All Dogs Go to Heaven

"Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job."

Ah, yes! Find a dog to pet and you've made a friend for life. I am more partial to dogs so if you are a cat lover and have them as pets, kudos to you, but there ain't nothing like a dog.

 A dog will greet you at the door when you first get home.

A dog will lie by your side no matter what your feeling or what condition you are in.

A dog will welcome you home after a week's long journey as if you had been gone for months.

Some have even trained their dog to go get them a beer out of the fridge or cooler. Oh, the humanity!!

Well, you get the gist of it. Cats carry on the persona of "you exist to serve me" where as a dog it is
"I exist to serve you." Cats want to be loved by you, where as dogs want to give you the attention.

Everyday we see countless stories of dogs welcoming their soldier companions home from a 6 month or longer tour of duty and the dogs are jumping and hugging and woofing it up like there's no tomorrow. Then we have the unfortunate incidents of a dog losing it's master and are seen lying by their coffin knowing that they are gone.

Dogs carry with them emotions just like us humans. A recent video gone viral is of a dog celebrating his 11th birthday in style. His owners wanted to do something special for their dog who was diagnosed with cancer and given a short time left to live. They gave him a birthday cake and a giant box of dog stuffies to tear apart. The dog went crazy with joy. The family treated him as one of the family and rightfully so.

A handful of years ago while walking the dog through the neighborhood, I saw a Lost Dog poster. Along with a photo of the dog and contact information was this message:

Lost Dog
Pees on the carpet
Chews the kids toys
Digs holes in the yard
Still want him back

Yep, part of the family. All pets are part of the family and play an integral part to our lives.

Beside carrying with them emotions and feelings, dogs are smart. Some are used as service dogs, others as police dogs, and others are used to comfort both seniors and hospital patients. I love the technique one dentist uses to calm his patients, especially the children; he has his golden retriever hang around the office and dentist chair to unnerve those fears.

For all of the good that dogs do in particular to enrich the lives of others, why wouldn't we see our beloved pets in heaven. One would argue that they don't have a soul, but yet they do carry the same emotions and feelings that us humans do and they provide comfort and peace to others.

One definition of soul: the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal. regarded as immortal.

Another dictionary defines soul as: the spirit and essence of a person.

So, it really isn't too far-fetched to say 'dogs got to heaven'. And not just dogs, but cats and any other pets as well.  Our pets serve a specific purpose here on earth and I'm glad they do, especially dogs!

If you are interested and if I've peeked your interest on cats vs. dogs, there is an excellent book out called Cat and Dog Theology. Just click on the link to Intervarsity Press on my home page and check it out.