Do you think animals go to heaven? A comment attributed to Pope Francis this past winter had everyone rejoicing that our beloved pets would meet us at the pearly gates. Articles that I have read since suggest that no such comment was made.
While we know that animals are not human and thus not subject to the same dignity and rights as a human person, they still are creatures worthy of our respect. Most pet owners can attest to human-like experiences and connections with our animals. Even the scriptures attribute spiritual qualities to all of creation.
It is also clear from the scriptures that human beings are the only creation made in the image of God. Thus, we were given the awesome responsibility to take care of creation.
We were made in God’s image and likeness and given dominion over all the Lord’s creation. Genesis 1:26
So while there is debate and speculation over whether our pets go to heaven, it’s pretty clear in scripture and natural law that creation is a gift from God that even reveals the Creator. Therefore, we are called to be thankful for God’s gifts and give them the respect and honor deserving of gifts.
Our family has had lots of four-legged gifts over the years and even some creatures without legs, (snails don’t make good pets). While we were not the best pet owners in the early years, we eventually grew into a better understanding of animals and the how to care for them.
The first three dogs we owned in the early years of marriage and family ran off and two of them got hit by cars. In retrospect, I know now that we didn’t invest the time and energy in training them to be more obedient. It took me years to get over those losses, as I felt so guilty.
So when my second eldest daughter asked for a dog, I was certain that we would never be able to do that again. She knew how tough life was with our youngest in and out of the hospital. In my mind, there were no options. But my daughter persisted. Like the good homeschooled kid she was, she researched everything she could on dogs and kids with disabilities. Then she came back to me with a new proposal: a service dog.
My youngest two daughters shared a room for most of their childhood. I didn’t realize that my daughter MaryAngela was concerned about sleeping in the same room with her little sister, Johanna. In her research, MaryAngela discovered that there were service dogs that could be trained to work with children like my youngest daughter. The dogs could provide companionship as well as be trained to perform basic tasks and even to alert someone if there was a problem in the middle of the night.
We decided to apply for a dog for Johanna but I warned MaryAngela that we probably would not be accepted because we were such bad pet owners. After a long application process and many conversations and evaluations, we were accepted into the program for a Canine Companion for Independence.
The trainers assured us that we would receive a very well trained dog and that we would also be trained to be strong leaders and responsible caretakers of this awesome dog.
When the time came to be paired with an assistance dog, MaryAngela and I went to CCI for a two week training class. It was a rigorous program of eight hours a day, Monday-Saturday for two weeks.
The trainers tried Johanna and I with a few dogs, before handing me Taffy’s leash. I remember the feeling I had when I first walked with Taffy. I felt confident and an incredible sense of peace came over me. Johanna and Taffy instantly connected. There was a very special bond between them.
We knew a service dog could help Johanna retrieve items, provide assistance to stand and be a social bridge between my daughter and the world around her. But what I didn’t realize was that Taffy was helping me to slow down to Johanna’s pace. I didn’t recognize that I was always trying to hurry Johanna, concerned that she would never learn to keep up with the fast-paced world around her.
Now Jo and I had two leashes and Taffy was in the middle between as we walked. Taffy was not going to pick up the pace for me. She was there for Jo and I had to learn to slow down. Taffy showed me how. This amazing dog helped me grow in patience.
There were so many other ways that Taffy enriched Johanna’s life. I remember the time that Johanna experienced psychosis because of high doses of steroids. She didn’t know who I was and she screamed at me to go away and find her mother. It was heart-wrenching. Despite all the doctors and our attempts, we couldn’t reach Johanna. Then the doctor asked for Taffy to come to the hospital.
As my husband emerged from the elevator with Taffy, Johanna snapped out of psychosis and began relating to her furry companion and finally to me. That beautiful dog was able to connect to Johanna in a place that none of us could reach.
Other times, Taffy would wake me in the middle of the night if Johanna was not feeling well. By the time I reached Johanna, two cats and Taffy were on guard by Johanna’s bedside, all circling her with concern.
When one of our cats was dying of cancer, Taffy started the goodbyes by kissing the cat gently on the forehead and then lying in wait by his side. She led the way for our other pets to follow suit and pay their respects to our dying cat. They all came to say goodbye and let us know it was time for the cat to pass. Our family cried as we witnessed this tender display of respect and grief that was so evident in our four-legged friends.
At my father’s wake, Taffy was seated at Johanna’s feet. In what appeared to be a gesture of respect, she went up to the coffin and paused at the kneeler and then laid down below the foot of the casket. Normally, I would have corrected her for moving without a command. But it seemed to be a display of respect and it touched our hearts, so we allowed her to stay.
Taffy retired from service last summer, shortly before her 12th birthday. In the last six months, she has been up and down, sleeping most days and crying often at night. Some days I have to help her out the back door. This week I spent time speaking with my dear friend who is also our vet and to one of our CCI trainers. I think it’s getting close to that time to say goodbye but I don’t want to take that dreaded step.
In CCI, we learned a command called “release”. The command tells the dog that he is free to relax, to run off and play, that he is off duty. While Taffy is aware that she no longer goes out in public with us, I’m starting to think she might still feel she is still on duty. The last few days, I’ve been giving her the “release command” and telling her it’s okay if she thinks it’s time to go. The other day, she looked me in the eye and jumped up to play. I believe Taffy will give us the final release. Until then, she gets all the treats she wants and lots of belly rubs.
It does not matter to me whether the Pope says all pets go to heaven. I’ve witnessed first-hand God’s creative love evident in our furry friends, most especially through Taffy and the service animals we have come to know and love. To me, they reveal a glimpse of heaven here on earth.
Eileen Benthal is a writer, speaker and wellness coach with a B.A. in Theology from Franciscan University. She is the author of Breathing Underwater: A Caregiver’s Journey of Hope.
Eileen and her husband Steve live in Jamesport and have four young adult children. Their youngest, Johanna, is a teenager with special needs.
Eileen can be reached at FreeIndeedFreelance.com.
