Do Pets Go To Heaven?

As someone who owns a pet and lives in a country where pets are considered family to many, I have often wondered, “Will my pet go to heaven?”

So what does the Bible say?

The Bible does state that both men (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30, 6:17, 7:15, 7:22) have the breath of life.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7

Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.

Genesis 1:30

That means that both of them have a soul.

We all know, however, that man and animals are very different. The primary difference being that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God, while animals are not.

God Sees Animals as “Good”

In Genesis we see that when God created animals along with the rest of creation, and He said that it was good.

And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25

Another key verse to remember is Genesis 6. When God is destroying the world with a flood, He tells Noah to intentionally build an ark large enough to accommodate animals. And, no fewer than six times does God mention His covenant with Noah and the animals.

We see time and time again throughout Scripture where God makes a reference to animals being good or Him caring for them. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that there won’t be pets or animals on the new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Because of sin, God’s original creation has been distorted, but Romans 8 says that one day it will be restored back to the way God designed it, and originally man dwelt with animals in the garden of Eden.

 Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Romans 8:21-22

Read: 5 Lessons I Learned from My Dog

Final Thoughts

As mentioned above, animals were part of the original creation and will be part of the new heaven and new earth when Eden is restored.

Great thinkers like C.S. Lewis and philosophy Professor Peter Crieved, are not only convinced that animals will be in heaven, but that our own pets will be resurrected and join us in heaven as well.

Many who have suffered the loss of a pet ask this question with hope, but the Bible is not clear on whether our pets will be in heaven. It is very clear, however, that heaven will be a place of joy, and that there will be animals there.

I believe this verse resembles the heart of God really well saying,

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:11

I believe that our pets may be there in heaven as well, but whether that happens or not, be assured that heaven will be a place of pure joy, and peace–a place where our deepest desires will be fulfilled in Christ.