Last June, a letter titled “Missing My Cat in Georgia” appeared in Dear Abby, where a reader was troubled by a Catholic friend’s assertion that pets don’t go to heaven. Dear Abby’s response opened the floodgates, and the mail poured in, overwhelmingly refuting that viewpoint. This heartwarming collection of letters offers solace and varying perspectives on the beautiful concept of pets in the afterlife.
One of the first responses came from Pastor Steve in West Virginia, an ordained pastor of 27 years, who shared a personal story about his cat, Fred. Fred, who arrived unexpectedly and chose Pastor Steve as his human, passed away last summer after 11 years. Pastor Steve eloquently writes, “The Bible says that God is a God of love — indeed, that God IS love.” He continues, reflecting on the profound capacity of pets to love, often exceeding human expressions of love. Pastor Steve believes Fred was sent into his life to prepare him for marriage, making him a better husband and pastor. Because of this deep bond and the lessons learned from Fred, Pastor Steve confidently states, “Therefore, I cannot imagine God not inviting, even welcoming, Fred into some sort of heavenly afterlife, whatever that may look like. Love never dies, and I don’t believe that the loving relationship between a pet and their human ends at death.”
Brenda from Michigan shared a touching anecdote from her daughters’ childhood. They had a German shepherd named Lady, and one evening, their Catholic priest was over for dinner. The girls asked him if Lady would go to heaven. His wise and comforting response was to ask, “Do you want her to be there when you get there?” Upon their enthusiastic “Of course!”, he reassured them, “We are told that heaven is everything and more than we want or can imagine. If you want Lady there, she will be there.” This story highlights a compassionate and personal interpretation of heaven, suggesting that love and desire play a role in shaping our afterlife experience.
Further reinforcing the idea of pets in heaven, a Pet-Loving Protestant Minister, seminary-trained and serving a large mainline church, offered a theological perspective. This minister pointed out that “the Bible has many Scripture verses that depict animals in heaven.” Adding to the evidence, they mentioned the accounts of people who were resuscitated after death and reported seeing their deceased pets “on the other side.” Their message to “Missing” is one of joyful anticipation: “I want ‘Missing’ to know I am sure there’s a happy, purr-fect reunion waiting for him when his earthly life is done.” This minister combines biblical interpretation with anecdotal evidence of near-death experiences to strengthen the belief in a heavenly reunion with pets.
Jeff from Ohio contributed a story, reminiscent of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone,” that cleverly illustrates the essence of heaven. It tells of an old gentleman and his dog who both pass away in an accident. They arrive at a grand gate, seemingly heaven, guarded by a man who declares, “This is heaven… But you’ll have to leave your dog outside. No animals allowed.” The old man, without hesitation, chooses to keep walking with his dog. Eventually, they reach a simple turnstile where a smiling man, Peter, welcomes them, saying, “You passed the final test… Welcome to heaven!” When the old man expresses confusion, recalling the previous gate, Peter explains, “that was the Devil… trying to tempt you one last time… how could any place be heaven if you couldn’t bring your dog?” This heartwarming story emphasizes that true heaven, by definition, must include the things and beings we love most, especially our loyal animal companions.
These letters, sparked by the initial question in Dear Abby, collectively paint a comforting picture for pet lovers grieving or questioning the afterlife for their beloved animals. Through personal anecdotes, theological perspectives, and heartwarming stories, they offer reassurance that the love and bonds we share with our pets are significant and may extend beyond this earthly realm. Dear Abby’s column, in this instance, has become a platform for exploring faith, love, and the enduring connection between humans and their animal companions, providing solace and hope to those who cherish the thought of reuniting with their pets in heaven.
