Do dogs or pets in general go to heaven?

Most of us have heard the phrase “All dogs go to heaven” and think of the respective movie. But as a Christian, can we say that dogs or our pets go to heaven? This question has been weighing hard on my heart since Maximus passed away a couple of months ago (tomorrow).

I am a Christian, have preached, and hold a Master of Divinity degree, but none of that prepared me for the grief I’d feel “over a dog”. Maximus was certainly man’s best friend. This dog had seen some of the best and worst times of my life — almost all the worst. I recall thinking about my early childhood and being surrounded by fundamentalists (ultraconservatives) who would have thought my shedding tears over him was utter foolishness. But here I am today – still with a whirlwind of emotions for so many reasons.

Here are some things that went through my mind (the second to last was actually something someone said to me):

Why do animals love, and why are we able to get so attached if we won’t see them again one day?
How can we get so attached to our pets and never be able to see them again?
Is it a sin to be so attached? If so, when do we reach that point?
The Bible says there’ll be animals in the second heaven. So, can’t those be ours?
Jesus comes back on a horse. So, there have to be animals in heaven.
With the compassion of Christ, certainly we maybe reunited with our beloved pets some day.

There is nothing explicitly written in scripture that says whether animals will be in heaven or if they have souls. But here’s what the Bible does say.

The Genesis account

In Genesis, it says that God breathed the “breath of life” in both humans and animals. (Genesis 1:30-31; 2:7).

³⁰ And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day….⁷ then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (All scripture quoted from the ESV).

However, we see that in Genesis 1:26-27 that humans are made in the image of God, but our animals are not. We were created very differently from all other elements in creation. We have emotion, mind, but most importantly the ability to reason. So, animals, while they seemingly have humanlike attributes, have a completely different purpose in the Kingdom.

We do see that animals were always an important part of Creation. Again, in Genesis 6, we see that God told Noah to prepare the ark as He planned to flood the world. The Almighty commanded Noah to bring two of every living creature—every type of animal—into the ark to keep them alive with him, one male and one female. This includes the birds, each according to their kind, the animals, each according to their kind, and every creeping thing on the ground, each according to its kind. God said that two of each will come to him so they can stay alive. God also told him to gather all kinds of food that can be eaten and store it up—it’ll be food for both him (and his family) and them (the animals). And Noah did just that; he followed everything God told him to do. Unfortunately, this does not mean that animals will be in heaven or not, but we see that He was very concerned with what He had made- because it was beautiful. We sort of destroyed it.

The Romans account

In Romans 8:19-21, we see that all of creation is eagerly waiting for the moment when God’s children are fully revealed. It was forced into a state of futility, not by its own choice, but by the One who placed it there, with the hope that one day creation itself would be liberated from its decay and share in the glorious freedom of God’s children. Some cite Bible verses like Romans 8:19-21, where creation itself is said to be redeemed, implying animals might be part of that restoration. Others reference, along with these verses, the peaceable kingdom in Isaiah 11:6-9, with animals coexisting harmoniously, as a hint of their presence in an afterlife.

The Millennial Kingdom and animals

We clearly see in scripture that animals will be in the millennial kingdom. In Isaiah 11:6–8, we get a view of Jesus Christ’s reign on earth. In this passage, a peaceful and harmonious scene unfolds where animals that are typically predators and prey live together without conflict. Wolves and lambs, leopards and young goats, calves and lions—all coexist calmly, guided by the innocent presence of a small child. Even cows and bears graze side by side, their young resting together, while lions, instead of hunting, will eat vegetation such as straw like oxen. The tranquility extends to the point where a baby can safely play near a cobra’s hole, and a young child can reach into an adder’s den without fear or harm. It’s a vision of nature transformed into a state of perfect peace. We know animals will be here, but we don’t know to what extent or how many other species may be present as well. In Revelation 21:1, John wrote that he looked and saw a brand-new heaven and earth, completely fresh, because the old heaven and earth were gone, and even the sea had vanished. It might be logical to think there will be animals (minus the sea), but in the end, we’ll have to wait for that day to know.

