| Okay, the picture is of a german shephard named "Servus", and his partner is resting beside him, but you probably can't see that much of him...says "surely heaven holds a place for a selfless dog like Servus.
Dogs in Heaven?
"Recently we came across the results of a poll done by ABC news that asked people whether they believe pets go to heaven. Forty percent of all those asked said no, and 43 percent said yes.
The rest were not sure. Among people who do not own pets, 48 percent said no and 38 percent said yes. Among pet owners, 35 percent said pets do not go to heaven and 47 percent said they do.
I am not a member of the clergy or a theologian, so I will admit right off that I have no authority to discuss such weighty matters. This is just my opinion. But honestly, it wouldn't be heaven if there were no animals.
That, of cours, is the selfish view: My dogs and cats go to heaven to make it a better place for me. But I believe animals merit heaven in their own right-probably more than I do.
A lifetime of living with animals has convinced me that they have the purest souls. By that, I mean they seem to experience every feeling in its purest form. Their joy is never diminished by thoughts of the past or the future. Their trust is never less than absolute. Their innnocence is spotless. They love us in a way that is limitless and all-embracing. Their devotion is never tempered by doubt or self-interest. And they accept themselves in the same way they accept us: They never see our flaws; they are never self-conscious about their own.
They struggle to live in our world, on our terms, and accept our demand that they put aside their very nature to live up to our expectations. They joyfully offer us the assistance we require, the approval we crave, and they never stop to think about what's in it for them. Sometimes their love heals us, sometimes it transforms us.
There are people who will tell you that everything animals do is motivated purely by survival, that they are incapable of choosing to do good. Perhaps those are the same people who think animals don't go to heaven.
But recently we have been reminded that animals do make selfless choices all the time.
Do you remember that story that we ran last month that talked about Chris Christensen and his search and rescue dog, Servus, the nine year old dog insisted on going back to work in the rubble of the World Trade Center, just hours after his life threatning injury. Chris repeatedly gave his dog the command to lie down in the car, but Servus sensed the urgency of the moment and did what was needed. He made a choice to put his own needs aside for a greater good.
When I got home the evening after I spoke to Chris, I couldn't wait to tell my husband his remarkable story. As I finished, I could see the tear in the corner of my husband's eye as he said to me, "I know there's a place for that dog in heaven."
I know there's also a place for the other search and rescue dogs who worked in Washington D.C. and New York. And surely there's a place too, for all our pets who lift our hearts in these difficult times.
Dog World
Editor: Beth Adelman
January 2001 issue.
This one is dedicated to everyone who has experienced the love of an animal. Nothing compares to it.  |