted to the things of God instinctively, and do not have the

capacity to sin. “They may wet the rug, but that’s not sinful!”

The Reverend Brian T. McSweeney, vice chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese

of New York, contends that by virtue of their relationship with humans, dogs may find

themselves in heaven. Though he believes that heaven was designed for humans, the

reason dogs or pets may be there is for us, not for themselves. “I would think a loving

God wants us to be happy and allows us to have animals that shared love with us.”(6)

The author of Will I See Fido in Heaven?, Mary Buddemeyer-Porter, disagrees

with Sweeney that if dogs go to heaven, it is for humans. “I know of no scripture in the5

Bible that would support that statement. In addition, as to the question of whether dogs

make choices that allow them to go to heaven, she replies, “It doesn’t make any

difference what dogs do because they are innocent of any sin. If they commit a sin, they

don’t know it.”

Stephen H. Webb. Ph.D., associate professor of religion and philosophy at

Wabash College, and the author of On God and Dogs, disagrees. “Dogs do make moral

choices. Some dogs act in evil ways, but I think all dogs will be redeemed, as [I think] all

humans will be redeemed, in heaven.”7 Most Christians will have difficulty finding

much common ground with Webb’s universal salvation, and on that basis, applying it to

animals as well.

While the theological heavyweights may have thought out their positions a little

more than the rest of us, their positions don’t differ all that much from those who haven’t.

After researching what a number of Christian “experts” might say on the subject,

it was important to hear what Christian “non-experts” said to the same questions: Do

animals have souls, do our pets go to heaven, and on what do you base your belief? It

was important that we not only queried pet lovers, but those who didn’t have as deep a

love affair with their pets as others.

Having just lost their dog, Star, to cancer recently, Norm and Karen Rech had

strong feelings. While they do not believe that animals have souls, they do believe there

is a place in heaven for them. “They are still His creations and we can’t see Him leaving

them out [of heaven]. Throughout the Bible God uses animals to communicate with

people such as the dove and the donkey. Isn’t that another indication that animals have a

special place in God’s heart, and therefore a place in heaven?”(6)

While Norm and Karen admit that their belief may just be based on wishful

thinking, they nevertheless conclude, “we love animals and know God does too, or He

wouldn’t have created them for us to use for our needs, but also to enjoy as companions.”

Popular Christian author and speaker, Sigmund Brouwer, articulated the obvious.

“I would really have a tough time committing either way, but I would want to believe it

[that animals went to heaven].” Brouwer shares a personal story that reinforces the

difficulty this issue raises. His wife’s nieces had two little kittens, which were killed by

dogs. The girls, seven and nine, were understandably upset, so Brouwer’s wife Cindy,

and her sister, had a funeral for the kittens, and prayed over them. The mother assured

them that the little kitties were indeed going to heaven. At that point the youngest said,

“Good, and I hope those dogs are going to hell!”

Not all pet owners feel a deep empathy and compassion for all their pets. As

chiropractor, Dr. Dave Johnson, said, in answer to the question of whether he thought

animals would go to heaven, “Based on my dog’s behavior—no!” When asked if he

thought animals could go to hell, he replied, “Based on my dog’s behavior—yes!”

Admitting he didn’t have any really strong opinions, and was open to more information,

he nevertheless stressed “it would be nice if my dog would accelerate his search for

heaven.”

Cecelia Harvey, an R.N., admitting that she is occasionally at odds with her

family’s Chocolate Labrador Retriever, put it succinctly. “Animals do not have souls.

Take my dog, a large animal with a pea size brain. He has no regret when he does

something wrong, like dig in the trash. He also has no repentant heart when he is let back

into the house and goes RIGHT BACK TO THE TRASH!” As to her dog being in7

heaven, she replied, “If my dog is in MY heaven, I will question exactly where I am.”

Then she added, “My dog will not go to heaven because there is no cat food to eat and no

trash cans to dig in.” However, the only animals she consigned to hell were cats,

“especially old ones who meow constantly, act like they’ve never been fed, and shed!”

