Dear Marty ~ Do Pets Go to Heaven?

Q & A by Bereavement Counselor Marty Tousley

Question: My beloved beagle passed away two weeks ago, after being with me for eleven years. He was and still is my best friend. It is very hard for me, each day, because I truly miss and love him so much. I believe that all my family members who have left me have gone to God, and I believe that I will see them again when I am called home. I need to know that my beloved dog is there now and waiting for me. Can you tell me something that will ease my pain? I need to know that he is in God's kingdom, too. Thanks so much.

Answer: I'm so sorry to learn of the death of your beloved beagle dog two weeks ago. Since you were together for eleven years, I can only imagine how difficult his death must be for you, and how empty and lonely you must feel without his constant physical presence in your life. You describe this dog as your best friend, which tells me how very much you have lost, and you say you are struggling with whether you'll be reunited with him in the afterlife of God's Kingdom. I want you to know, first of all, that whenever we are confronted with a significant loss, it is absolutely normal for us to question the spiritual beliefs that we've held all our lives - the big ones like: "Is this all there is? What is the meaning of life? Where do we go when we die?"

There is no denying that death is a very spiritual event. I'm sure that when your beloved dog died, it was evident to you that his spirit was no longer in his body. So where did that spirit go? What happened to it? Is his animal spirit okay? Can you still communicate with your dog in any way?

I can tell you that I work with many bereaved animal lovers, and they all have their own spiritual beliefs. Some take great comfort and peace in the belief that their animals are all right and being cared for in a different realm. Others believe their animals may come back and be reincarnated in a different form. Still others experience a crisis of faith, questioning everything they ever believed before. This is what I consider to be one of the great lessons of loss, that such a profound life crisis forces upon us an opportunity to re-examine our basic values and beliefs and pushes us to grow. I encourage you to think of your dog's death as an opportunity to explore your own values and beliefs, in your own way, in your own time. And please don't let anyone (your relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers, minister, priest or rabbi) tell you what you should believe or even what brings you comfort. You can look to others and their beliefs as models to learn from, but in the end you must discover and clarify your own beliefs. I encourage you to find comfort in them and let them serve you.

Seek out Supportive Pet Loss Resources

There are a number of books out there about this subject, which in itself tells you that you are not alone in your search for an answer to this question. Some are better than others, of course. I happen to prefer children's books, because their message is simpler and less preachy, they are so beautifully illustrated and they bring me more personal comfort. But there are books directed at adults as well. Here are just a few of both types that I especially like and have in my own library:

All God's Creatures Go to Heaven by Amy Nolfo-Wheeler with illustrations by N. A. Noel

A Little Dog Like You by Rosemary Sutcliff, pictures by Jane Johnson

Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates by Gary Kurz

Will I See Fido in Heaven? Scripturally Revealing God's Eternal Plan for His Lesser Creatures by Mary Buddemeyer-Porter

And some wonderful sites including: Dogs Have Souls Too and Dog Heaven. If you wish to communicate with others who can share in your experience and offer you additional support, you are cordially invited to participate in the Loss of a Pet forum which I moderate, at GriefHealing Discussion Group. (Read more about this new forum on my own Grief Healing Web site, at Grief & Loss Discussion Groups .)

I hope this information proves helpful to you. In the meantime, please know that you and your beloved beagle are in my thoughts, and when you feel ready to do so, I hope you'll let me know how you are doing.

With Warmest Regards,

Marty Tousley, Bereavement Counselor

Copyright © 2003 Marty Tousley. All rights reserved. If you are interested in publishing this article, please email .

About Marty's Pet Loss course

Explore both the myths and the realities surrounding the experience of pet loss in this e-course, including why it hurts so much and how it differs from other losses.

• Learn how children of different ages react to the loss of a beloved family pet, and how they differ from adults in expressing grief.
• Find useful suggestions to help you talk with children about the sensitive topics of death and pet euthanasia.
• Be guided through the emotional upheaval of grief and come to a better understanding of the shock, disbelief, anger, guilt and sorrow that are commonly experienced when a beloved pet is lost.
• Discover how to plan ahead for the death of a pet while honoring your own values and spiritual beliefs.
• Find suggestions for meaningful ways to memorialize your faithful friend.
• Recognize what you can do when a pet has gone missing.
• Learn how you can provide for your pet in case of your own unexpected absence or death.
• Discover how to support a friend who has lost a pet.

Course Outline


Course Length: 24 lessons

Recommended Course Pace: weekly receipt of lessons


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About the Author

Marty Tousley, MS, RN, CS is a hospice bereavement counselor helping people find their way through grief following the death of a family member. As a volunteer with the Pet Grief Support Service in Phoenix, AZ, she also works with bereaved animal lovers, both individually and in groups, and consults with veterinary clinics to foster greater understanding of pet loss among staff members, thereby building better helping relationships with grieving clients. A frequent contributor to healthcare journals, newsletters and magazines for the lay public, she has written several articles and book chapters in the professional nursing and medical literature, and has authored three books addressing various aspects of loss and grief. Her award-winning Internet Web site, www.GriefHealing.com offers information, comfort and support to anyone who is anticipating or mourning the loss of a loved one, whether human or animal. Marty can be reached via e-mail at tousleym@aol.com.