Do people believe that we'll get to see our dogs / pets again when we die?

hatrickpatrick

Hey, sorry for such a gloomy thread but my beautiful labrador had to be put down this morning after her spinal arthritis left her entire back paralyzed.

I'm absolutely wrecked right now with grief, and also with guilt that we had to choose to end her life instead of her just naturally getting there herself

Right now I'm trying so hard to believe that one day we might get to hug again when it's my turn to move on from this world. It seems that there are very diverse opinions on whether dogs have anything to look to beyond this life. I've found various passages from the Bible which would suggest that there is indeed a chance we might get to see them again, and my gut instinct is that if heaven is pure happiness, that's not going to happen without the animals which are no different to family members, especially after they've been with us for such massive chunks of our lives.

Is there anyone else here who shares this belief, or am I clutching at straws?

TherapyBoy

Clutch at them straws! If you believe you'll see & hug your dog again, then I believe it'll happen.

zenno

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Hey, sorry for such a gloomy thread but my beautiful labrador had to be put down this morning after her spinal arthritis left her entire back paralyzed.

I'm absolutely wrecked right now with grief, and also with guilt that we had to choose to end her life instead of her just naturally getting there herself

Right now I'm trying so hard to believe that one day we might get to hug again when it's my turn to move on from this world. It seems that there are very diverse opinions on whether dogs have anything to look to beyond this life. I've found various passages from the Bible which would suggest that there is indeed a chance we might get to see them again, and my gut instinct is that if heaven is pure happiness, that's not going to happen without the animals which are no different to family members, especially after they've been with us for such massive chunks of our lives.

Is there anyone else here who shares this belief, or am I clutching at straws?

It's better that they put her to sleep than having the poor dog suffer the hard way of natural death as it can be really bad for the dog. Sorry to hear your friend and companion died as i went through it a while back and it's horrible.

As for meeting your dog in the after-life, who knows, I would like to think it would be possible to meet again but we just really don't know if this could be the case, but it's possible.

Paddysnapper

Not a doubt in my opinion! An enormously good friend of ours a Church of England cleric believes this to be be true.. Many years ago his beloved Lab. Sam died of extreem old age, and he (like all of us who have had dogs! particularly Labs) are so besotted with them.... I would love to be be re-united with my old boys again. total 4.. I do hope they get on together well!...

Keep the faith!.. Even though it is a gutting experience!

TherapyBoy

I was at a wedding during the summer, priest stands up to the pulpit at the start of the mass and says;

"Oh Lord, please let me be the man my dog thinks I am"

Thought it might bring a smile..

hatrickpatrick

zenno wrote: »

It's better that they put her to sleep than having the poor dog suffer the hard way of natural death as it can be really bad for the dog.

Absolutely. She's been ok for a while, she needed help getting up from the uncarpeted floors but was ok apart from that, then suddenly with almost no warning at all on Wednesday, both of her legs went and the vet told us there was absolutely no chance she'd ever be able to support her weight again. We talked about dog wheelchairs, prosthetics etc but everyone we knew and the vet told us that at 12-13 (from animal rescue so not 100% sure how old) she'd have a horrible time trying to adjust to that and just wouldn't want to do it.

She was in my arms when they gave her the injection and she just drifted off to sleep. Couldn't have dreamed of a more peaceful departure.

Sorry to hear you've been through the same, it's utterly gut wrenching

You know when you think about it, dogs are so unbelievably loving and selfless, a friend of mine (and hers) earlier was saying Sam will be absolutely fine, and that we should be far more worried about making sure we deserve to join her later Kinda a good point when you think about it!

GRMA

That's very sad... my dogs getting old so I guess I have that to look forward to

I've heard it said before that in heaven you'll have whatever you need to make you perfectly happy - if you need your dog for that she'll be there.

ShamrockLady

I'm sorry to hear about you losing your dog. I just lost my St. Bernard this week unexpectedly.
I definately believe that we will see our pets again and that they will be waiting for us.

lmaopml

Op, you should read the book of Tobit!

...and notice the companion. The mere 'dog'...

Don't be downhearted, be glad that you saw and experienced life - and it's gift to you, that you learned to love the vulnerable, and are confirmed in them too..

zenno

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Absolutely. She's been ok for a while, she needed help getting up from the uncarpeted floors but was ok apart from that, then suddenly with almost no warning at all on Wednesday, both of her legs went and the vet told us there was absolutely no chance she'd ever be able to support her weight again. We talked about dog wheelchairs, prosthetics etc but everyone we knew and the vet told us that at 12-13 (from animal rescue so not 100% sure how old) she'd have a horrible time trying to adjust to that and just wouldn't want to do it.

She was in my arms when they gave her the injection and she just drifted off to sleep. Couldn't have dreamed of a more peaceful departure.

Sorry to hear you've been through the same, it's utterly gut wrenching

You know when you think about it, dogs are so unbelievably loving and selfless, a friend of mine (and hers) earlier was saying Sam will be absolutely fine, and that we should be far more worried about making sure we deserve to join her later Kinda a good point when you think about it!

