Do Dogs Go To Heaven?

If you're not a dog person, I'm not a you person... kidding, maybe? If you've been around me long enough you know that I've got two dogs—Hawk, my little beagle dachshund mix. Beyond stubborn. The nose and bark of a beagle. Long, determined body of a dachshund. Low to the ground, but convinced he's ten feet tall. And Polly—my American Foxhound/Treeing Walker Coonhound. Long legs for days. Sensitive, she NEVER barks. And those deep sad hound-dog eyes that tell you she could do no wrong.

This feels vulnerable to even write, because my dogs are very much still here. Hawk is 13, Polly is 11. Their tails are still wagging. They're still following me from room to room. But they're older now. And when you love something so deeply, you start noticing time differently. Hawk was literally bred to track and chase. Of course he keeps us (and the vet) on our toes. He refuses to give up. Beagle determination and dachshund stubbornness? Not for the weak pet owners. The little engine that could was genetically wired in him. He's survived aspiration pneumonia, a herniated disc, and a non-benign mass between his front legs that had to be removed. I joke that he's basically a designer dog at this point. He's a Ferrari—expensive upkeep, and very high drama. And then there's Polly, she had the longest legs when I got her, legs like a baby deer. All tangly and awkward. She's just so happy and grateful to have a yard to run in, mud to roll in, and a warm bed at night. Polly is my Toyota—loyal, steady, and low maintenance. Until a few weeks ago when we got the unexpected news... she likely has liver disease. Maybe even liver cancer.

And just like that, the question creeps in... do dogs go to heaven? The Bible doesn't give us a direct yes or no. But it does tell us:

• In Genesis we learn that God created animals and called them good.

• Psalms 36:6 says, you care for people and animals alike.

• Isaiah 11:6-9 tells us God's restored kingdom includes a healed creation, and animals are included in that vision.

So here's what I know. God is not careless. He is not cold. He is not detached from what we love. If He sees sparrows, He sees Hawk's gray muzzle. If He delights in creation, He delights in Polly's soft eyes following me down the hallway. I don't know what heaven looks like, but I know the character of God. And I trust Him with the future of what I love most.

Maybe you’ve heard people say that when a dog dies, they go “over the Rainbow Bridge.” That phrase doesn’t come from the Bible, it comes from a poem called Rainbow Bridge, which imagines pets restored and waiting in a beautiful meadow just before heaven. It’s poetry. But it resonates because it reflects something deeply biblical—our longing for restoration, reunion, and a world where nothing hurts or destroys. Scripture promises that God makes all things new. The poem simply paints pictures where the Bible is quiet.

So whether you have a dog, a cat, a horse… or whatever animal has curled up beside you and quietly changed your life—I still like to believe they’ll be running toward us when we step into heaven. Not because I have a verse that spells it out in black and white. But because I know the heart of God. I can’t imagine a Father who creates something so loyal, so joyful, so beautifully woven into our stories… and then calls it meaningless. Scripture tells us He restores what is broken. It tells us He makes all things new. It tells us nothing in His good creation is accidental. If you’ve never seen the movie A Dog's Purpose, grab a box of Kleenex, and watch it. It paints this picture that every dog enters our lives with purpose. Some to comfort. Some to protect. Some to teach us something about loyalty. About presence. About love without conditions. And I don’t believe that’s random. I believe the One who knit their hearts together is the same One who knit ours. Here’s what I trust, the God who gave them to us on purpose will not mishandle the love they created in us. And until that day comes—far, far from now, Lord willing, I’ll keep rubbing the ears, laughing at the drama, paying the vet bills, and thanking God for every single tail wag.

Because whatever heaven looks like… it is held by a good God. And that is enough. 🐾

SHE Walks in Faith

Today, instead of grieving something that hasn’t happened (sure, we know about the circle of life), but grab your dog and do the following:

• rub their ears longer

• laugh at their dramatic resilience

• let them lean against your leg in the kitchen

• give them the extra treat

• take them on the car ride

Don't borrow tomorrow's grief, enjoy today's love.

🩷 Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of my pets. You see them. You formed them. You care for them. When fear about the future tries to steal today’s joy, steady my heart. Help me trust Your goodness more than my anxiety. Teach me to live fully in the present—tails wagging, paws padding across the floor, and to place the future in Your hands. Amen.