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Do Dogs Go to Heaven: How to Answer Kids’ Tough Questions

3. God doesn’t promise that our pets will be in heaven. But He does promise that animals will be there.

One of the biggest questions kids often have is “Will I get to see my pet again someday?” The good news is that plenty of animals will be in heaven with us for eternity. They’ll be for our enjoyment there quite possibly even more than they were here on earth.

Isaiah 11:6  The wolf also 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.

However, God makes no promises as to whether those animals in heaven will be ones we knew here on earth. So is it possible for our pets to be in heaven? While it may not be likely, anything is possible. God can do whatever He pleases. And if God were to choose to let someone’s pet into heaven, who is to stop Him?

But the Bible gives no clear answers that this will be the case. So it’s okay to simply be honest with our children. When they ask, “Do dogs go to heaven?” we can respond that we just don’t know.

What is important is helping children understand that regardless of what animals will be in heaven, they will not be there because they have a soul like we do. Instead, they’ll be there simply because God has chosen for them to be part of eternity for us to enjoy. However, while they are alive, we need to make sure to do everything to protect their health, things like noticing is a dog is wheezing could save their live.

4. God understands how we feel when we lose something or someone we love.

This could be the most important lesson of all that children learn through the loss of a pet. God cares about us when we hurt, and He understands.

The loss of things we love in this life is a sad reality of a fallen world. Ever since Adam and Eve “lost” in the Garden of Eden, loss has been a constant part of the human existence. Yet God understands our feelings and frustrations over losing something important to us, even as kids.

God even wants to comfort us when we’re sad. God ultimately understands because He has suffered the greatest loss of all. He gave His only Son, Jesus, for our salvation. And God understands when you lose something you love, as well.

We may not be able to give completely satisfactory answers to all our kids’ questions. But may we do the best we can to help them understand what God does and doesn’t tell us about this subject. And may we tactfully help them understand the truth by giving them comfort yet not false hope.

This article about do dogs go to heaven originally appeared here.