Where do you think dogs go after they pass on?

We are told that dogs go to a collective; unlike humans that are treated as individuals. Remember that the great yogis have taught us that we are first mineral then plant then animal and then sentient. Everything is alive down to subatomic particles; everything is conscious. Will Rogers said "When I die, if I go to heaven, I'll ask that I go where dogs go". Like Radar O'Reilly, I often say that "Dogs are people too, you know." We have four dogs, three Chihuahuas and a Yorkshire Terrier. My wife and I are retired and we call our dogs, "Our kids with fur" They are litter box trained, sort of and must stay indoors all winter due to the severity of our climate. I believe it is quite an accomplishment to love without attachment but it is the way we should love everything.

reply to post by RooskiZombi


I understand your pain and am sorry. They forever live in our hearts and you are right I will refer to him in the present tense and not the past as he will always be "my dog".

Well, unfortunately when the time comes and it will, I am going to bury him in my back garden so,that I know where he is and I can have home close to me even though he has moved on. We had a black cat before him and had him for 10 years and that is where he is also. Broke my heart when I found him in the garden barely breathing and I rushed him to the vet but he died there shortly after arriving . Have had my dog since he was 6 weeks old and I wrote his birthday down that's how I know it's his birthday today. He is black and white so we call him Guinness after the drink. Best wishes to you and glad you have happy memories of your pet.

reply to post by Australiana


So very sorry for your loss. Our animals are members of our families . I have lost many beloved pets over the years. I dont know about heaven for doggies or people. I cannot say.
Getting another pet always helps ease the pain and gives you someting new to focus on. Time for a puppy? Dont look at it as a replacement because any new pet will soon make their own place in your home and your heart.

Australiana...sorry for your loss...I am a Huge animal lover and especially when it comes to dogs...I lost my boy after 14.5 years..when I was told it was best to put him down he totally bounced back and I had him for another kick ass 6 months. Hardest thing I have ever had to do and it totally ripped me apart...It totally gets better over time, I promise...There is not a day that goes by that I dont think about him, and I still talk to him every single day( when people arent around of course)...As for your question I will say this...I am 100 percent convinced without a shadow of a doubt, that if we as people transcend after our lives are over, then so will our pets...same goes for all living creatures...if there is no life after death for people then the same goes for our pets...so its kind of a win win, by the way I see it...I just dont believe that we would go somewhere and our pets wouldnt...Keep your head up and tell your pup that you miss him and love him....He just might be listening....I believe so...

Sorry about your dog, man.

I went to a catholic school and kinda got into a bit of trouble when I asked about this, was told to stop being silly pretty much. I was only a little boy but I remember it, and other kids laughing when I asked, I still find that odd.

I can't see how animals can really be good or bad, they're mostly instinctive, if a pet attacks someone it's mostly on instinct, surely. But they're still conscious, as are we, can an animal choose be evil in the true sense as opposed to acting how it's programmed to behave? Sorry to go off into a tangent but you brought up something I've thought a lot about over the years.

Personally I think they, like us, are a consciousness that transcends the physical world, and we march on when we detach from our physical bodies. Dogs are the most loyal and loving of animals, and more likely to watch you in spirit than most humans.

Bad times, I hope you're ok.

reply to post by Kituwa


Thats all lovely and everything but where did that come from? I'd love to think they are all waiting for me.Candy, and Mittens, and Sultan, and Tim. Daisy and Nakita and my beloved William. ( Whitey still looks for you baby)
This makes me cry.

reply to post by Australiana


I have placed a candle here for you and for Shelby. When the page comes up, be sure to click on the bright star flashing in the upper right hand corner.

www.in-memory-of-pets.com...

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I went to that site when my sweet Williams passed. It didnt help me, It made me sadder. Sorry. I know it was made to help but all of those people feeling sad like me didnt make me feel better.

