Do dogs go to heaven?

Any Christian who has ever loved a family pet or worked closely with animals has probably, at some point, asked whether non-human animals go to heaven. For parents of small children who have lost an animal friend to age, accident, or illness, this question becomes especially fraught with worries about how to help a child through their grieving processes without inculcating inaccurate beliefs about the soul or the afterlife. Some religious leaders seem to think that answering the question “Do dogs go to heaven?” in the affirmative will somehow dilute the specialness of God’s love for humanity or compromise the uniqueness of the human soul. But is this accurate? Does the Catholic Church teach that heaven is reserved exclusively for human beings?

On this episode of the podcast, guest Laura Hobgood discusses the topic of non-human animals, the nature of their souls, and whether Christians can look forward to being reunited with their non-human friends in the afterlife. 

Hobgood is professor of religion and environmental studies at Southwestern University, where she teaches courses on animals, nature, and religion. She is the author of Holy Dogs and Asses: Animals in the Christian Tradition (University of Illinois Press), The Friends We Keep: Unleashing Christianity's Compassion for Animals (Baylor University Press), and A Dog's History of the World: Canines and the Domestication of Humans (Baylor University Press). She also works as a rescue coordinator and volunteers at an animal shelter.

Read more in these links:

“Do dogs go to heaven?” by Megan Murphy-Gill and Shanna Johnson https://uscatholic.org/articles/201605/do-dogs-go-to-heaven/

“St. Rocco, a dog’s best friend,” by Angelo Stagnaro https://uscatholic.org/articles/201210/st-rocco-a-dogs-best-friend/

“Meet St. Gertrude, cat lady of the Catholic Church,” by René Ostberg  https://uscatholic.org/articles/202003/how-st-gertrude-of-nivelles-became-the-cat-lady-of-the-catholic-church/

“In the Bible, it’s the animals that steal the show,” by Alice Camille https://uscatholic.org/articles/202001/in-the-bible-its-the-animals-that-steal-the-show/

Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries. https://www.claretiansusa.org/