Question: Do Pets (Animals) Go To Heaven?
Answer: If you know me at all, you know I am not exactly a big dog person. I do like cats and I have also grown fond of my silkie chickens, perhaps because they remind me of cats 🙂 But I do recognize that many of you out there love dogs and other animals and have likely thought at some point, “Will my dog go to heaven? Will my pet hamster go heaven? Will my favorite cat go to heaven?”
I will save you from the suspense by giving you my answer now… The Bible is not clear on whether dogs (or other animals) will go to heaven, but there is strong evidence that at least some animals will be there.
After reading several articles on this topic that give a case that animals might go to heaven, I want to summarize the main points from two of my favorite articles. The link to the articles are at the bottom.
First, God calls animals good and were part of creation when everything was perfect.
In Genesis 1:25, it says, “And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”
S. Michael Houdmann points out that only humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). However, animals were around in the Garden of Eden before the fall. So when things were perfect and God was literally hanging out with man on Earth, there were animals.
In Revelation 21, when things are made right again and we are in the New Earth, we see that God is once again communing with man. In Revelation 22, the New Earth is described in a way that is very similar to Genesis 1. Rivers, trees, etc. Even if these descriptions are not literal, it is not a stretch to think that animals will be there as well.
Second, the Bible mentions animals being in the New Earth.
This is really a continuation from the first point. Isaiah 65 talks about the New Earth (what we often refer to as heaven). In 65:25, it says: “’The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,’ says the Lord.” If this is referring to the New Earth, then clearly there will be animals. It does not indicate whether these are previous animals (such as your favorite Poodle) or other animals that have since been created. Isaiah 11:6 is another verse that gives this same idea.
Third, horses are mentioned in several verses related to heaven.
Randy Alcorn writes, “Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot pulled by horses (2 Kings 2:11). We’re told there are horses in heaven (Revelation 6:2-8; 19:11). In fact, there are lots of horses, enough for the vast armies of heaven to ride (Revelation 19:11; 2 Kings 6:17).”
So will animals be heaven? Probably. At least some animals. I am not sure if your family pet from 40 years ago will be there, but it seems likely that animals will be in the New Earth.
Whether this makes you happy or sad, let’s remember that whatever ends up being the case, heaven is going to be beyond words. There will be no more sadness, pain or suffering. Everything will be made right. You will be with God forever. So in the end, whether or not your favorite pet is there, you will have the same love, attachment, and joy that your favorite pet brought to you.