Originally posted by Xquizit
I truly believe they go the same place we all do... heaven

... I've even been told that they beat your loved ones that greet you at the gates by running passed them and jump in your face to give you the dreaded slobbery kisses that we all hate so damn much *insert sarcasm here*.

You'll no doubt be reunited

What if you had pet fish?

reply to post by Australiana




I'm sorry for you. You made me cry.

I'm sure your dog is happy and is waiting for you.

reply to post by Kituwa


Aw, thats so sweet.

I can only post from my own thoughts..... I asked this question some time ago to explore the answers within orthodox Christianity. These were my initial thoughts an conclusions:

- Animals have no way of accepting or denying god, so redemption as such for them purely as individuals doesn't make sense.
- We are told that some kind of new reality is in store eventually (i.e. the idea of a purely spiritual eternity is not Biblical or traditional and we should expect some kind of transcendent physicality).
- God seems to like physicality in some way, given He made it, and given He participated in it.
- We hear of visions of strange "other" orders of creation, that seem to be phyiscal. Beasts with knowledge of God. And man. Angels. Cherubim.
- the Incarnation and how it leads to a redemption of things makes just as much (if not more) sense if we think of it as creation-redeemed as just man-redeemed: God-become-man is arguably less extraordinary and far-reaching as God-become-his-own-creation. In fact, as a point of logic, God could become "man" in the spiritual sense without the Incarnation. The fact of Him descending into the biological - nay the "mineral" - seems to me to suggest that as much as man is changed forever by that union, so is all physical matter and law.

Any more than those observations seemed to be imputing too much. But those in themselves indicated this kind of conclusions to me (in no particular order):

- I do not expect to see animals "judged" according to knowledge of God and action in good and evil.
- I do not "expect" that animals are given eternal life - inverted commas important.
- If the granting of an animal an eternal life is a "good thing" (once we finally understand finally what the Good Things are) then of course animals will be granted an eternal life.
- God is the only root "good thing" and all of what we think of as good things are only really Good Things because they repose in Him and His will (cf. Augustine).
- If He went to the trouble of creating so many perfect pussycats, terriers, Elasmotheriums, stag beetles, HIV viruses or stinging nettles then He might have had a love for them that means He sees a greater purpose for them in a transcended and redeemed reality too. I cannot imagine how or what. But for sure their purpose would be as different as ours in that reality.
- I have no idea what that reality will be. Though it will be "different" is taught, and that much seems obvious.
- I do not know what our own existence is to be in that reality either. I don't know what it means to speak of an individual in that reality. Are we to be discrete things or part of one thing? I don't know. Are we to be able to "think" in the sense that our temporary biological brains allow us to "think"? I do not know. Are we to be self-aware, as we think ourselves to be now? I do not know. Maybe we will be more than all of that. Or less. Or just so different (and, one would hope, so much more) it is worthless speculating...
- He may have some mysterious other reason for allowing or denying animals - but He's certainly not explicitly told us. Whatever the case, when we finally know, we will agree that His view is the right/correct/true/merciful/blessed/perfect view. So we need not unduly worry either way.
- I do not think there is an eternity for beings who want to frolic in their own happiness independently of some knowledge of God. Though having used the word "happiness" I reflect that IN THE END there is no happiness other than in God and created by God. So any animals perhaps would have to be granted some measure of knowledge. Reflect again on my doubts about brain-based-physical knowledge though. But maybe, the new creation involves an transcended physicality with something like physical/brain-based knowledge - who knows?
- Given what we feel about our animals, our plants, our world, our universe... if we need those things in order to be with God then they will be given. If we don't then they can only be a hindrance and will not be given. But there's no way that being with God could ever be compromised. If the truth is that we are with Him and the animals are not, we will realise and love that fact. If the truth is the other way, we will love and adore that fact instead.
- Always if any aspect of things seems to be a "good" to us then we will find that "good" in the same God an infinite time over, including all the life and all the goodness of what we thought here was an independent life and goodness.

