Pets in Heaven: Offering Hope When Little Hearts Hurt

My last pet was a cat named Naomi who died in 2013. I still have an ache in my heart when I think of her because she was such a good cat. Are there pets in Heaven? I would like to think so. It would be so nice to hear her purr again.

What happens when our pets die? Do they go to Heaven?

It’s an important question.

Kids and pets just go together. But whether it’s their own pet, or the dog next door, animals do die. This may be your grandchild’s first experience with death. A pet’s death is heart breaking and can lead to questions about what happens after their cat or dog dies. Kids will naturally turn to their parents and you to help them understand the loss of their animal friend.

Keep reading to discover how you can be ready with comforting, faith-building answers when the time comes.

So what do we say when a grandchild asks, “Will I see my pets in Heaven?”

The truth is, the Bible doesn’t give a direct answer about what happens to our pets when they die. But Scripture does tell us that God deeply loves His creation. Animals are part of that creation, and we see glimpses in the Bible that animals are present in Heaven now and in the future. These are hopeful clues that point us toward God’s goodness.

You can teach your grandchildren that while we may not know every detail of God’s plan, we can trust His heart. We can look to Jesus—who welcomed children, wept with the grieving, and noticed the smallest creatures—and know that He cares. He sees your grandchildren’s tears and can comfort their hearts. God is loving, kind, and trustworthy. And we can believe that He treasures not only us, but also the animals we love.

Let’s take a look at a few Bible verses that show how much God cares about animals—and give us a glimpse of what His forever plans might be.

Psalm 36:6 NLT
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.

The Bible shows that God made animals.

God made dogs and cats (horses, cows and animals at the zoo)

Genesis 1:25 NIV

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

God created fish and birds, too.

Genesis 1:21 NIV

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Ultimately, animals belong to God.

Yes, we may “own” our dogs or cats. We might pick out a guinea pig at the pet store, take care of it, and love it dearly. We’re responsible for our pet’s well-being, and we build strong bonds with them. But the truth is, we are really just their caretakers. As Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Our pets belong to God first. That’s actually a comforting thought—because the One who made them and loves them even more than we do is the One who holds their future.

Psalm 50:10-11 ESV
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.

Objections to pets in Heaven.

For a long time, I didn’t believe there would be pets in Heaven. I assumed that when they died, they just returned to the earth. My reasoning was that animals don’t have souls like people do—at least, that’s what I thought. But then I came across a verse in Ecclesiastes that gave me pause. It seems to leave the question open:

Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 ESV

Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

That question—who knows?—made me realize I may not have all the answers. Many of my dog-loving friends have been saying all along that pets do go to heaven.

Another hesitation I had was more theological: you and I have to choose to believe in Jesus to be saved. How could a cat—or any animal—make that kind of decision? Unless, of course, God has a different way of relating to His animal creation. After all, animals already seem to recognize Him as their provider.

Psalm 24:21 KJV

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

There’s something beautiful in that—creatures instinctively looking to their Creator for provision.

I have to admit, I still don’t know the full answer. But the more I read in Scripture, the more I see clues that our loving God may indeed make a place in Heaven for the animals we’ve loved.

Examples of animals in Heaven.

The question about pets in Heaven remains a mystery but the Bible has a couple of examples of animals in Heaven.

To start with, there are horses. In Zechariah 1:8-11, God sends red, white, and dappled horses to patrol the earth and report back what they see. Then in Revelation 19:11-16, there is a white horse and its rider, who represents Christ and His victory.

Finally, there are birds.

Revelation 19:17 KJV

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

Animals in the new Heaven and the new Earth.

I think this verse is so beautiful. I can’t wait to see it!

Isaiah 65:25 ESV

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In this next passage, Hosea is also understood to be talking about the new Heaven and new Earth.

Hosea 2:18 ESV

And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety.

Animals Worshipping God.

Revelation 5:13 ESV

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

This could be a very comforting verse for your grandchild as they deal with the loss of their pet. It speaks of every creature everywhere worshipping God together, some great day in the future. To me, it suggests that we will join with the animals we have loved in worship for the God who loves us all.

Hopefully, our dogs will be wagging their tails with us in the great beyond.

Practical ways to help your grandchild after the death of a pet.

This article has good information on how children may react to the death of a pet. There are also dos and don’ts on what to say.

• Ask them how they are doing and express your feelings, too.
• Share your memories of pets you have loved.
• Remind them that God knows how much they loved their pet and how sad they are now. Assure them that everything is made right in Heaven and show them Revelation 21:4, “One day, God will wipe away every tear”.
• Thank God in prayer for the pet’s life and the good times they had together.
• Donate money to an animal shelter as a memorial gift. Another great place that I’ve used is One Tree Planted. This organization will plant a tree in the name of the child’s pet – a fitting tribute for dogs and cats.
• Etsy.com. This website is full of pet memorial items: pictures with space for the pet’s collar, garden stones, and little jars to hold pet fur. You name it, they probably have it.

Your grandchildren are fortunate to have a loving grandparent like you to show them what faith looks like in life and loss. Even though the death of a pet is upsetting, look for moments to point to the hope we have in Christ. It’s ok if you can’t tell them honestly that there are pets in Heaven. Just be honest in saying you don’t know. Lean on the things you do know about God’s love and care. Your presence and grace during this time will bring the comfort your grandchildren need.

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