The topic of animals and pets going to heaven received extra attention when Pope Francis was mistakenly quoted as saying, “Paradise is open to all Gods creatures.” However, these words about pets were actually spoken by Pope Paul IV years earlier. The question still remains, do our dogs go to heaven when they die?
One of the most poignant stories in the Bible is the parable the prophet Nathan told to King David. The prophet told the king of a poor man and his pet lamb. He said, “The poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him” (2 Samuel 12:3, NKJV).
Because we love animals, often the question arises, “will our pets be in heaven?” However, the Bible is silent on this question. It neither confirms it nor denies it.
For many of us who love our furry companions, the question “do dogs go to heaven according to the Bible?” becomes particularly poignant when facing the loss of a beloved pet. As someone who’s experienced this heartache firsthand, I understand the comfort we seek in knowing if our four-legged family members might await us in eternity.
While the Bible doesn’t give us a definitive “yes” or “no” answer about dogs in heaven it does provide thoughtful insights about God’s care for all creation that can guide our understanding. Let’s explore what scripture actually tells us about this heartfelt question.
What the Bible Says About Animals in God’s Plan
The Bible begins with animals as an integral part of God’s perfect creation In Genesis 1 24-25, we read
“And God said ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground and the wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”
This passage establishes something fundamental – animals, including our dogs, were intentionally created by God and declared “good.” This divine affirmation of animals suggests their inherent value in God’s eyes.
Animals Were Part of God’s Covenants
Interestingly, God included animals in His covenants. After the flood, God made a covenant that encompassed “every living thing of all flesh” (Genesis 6:18-19). Similarly, in Hosea 2:18, God speaks of making a covenant “with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground.”
These inclusions suggest that animals are not mere afterthoughts in God’s plan but have a place in His ongoing relationship with creation.
God’s Care for Animals
The Bible frequently highlights God’s attention to and care for animals:
- In Matthew 10:29, Jesus points out that “not one sparrow falls to the ground outside your Father’s care.”
- Psalm 36:6 declares, “Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.”
- Proverbs 12:10 notes that “the righteous care for the needs of their animals.”
Charles Morris, from Haven Ministries, puts it beautifully: “God created the world for us as an act of overflowing love. In every picture he gives of the restoration of his creation he always includes the animals.”
The Difference Between Humans and Animals
While acknowledging God’s care for animals, the Bible does distinguish between humans and animals in significant ways:
- Humans were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals were not
- Humans have moral responsibility – we can choose right from wrong, accept or reject salvation
- The plan of salvation described in scripture is specifically designed for humans
As BibleInfo.com explains: “God did not create animals with the ability to choose right or wrong, to accept or reject salvation. Only humans were given this ability to reason.”
Glimpses of Animals in Heaven
Though not directly addressing pets in heaven, the Bible offers intriguing glimpses of animals in God’s restored creation:
Isaiah 11:6-9 paints a beautiful picture: “The wolf 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 a little child shall lead them… They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain.”
Similarly, Isaiah 65:25 states, “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock… They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
These verses suggest that animals are included in God’s vision of the restored creation.
Finding Comfort in What We Know
When I lost my dog last year, I found comfort not in certainty about his eternal destination, but in these biblical truths:
- God loves His creation – Psalm 145:9 reminds us that “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
- God understands our grief – Jesus himself wept at the death of his friend (John 11:35), showing that grief is natural and understood by God.
- Heaven will be perfect – Revelation 21:4 promises that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
Perspectives from Biblical Scholars
Many Christian thinkers have reflected on this question throughout history. C.S. Lewis, who took on the nickname “Jack” after his childhood dog Jacksie died, suggested in some of his writings that our beloved pets might join us in the next life.
In “The Problem of Pain” and “The Great Divorce,” Lewis hints at the possibility that pets could be “assumed into our lives in heaven.” His perspective offers a thoughtful, hopeful approach without claiming definitive knowledge.
Trusting God with the Unknown
Ultimately, the Bible doesn’t give us a clear “yes” or “no” about whether our dogs will be in heaven. But perhaps that uncertainty invites us to trust in God’s goodness and perfect plan.
As BibleInfo.com wisely notes: “We must be willing to allow God to order things as He sees best—and trust that we will be happy with the situation in heaven.”
Practical Comfort for Grieving Pet Owners
If you’re mourning the loss of a dog right now, here are some thoughts that might offer comfort:
- Remember God’s character – The God who notices fallen sparrows surely notices your grief over your beloved pet
- Enjoy the memory of your pet – The joy and love you shared was a gift from God
- Trust in God’s perfect plan – 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds us that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”
Final Thoughts
While we don’t have a definitive biblical answer about dogs in heaven, we know that God loves His creation, including the animals that bring us so much joy. Whether or not our dogs will be with us in eternity, we can trust that heaven will be a place of perfect happiness and fulfillment.
As Psalm 84:11 reassures us, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Whatever heaven holds, we can be confident that it will exceed our expectations and fulfill our deepest longings.
I like to think that a God who created the wonderful bond between humans and dogs understands its value. And while I can’t claim certainty about dogs in heaven, I rest in the knowledge that God’s plans are always better than what we can imagine.
What are your thoughts? Has your faith helped you through the loss of a pet? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
Everything created for God’s glory
Yet there are some points we can consider. God created everything—including animals—for His pleasure and His glory. The Bible says, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11, NKJV). Human beings were specifically created for God’s glory. “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him; yes, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7, NKJV). But the Bible speaks of even inanimate objects, such as the sun, moon, and stars, praising God (see Psalm 148:3). Of course, we know these objects cannot praise God in the same way we humans can. However, they praise God by shining. By carrying out the role God planned for them, they glorify their Creator.
Although all of God’s creation is for His glory and pleasure, human beings alone were created in God’s . Animals were made from the same dust as humans and have the same breath of life in them as we do, but God made men and women in His own and entrusted them with the responsibility of overseeing, protecting, and enjoying the rest of His creation. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our , according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own ; in the of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;’ and it was so” (Genesis 1:26-30, NKJV). “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15, NKJV).
Because humans can reason, we are able to make intelligent and moral decisions; animals cannot. God did not create animals with the ability to choose right or wrong, to accept or reject salvation. Only humans were given this ability to reason.
God warned Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—“for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17, NKJV). Only humans have the ability to make moral decisions for or against God.
- “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NKJV)
- Joshua 24:15 (ESV) And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
The plan of salvation is designed for human beings, not for animals. Since animals cannot reason and make moral decisions, they are not included in the salvation God has offered to humans. Jesus died to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV). We are saved through our faith in Him. John 3:16 (KJV) says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should nor perish, but have everlasting life.” In order for one to be saved, one has to believe in Jesus. But animals cannot exercise saving faith in Jesus.
Do Our Departed Pets Go To Heaven? Yes They Do. Bible Study
FAQ
Does the Bible say that dogs are going to heaven?
What happens to dogs after death in the Bible?
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What does God say about dogs?
Their references in the Bible are often of a contemptuous character. However, they were used by the Israelites as a watch for their houses (Isaiah 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). Dogs are used as a figure of: Promiscuity – Deuteronomy 23:18.