C.S. Lewis and The Problem of Pain

While traditional theology often reserves souls for humans, some argue that pets have a form of soul or spirit. They might lean on historical figures like C.S. Lewis, who speculated in The Problem of Pain that pets could be brought into eternity through their owners’ love.

C.S. Lewis, in his book The Problem of Pain (1940), explores the nature of suffering, human existence, and the relationship between God and creation. While he doesn’t directly address the question of whether pets are “brought into eternity” in a definitive way, he does touch on related ideas that can offer insight into his thinking.

In Chapter 9, titled “Animal Pain,” Lewis discusses the suffering of animals and their place in the created order. He acknowledges that animals experience pain, but he distinguishes their experience from human suffering, which is tied to self-awareness and moral agency. Lewis speculates about the theological status of animals, suggesting that their existence might be tied to humanity’s in some way. He doesn’t explicitly say that pets go to heaven or are resurrected, but he leaves room for the possibility that animals—particularly those connected to humans—might have a role in the eternal scheme.

One key passage often cited in discussions about pets and eternity comes when Lewis considers the idea of animals being “in” their human companions. He writes:

“It seems to me possible that certain animals may have an immortality, not in themselves, but in the immortality of their masters. And this not out of proportion, for I think it likely that the higher animals—especially those which form deep and quasi-personal attachments to man—are in some way more intimately connected with the human spirit than we now suspect.”

Here, Lewis suggests that pets, especially those with strong bonds to humans (like dogs or cats), might participate in eternity through their relationship with their owners. He doesn’t assert this as doctrine but offers it as a hopeful possibility, rooted in the idea that God’s redemption of humanity could extend to the creatures tied to us.

Lewis also reflects on the goodness of creation and God’s love for all He has made, which could imply that animals, as part of that creation, might not be wholly excluded from the renewed world. However, he stops short of a firm conclusion, as his primary focus in The Problem of Pain is reconciling human suffering with divine goodness, not providing a detailed eschatology for animals.

In summary, C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain doesn’t definitively say that pets are “brought into eternity,” but he entertains the idea that those with deep connections to humans might share in their immortality in some way. His tone is speculative and open-ended, reflecting both his theological caution and his affection for the natural world. For a more imaginative take, some readers also point to his depictions of animals in The Chronicles of Narnia (e.g., talking beasts in a redeemed Narnia), though that’s a fictional work rather than a theological treatise.

How we perceive pets and other animals

It is easy to forget that animals are not the same as humans. God created them completely differently. We often try to humanize animals because they seem to demonstrate emotions such as guilt. But these emotions are often confused.

Pets, like dogs and cats, definitely experience emotions, but whether they’re the same as human emotions is a bit tricky to pin down. Animals show signs of joy, fear, sadness, and even affection—think of a dog wagging its tail when you come home or a cat purring when it’s cozy. Science backs this up: studies, like those from neuroscientist Gregory Berns, show that dogs have brain activity in regions similar to humans when they’re happy or stressed. Their amygdala, for instance, lights up much like ours does when they’re scared or excited.

That said, human emotions are layered with complex stuff—reasoning, self-reflection, language, and cultural baggage—that pets probably don’t have. When you’re sad, you might dwell on why or what it means; a dog might just feel “off” and not overthink it. They’re more in-the-moment, driven by instinct and simpler associations. So, their emotions might be similar—joy feels good, fear feels bad—but not identical in depth or processing.

Cognitive differences between animals and humans

Cognitive differences between animals and humans are fascinating and span a range of abilities shaped by evolution, brain structure, and environmental demands.