My previous dog zenno had the same problem and her legs went but she was very old and lived a full life. So there i was asleep one night and i woke up with the howling and knew it was her time, she was howling at 2am till 9am until the vet opened and i could see how bad she was.

Actually she was fine in mind as i could tell but she was crying out loud because she couldn't stand up or move her legs. We knew she had to be put to sleep and i have to admire the vets work as we were in bits watching the vet inject her with a sleeping drug and when she was asleep after that shot the vet gave the main injection so she felt nothing, thank zod for medicine.

Two weeks before she passed away we got the vet to give her tablets that give her 1 to 2 weeks of mobility so i brought her out to malahide beach early in the mornings so she could enjoy the last few days swimming in the sea. Some people don't understand how close a human can be with a dog and also the intelligence and sense of humour the dog has makes you laugh a lot. They are called mans best friend for a reason.

Benny_Cake

I saw an interview with a minister once who was asked that question, and he replied that he couldn't conceive of a heaven without animals, as it wouldn't be heaven in that case!

No easy answers to this OP I'm afraid, but trust that all will be as it's meant to be and enjoy the happy memories. Pets are a huge part of the lives of those of us who share our homes with them. Be in no doubt that you did the right thing by your friend and I'm sure she had a great life with you.

tommy2bad

Of course animals go to heaven, for them their was no fall, they lead a life as god intended and will go to whatever reward He has planed for them.
The lion and the lamb will lie down together Jesus told us, He saw animals in heaven.

Peregrinus

tommy2bad wrote: »

Of course animals go to heaven, for them their was no fall . . .

Actually, in mainstream Christian thinking, the Fall affects the whole of creation and is the reason why, e.g. some animals hunt and eat one another. There was no suffering before the Fall, which implies that all animals were vegetarian (which is why, in a redeemed world foreseen by Isaiah - NB not heaven, and not Jesus - the wolf - not the lion - will lie down with the lamb. The lion, reportedly, is going to consort with the fatted calf, and the leopard with the goat. But you've got the general idea).

tommy2bad

Post in haste, repent at pleasure as they say(or not).
Meant that as they were not responsible for the fall.

the wolf - not the lion - will lie down with the lamb. The lion, reportedly, is going to consort with the fatted calf, and the leopard with the goat.

I know, I know but the most common, ahemm, abbreviation of the passage from Isaiah is the lion and the lamb.....
(And perhaps SOFAI was influencing my thinking, I almost put the lion and the stag )

tuxy

It's going to be awkward when rejoin the cattle from the steak I had for dinner. :eek:

goat2

i do beleive that i will meet all the pets i have lost,
5 hamsters
1 guinea pig
10 cats,
2 rabbits,
5 dogs,
all gone on ahead, i will not be lonely when i reach the pearly gates, i am hoping that some few of them wil recognise me when i get there,
i have 3 doggies and 2 cats at the moment,

and i feel for you, i always feel racked with guilt when i have to put my pet who beleive in me and rely on me to sleep,
but it helps to think that it is not our last time together.

georgieporgy

I wonder what happens to pets whose owners end up in hell? :eek:

Juza1973

georgieporgy wrote: »

I wonder what happens to pets whose owners end up in hell? :eek:

They have no souls so they cannot join their owners in hell. They will be disappointed not to see them in the New World but so will be God our Lord...

Morbert

tommy2bad wrote: »

Of course animals go to heaven, for them their was no fall, they lead a life as god intended and will go to whatever reward He has planed for them.
The lion and the lamb will lie down together Jesus told us, He saw animals in heaven.

I like the sentiment, but it seems like a hard position to take. If we assume all dogs go to heaven (one of my favourite cartoons), what about all cats? All hamsters? All mice? All lizards? Snakes? Worms? Insects? Bacteria? Viruses? Archaea? Prions?

Where is the line drawn?

Gumbi

Morbert wrote: »

I like the sentiment, but it seems like a hard position to take. If we assume all dogs go to heaven (one of my favourite cartoons), what about all cats? All hamsters? All mice? All lizards? Snakes? Worms? Insects? Bacteria? Viruses? Archaea? Prions?

Where is the line drawn?

Yeah, it seems to be merely adding an extra layer of wishful thinking.

JimiTime

Its got to be a no from me.

tommy2bad

Morbert wrote: »

I like the sentiment, but it seems like a hard position to take. If we assume all dogs go to heaven (one of my favourite cartoons), what about all cats? All hamsters? All mice? All lizards? Snakes? Worms? Insects? Bacteria? Viruses? Archaea? Prions?

Where is the line drawn?

What line? God is lord of all creation, not lord of men, we just need more help than the rest.
LOL at the egocentricity. Lost sheep thats us.

tuxy

tommy2bad wrote: »

What line? God is lord of all creation, not lord of men, we just need more help than the rest.
LOL at the egocentricity. Lost sheep thats us.

It's just many Christians believe an amoeba will not go to heaven. Of course it will, poor little amoeba