Best wishes, and hoping that wasn't too sermon-like. It was all quite Christian so might not be very relevant if you don't come from that perspective.

Rob.

I'm so sorry for your loss, OP.

How could the ones who taught us most about unconditional love and loyalty not be given a very special reward in the afterlife? It would make no sense whatsoever if it were not so. We were commanded to love and in more ways than one, they were our teachers, and I know you understand this.

So after your tears dry a little, keep your heart open and your head high, and now that you know about unconditional love, carry it forward while you also look forward to one great reunion.

reply to post by Kituwa


Thank you so much - that is just beautiful

I just have to think he is in a better place and no longer suffering. I just want him back for my own selfish reasons. Shelby was the most unselfish being I have ever known.

Take my story for what you will….

When Molly my loyal female Doberman of ten years died I looked everywhere for a rubber cheeseburger toy that she had gently carried around in her mouth since she was a puppy. Never once did she damage the relatively fragile dog toy. The cheeseburger was hers. She protected it…. Well like a Doberman. Nobody messed with “The Cheeseburger”. I looked for that cheeseburger everywhere inside our house and out in the yard where she would walk around carrying her toy. I couldn’t find it. I gave up. Then one morning my wife was in her bathroom makeup room or whatever it is “they” do in there when my wife called for me. She sounded alarmed so I hurried and found her standing with Molly’s cheeseburger in hand.

She looked shocked. We both had looked for that toy to no avail. I asked her where she found it. She said it was on the floor in a corner of her make up room (or whatever it is they do in there). My wife is a cleanliness freak or least by my standards she is. She constantly goes around that area with a white sponge. There is no way she could have missed Molly’s toy. We have no kids in our home nor at that time did we have another dog.

I gotta admit… I believe Molly placed that toy where we would find it. Or… something or someone did.

You can believe what you will…

The “Cheeseburger” is pinned between two pictures on a wall in my office. That is where I had always wanted it to be.

This may or may not be relevant, but, when I pass through Houston, I found a really great restaurant dedicated to the owner's doggie in doggie heaven called Barnaby's.

They have some of the best hamburgers; I'd wager the best I've had anywhere, any time, for all time.

They've got the doggie painted with little wings in doggie heaven on the walls and ceiling with frisbees, and little bones with wings and other such for a really cute atmosphere too.

reply to post by KOGDOG


That is a great story and, despite the loss of of your dog, you are very lucky to have experienced that. Your Molly gave you a sign that she is OK wherever she is. I have read about how your passed pets or loved ones can come visit you and even be seen in your dreams. I haven't experience that yet... maybe I never will but your story gave me hope that one day I might receive a sign that Shelby is OK too.

Thank you.

Originally posted by Australiana
Whether you contribute a little or a lot to ATS, you have all helped me so much throughout the years by reading your posts and threads. I thought that I would turn to you guys again to help me out in my time of grieving. I am grieving A LOT so please be sensitive on this matter.

I am up early again as I once again cannot sleep as I am grieving the loss of my almost 6 year old boxer, named Shelby, who lost his life early, from T cell Lymphoma in his Thymus gland, on Sunday night. I tried for six months to save him with chemo and alternative therapies which resulted in him having a good quality of life until the end.

Like many of you, my dog was my best mate and it is going to take me a while to get through this.

What I have come to you to ask is that what do you think happens to our four legged buddy's souls after death? Do you think they go to the rainbow bridge or wait for us? Do their souls stay with us for a while or forever?

Any sensitive contribution would be most welcome on this matter. Thanking you in advance.

My condolences friend...

Animals DO have a soul/spirit just like all life... I truely believe you will see your friend again when the time is right.

They're in a place free from pain or sorrow like this world... Just remember the blessing they provided while they were here...

reply to post by Akragon


Cannot thank you enough guys! You have no idea what your words mean to me and I knew I could count on you kind people.

I am off to work now to try move on with regular life. Wish me luck.