1. Self-awareness: Humans exhibit a high degree of self-awareness, often demonstrated through the mirror test—recognizing oneself in a reflection. Only a few animals, like chimpanzees, bonobos, dolphins, elephants, and some birds (e.g., magpies), pass this test, suggesting a basic level of self-recognition. Most animals lack this capacity, or it’s unclear if they possess it in a way we can measure.
2. Language and communication: Humans have complex, symbolic language with grammar and syntax, allowing us to share abstract ideas, plan for the future, and record history. Animals communicate—think of whale songs, bee dances, or primate vocalizations—but their systems are generally less flexible and lack the recursive structure of human language. Some species, like parrots or apes, taught sign language, can mimic or use limited symbols, but they don’t create new sentences or discuss concepts like philosophy.
3. Problem-solving and tool use: Humans excel at abstract problem-solving and creating tools for future use, often anticipating needs far in advance. Animals like crows, octopuses, and chimpanzees also use tools—crows fashion hooks from twigs, octopuses use coconut shells for shelter—but this is typically more immediate and context-specific. Human tool use builds cumulatively across generations, a trait called cultural ratcheting, which animals rarely, if ever, exhibit.
4. Memory and planning: Humans have episodic memory, allowing us to mentally time-travel—recalling specific past events and imagining future scenarios. Some animals, like scrub jays, show evidence of planning (caching food for later), but it’s debated whether this reflects true foresight or instinctual behavior. Human memory is also tied to narrative, letting us construct detailed personal and collective histories.
5. Theory of mind: Humans can attribute mental states—beliefs, desires, intentions—to others, a skill called theory of mind. This underpins social cooperation and deception. Evidence in animals is mixed: chimps may understand others’ goals or knowledge (e.g., hiding food from a dominant peer), but it’s less clear if they grasp false beliefs, a benchmark humans typically master by age four. Dolphins and elephants show hints of this ability, but it’s not as robust or widespread as in humans.
6. Abstract thinking: Humans excel at reasoning about the intangible—math, morality, or hypothetical scenarios. Animals can learn patterns or associations (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs), and some, like pigeons, can categorize objects. But symbolic abstraction—like understanding “zero” or debating ethics—seems uniquely human.
7. Brain structure: The human neocortex, especially the prefrontal cortex, is disproportionately large and dense with neurons compared to most animals. This supports executive functions like decision-making and impulse control. Animals have analogous brain regions, but they’re less developed. For example, a dolphin’s brain is large and complex, yet its cognitive strengths (e.g., echolocation-based spatial reasoning) differ from human strengths.

That said, the gap isn’t always as wide as it seems. Animals often outshine humans in specific domains—like a dog’s olfactory memory or an eagle’s visual acuity—where it has favored their survival. The difference lies more in generality: humans adapt cognition across vastly diverse contexts, while animal cognition is typically specialized. Oh and also, it’s not that humans don’t have much better than normal senses because they do. Many of us have never talked about it because of how others perceive it.

A concluding reality

Nothing explicitly says that we’ll see our pets again someday. And honestly, there’s probably a higher likelihood of not. When you get so attached to a pet, such as I was attached to Maximus, it’s hard to string reality together sometimes. We have to remember that pets are not equal to humans. While I am one to quickly say that I like animals better than humans, the truth is that God called us to be in service to Him and to spread the Gospel of Christ so that all may know Him. We likely will not see our pets again, but I also believe that it won’t matter in heaven as much as it does now. We are in fallen, carnal bodies, and our thoughts are affected by this fallen state. In heaven, we’ll completely understand the mind of Christ and truly live out the humility and mind of Christ.

On this two-month reflection, if you’re reading this, know that animals are a gift from God to us in many ways. I feel your pain and have probably not cried so much in my life. As they say, time heals all wounds. It’s not about whether we’ll see our furry friends again right now as it is allowing ourselves to heal. Remember, Jesus came to earth and lived with the same emotions we have and sympathized with our weaknesses and there are many other examples of Christ’s humanity (John 11:35; Luke 19:41). And, we know that if we’ve seen Jesus we’ve seen the Father (John 14:9). But, it is impossible to know for sure they’ll be with us again.

Now that this is all clear as mud. Ultimately, I don’t have a good answer, but I do know that when I get to heaven and if I see those eyes and wagging tail, I’m sure there’ll be no way to measure my smile and it will just be an added bonus. RIP, Best Friend. I’m also certain that I will fall to my knees and cry “Holy” to our wonderful Creator.

Remember, to focus on the future glory. It is what we know for sure, and there are many great blessings for those who have chosen to follow Christ.

 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV.