Do All Dogs Really Go to Heaven?

When we were at Love Inn (our ministry work in upstate New York) our dog was a Border Collie, Alfie. He was the best Christian in the place. He was hit by a car trying to cross highway Rt.13, and Nedra still cries about him. She was telling Alfie stories last week and cried.

Then subsequently we had Lady, (looked like Lassie) she was “dog napped.” Our next dog was Golda, a Golden Retriever. My youngest son Ryan used to sleep on her. She eventually died of old age. All of these dogs were loving, devoted, and faithful.

So, do animals have spirits? Here are some Bible verses and God’s perspective:

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you...In God’s hand is the life of every creature, and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7 and10)

“A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.” (Proverbs 12:10) Not many people think of measuring righteousness by this standard.

And in regard to the question are there animals in heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:19: "After all, the same fate awaits human beings and animals alike. One dies just like the other. They are the same kind of creature. A human being is no better off than an animal, because life has no meaning for either."

Eccl 3:20: "They are both going to the same place---the dust. They both came from it; they will both go back to it."

Eccl 3:21: "How can anyone be sure that the human spirit goes upward while an animal's spirit goes down into the ground?"

Of course, the human animal can make choices in regard to God/Jesus, but not the four legged beasts. But Scripture is pretty clear that there will be animals in the new world after He folds this one up.

I remember years ago, while broadcasting on radio in upstate New York, having a young girl calling me on the air. She was crying because her dog was sick. She asked me to pray for her dog. I had never done that before, but she was so desperate, I did it. Some people called me and said I shouldn’t have done that, because God wasn’t involved in healing animals. Those folks apparently didn’t know God very well. Because a short time later the young girl called back laughing and excited saying her dog was better!

I have prayed for many animals since then.

The Scripture says He knows about every bird that falls to the ground too. God does care about animals. As a matter of fact there are some churches that hold a blessing of the animal’s service. “God’s hand is in the life of every creature.”