Where do the souls of our pets go when they die?

Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without animals

Judy Carman, a McLouth resident, author of the award-winning “Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken’s Soul” and co-author of www.circleofcompassion.org, which hosts the International Prayer Circle for Animals:

In answer to this immensely humbling question, Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.”

And who among us has not suspected exactly that when in the company of our faithful family pets, whose trusting eyes reveal to us the sweet and innocent nature of their souls?

There are some who claim that animals don’t have souls or go to heaven. This concept is not based on fact, but rather on the anthropocentric notion that non-human animals are simply here for human beings to use and that they have no status with the Creator.

Yet, according to the Book of Genesis 2.7 (original Hebrew), the late Pope John Paul II, Buddhist teachings and many others, all animals (not just pets) do have souls. That is, they have a spirit that lives on after the body has died. The proof of this, of course, lies not in anyone’s words but in our hearts, our faith and in miracles.

For example: Robin Deland was driving on a narrow road when a dog appeared in front of the car, forcing him to stop. He knew this was his dog, Jeff, who had died six months earlier. In amazement, Robin followed Jeff on foot to a massive rock slide, which would have caused his car to plunge over a cliff. Jeff then vanished, as he had accomplished his mission of saving Robin’s life.

There are many stories, like this one, of animals whose spirits returned after physical death to rescue the people they love.

If you have been blessed to have a soul connection with a pet or a cow, a pig, a dolphin or any animal, you know the answer in your heart. Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without the animals to share it with us.

Send e-mail to the Judy Carman at judycarman@myvine.com.

All things are possible with God

Pat Lechtenberg, pastoral associate, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Ky.:

I have to admit, I’m not an “animal person.”

I was around farm animals in early childhood, but I didn’t think of the cows, horses, mules, chickens or pigs as pets.

There dogs herded the cattle, the barn cats only came close when the cows were being milked, hoping for a squirt of warm milk.

There was a coon dog on my uncle’s farm that had a leg broken in so many places that he ran like a car with a flat tire, and he was scary looking.

When we lived in town, we had a little dog named Pal. When my husband and I were first married, he gave me a Siamese cat we called Mai Ling. He didn’t know I was afraid of cats and that I used a straw broom to push her out of the house every time he left.

Eventually, Mai Ling and I became companions, and she taught me as much about birthing and child rearing as any book I read. She was part of the family for about 10 years. I quietly mourned her passing, surprised that it affected me as much as it did. Remember, I’m not an “animal person.”

I don’t think I know of anyone who actually believes that animals have “souls” in the spiritual sense that we think of human souls. I do think that our Creator gave humans and animals to each other to protect, to care for and to share companionship. Some people find acceptance, unconditional love, trust and loyalty in their pets. I actually have seen and experienced animals who were more welcoming, joyful and compassionate than some humans.

I believe our God means for us to be happy. If a person needs his or her pet to be happy in the life after this life, then the pet could be there. With God, all things are possible.

Humans just have to be sure to make good choices and just decisions and to live a life that will get them to as good a ‘place’ as the animals may dwell after life on earth.

Send e-mail to Pat Lechtenberg at plechtenberg@saint-johns.net.