When asked how strongly she held her view she replied, “My dog rolls in the dirt after a

bath, does that tell you something?”

Harvey makes a good point. Eternity with an animal that annoyed you in this life

might resemble eternal torment rather than eternal bliss.

Val Montefu, a realtor, and a Royal Poodle owner, raised additional thorny

questions. How would a pet’s eternal destination be determined? By the faith (or lack of

faith) of its owner? By whether or not it is an obedient animal? (All cats would perish).

And since scripture teaches there is no marriage, or giving in marriage in heaven, does

that mean all earthly relationships are severed in heaven? If that is true—whose dog

would he be? Would he be an independent creature with no owner, feeding himself and

walking himself? Hmmmmmm.

It seems, ultimately, what a person believes is strongly influenced by the nature of

their relationship to pets or the animal world. The stronger their “emotional resonance”

with an animal, as Sigmund Brouwer puts it, the more likely they are to want to see their

pets in heaven, and vice-versa. It appears that at times we are eager to find in scripture

the answer we are looking for, and whether you believe pets will be in heaven or not,

scripture provides hope, for it neither affirms nor denies the possibility.(8)

The one thing that everyone who was interviewed expressed was a reticence to be

too dogmatic. It seems clear that the Bible isn’t crystal clear on the issue, and emotions

run high. So let’s all take a deep breath, and….take our dog for a walk!

Sidenote

The Bible does not answer this question dogmatically, however it is interesting

that the early church did not hold the view that animals did not have souls. It wasn’t until

the enlightenment, with thinkers like Descartes and Hobbes, that the existence of animal

souls began to be challenged.

While it is true that there is indeed a vast gulf between the animal kingdom and

humans, it does not follow naturally that animals have no souls. However, if animals do

have souls, it also does not follow naturally that their souls exist independently from their

body, like human souls, and can survive their death.

But to the question of whether there will be animals in heaven, it can be pointed

out that the Garden of Eden was populated with animals. Certainly they were an

important part of His creation. And at the end of God’s plan, in the Millennial Kingdom,

which many feel is a literal depiction of the millennial reign of Christ on the earth after

His second coming, the animal kingdom plays a prominent part. In fact, in this millennial

kingdom, the animals are no longer antagonistic towards each other, but predator and

prey are co-existing peacefully, and children can play with animals now considered lethal

(Isaiah 11:6-9). It seems to be a return to the conditions in the original Garden of Eden.

While there is disagreement as to whether this kingdom is to be taken literally, the

fact that animals are listed with people in the description of this future kingdom seems to9

indicate that animals continue to play an important role in God’s Kingdom. Furthermore,

language used in the book of Revelation (if taken literally) seems to indicate that there

will be horses, and other animals in heaven.

Perhaps, since it is impossible to be dogmatic given the scriptures silence

(Deuteronomy 29:29), it would behoove us to retreat to what we do know. We can’t be

sure whether our pets go to heaven or not, but we can be sure that God loves them very

much, and will be loving towards them, because they are part of His creation. His

compassion does not begin and end with man, but extends to “towards all He has made.”

(Proverbs 12:10 NIV) A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest

acts of the wicked are cruel.

(Matthew 6:26 NIV) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away

in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than

they?

(Psalms 50:11 NIV) I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are

mine.

(Matthew 10:29 NIV) Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will

fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

(Psalms 145:13 NIV) Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion

endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving

toward all he has made.

References

1 AOL Pet Lover Poll 9/21/99. AOL Polling from Digital City Technologies, Total votes: 20390

2 Joni Eareckson Tada, Holiness in Hidden Places (Nashville: J. Countryman, 1999), 133.

3 Hank Hanegraaff, Resurrection (Nashville: Word Publishing, 2000), 120-1214 C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 139-40.

5 Ibid., 141.

6 Ibid., pg. 29

6 Dog Fancy Magazine, “Do Dogs Go To Heaven,” by Judith Reitman, September 1999, p.26