You have just died and gone to heaven (literally). St. Peter waves you through the Pearly Gates and Rover, your faithful companion from earth life, comes bounding over to greet you.

Or does he?

While many animal lovers look forward to an afterlife with Fluffy, religious philosophies generally dispel those expectations.

According to the Roman Catholic Church, those hoping to frolic with Fido in the Elysian fields are barking up the wrong tree.

"We don't believe that animals have immortal souls, and therefore they can't share in eternal life. They won't be in heaven," said Father Mark Huber, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Denton.

He was able to throw a bone to animal lovers, however.

When the Scriptures talk about a new heaven and a new earth, he said, "there's a possibility of animal life in the new earth — but they wouldn't live forever.

"But that's speculative — we don't know what the new earth is," he said.

Islam agrees that animals will not exist eternally, but differs in other respects.

Yusuf Wells, president of the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln, said, "Our belief is that animals do have souls, but a soul which gives them animated life. But their souls are not those which are ultimately judged according to their deeds —they weren't given the same responsibility or accountability that man has."

On the Last Day of Judgment, Wells said, Allah establishes justice on everything, even among the animals. For example, "if an animal with horns hits an animal without horns, on the Day of Judgment Allah will raise them up, and the one that didn't have horns in this life will be given horns to hit back the one who hit him.

"And then after that has been done, and justice has been established between the animals, the animals will turn to dust," he said. "They're not going to be rewarded with eternal life in paradise or punished with everlasting punishment."

Judaism also teaches that animals have souls but will not be with people in paradise, said Rabbi Ilan Emanuel of South Street Temple.

"According to most traditional Jewish sources, animals do have a soul, (but) their souls don't get reunited with their owners in heaven," he said. The animal soul is at a lower level than the divine soul, which is what humans have, and it is that soul which is reunited with God in the afterlife.

"That doesn't mean the animal soul does not survive death, but it's probably not … with you in heaven," he said.

Buddhism’s outlook on this issue is a horse of a somewhat different color.

"Life is an endless series of transformation and rebirth," said the Rev. Nonin Chowaney, head priest at the Nebraska Zen Center/Heartland Temple. "Life doesn't … end when the heart stops beating and the breath stops. Consciousness links up with another physical form and life continues. It's true of human beings and all beings.

"When an animal dies, it will be transformed into another form of life, (but) no one knows what that form will be. That depends on what the animal's present life has been like."

The Rev. Stephen Griffith, minister to the community at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, said that although the United Methodist Church has not addressed the question, the general view would be that animals don't have souls and so would not go to heaven as the result of having lived a good life.

But he thought they might still be there as part of the milieu for people to enjoy. It is hard to conceive of an ideal heaven without "the kinds of playfulness, joy, dignity and beauty that animals bring to our lives," he said.

The Methodist church has a service for the blessing of animals, Griffith added. "One prayer refers to all sorts of places in the Bible where animals are part of the action," he said, and the prayer also states that "animals share in Christ's redemption of all God's creation."

The Rev. Robert Schlismann, senior warden at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and a former Presbyterian minister, has performed pet blessing services. Schlismann also has a "Pet Pastor" ministry that includes grief counseling and various types of prayer regarding animals.

"I believe that animals have an afterlife," he said. "I don't claim to know how it works. Whatever may be defined as the life force in a living creature, I feel extends beyond the barrier that we call death, just as I believe that human beings have a similar quality. …

"I don't know if it would be theologically precise to say animals have 'souls,' but from a Christian perspective, I feel that the same source of life that animates humans does the same for animals. And many Christians believe that we will be reunited with our loved ones in heaven, and I see no biblical reason why that should not apply to their animal companions."

More people are having services for deceased pets, he noted, adding that he believes "that's emotionally healthy and strengthens one spiritually. It acknowledges a crossroads and a milestone, and it provides respect to what has been a faithful companion. That can apply to dogs, cats, parakeets, gerbils, horses, whatever."

Joe Bad Moccasin, a Dakota-Lakota medicine person and spiritual leader, told of an experience that made him believe more than ever that animals survive into another life. At a time when he nearly died, he said, he saw in the next world not only his deceased relatives, but also all the dogs and a cat he had raised, as well as birds flying.

"They do go where the humans go," he thought.

"I came to the conclusion that anything that has life, like the animals — they, too, have a place to go in the spirit world.

"I believe Tunkasila (Grandfather/God) gave all these four-legged animals, the feathered fowl, the fish that swim — he gave us all a spirit."

Animal enthusiasts interviewed for this article said they looked forward to reconnecting with their critters in the Great Beyond.

Nanci Kyhn, a licensed veterinary technician with Nebraska Animal Medical Center, said, "I believe that God made animals for us to love, and they've become such a great part of our families that I just can't imagine that they won't be waiting for us.

"I believe that animals have souls," she continued. "When I look into the eyes of these little animals that we care for, and they look back at me, I know that they have a soul."

Kyhn, who with her husband also owns Whispering Pines pet cremation business, said she couldn't believe that after this life, animals "would just disappear."

She concedes, however, "Only God knows, and He's not talking."

Diane Anderson, former vice president of the Star City Bird Club, is "Mom" to nine birds and three dogs. She said she thinks animals will be in the world to come "because if God looks after the little birds and knows when they die, I'm sure that he's going to care for them (after death)."

Anderson, whose birds include a blind 30-year-old Amazon parrot, added, "I just can't imagine that animals wouldn't be with us … I would be very cheerful and joyous if my pets joined me" in the next life.

Asked whether there would be pets in paradise, Bob Downey, executive director of the Capital Humane Society, said, "I sure hope so. I'd be delighted. So would my wife." He said they had had about nine boxers they'd be reunited with.

"I don't know whether dogs or pets in general would be included up there. It'd be a better place if they were," he said.

Michelle Ashley, founder of Domesti-Pups, bristled at the notion of a houndless heaven.

"I totally believe" in the presence of animals in the afterworld, she said. "If it wasn't true, I don't want to go there."

Ashley, whose organization provides therapy animals, classroom dogs and service animals for people with disabilities, added, "God is 'dog' spelled backwards for me."

Another with strong feelings that pets are headed for the hereafter is Dorothy Bush, 87, who has long been active on animal welfare issues. Bush was co-founder of the now-defunct Mickle-Bush Neuter-Spay Foundation, and more recently was instrumental in forming Break the Link, which neuters, spays and helps animals from domestic violence situations.

"Whatever the higher power gives us, he's not going to take it away," she said in explaining her views.

Bush was adamant that she will see her furry friends again, no matter where. "Whether I go to heaven or hell, my pets are all going to be there to meet me — and I plan on going to heaven," she said.

The expectations of many who enjoy animals are reflected in comments by Julia Sage, a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribe.

Sage said that according to the traditional way of life for Native Americans, "Everything was made by the same God, and we all go back to the same God when we pass."

Therefore, she said, "I believe I'm going to see deer, bear, buffalo, eagles, dogs, cats, birds, even snakes" in the next life.

Wouldn’t that be heavenly?

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