Thoughts on Pet Bereavement and Heaven for Pets. Last week, I received a call from someone who had just euthanized his beloved pet. The conversation was filled with long, emotional silences punctuated by sobs. Eventually, he found the strength to ask, “Rev K, will I see my cat, Boots, in heaven? Do you think there’s a heaven for pets? And will she be with my mom, who passed away but loved Boots all her life?”
This is a question I hear often: Is there life after life for our pets, for the people we love, for those who have passed on? Is there a heaven for our pets? For us? How can we be sure they’re okay? Will we be reunited?
These questions weigh heavily on our souls.
Therapists often shy away from these deep, existential concerns. Even grief educators may struggle with such raw and profound questions, which demand more than just a clinical response—they require an answer that speaks to the heart.
It all comes down to what one believes about life, death, and what might lie beyond.
Those grieving often seek reassurance, a validation of what they hope is true. While I understand that this touches on a larger, more complex topic, I find comfort in believing that what applies to human souls and spirits also applies to our animals.
This belief is just a starting point, a stepping stone toward a greater understanding. I believe that the love we share with our animals—the unconditional, profound love they give us—does not end with death.
If that love lives on in them and in us, if their spirits remain with us in our hearts and minds, then why wouldn’t it continue beyond our own deaths? I believe those who have passed do reach out to us, and it’s up to us to be still and open to the messages they are sending.
Of course, no belief can completely erase the longing to hold and feel our beloved companions again, but it does offer some comfort.
For what it’s worth, in 2014, during a Papal visit, Pope Francis noticed a young boy sobbing nearby. When he asked what was wrong, the ten-year-old explained that his puppy had just died and he wanted to know if he would see her again in heaven. Contrary to traditional Christian teachings, the Pope responded, “Yes, my child. Heaven is open to all of God’s creatures.”
Although there was some backtracking from the Vatican, with statements suggesting it was a misunderstanding or misattribution to Pope Paul VI, the message couldn’t be taken back: Heaven is for all of God’s creations. And if that’s true for pets, it stands to reason it’s true for people too—though some might argue that animals may even be more welcomed.
This belief, whether seen as hopeful or factual, offers solace that many of us seek when dealing with loss. It suggests that our love, our connection, doesn’t end but continues in a form beyond our understanding, giving us something to hold onto in our darkest moments.
Kaleel (Rev K) is one of the country’s few ordained Animal Chaplains, nondenominational Pastoral Counselors and Advanced Credentialed Pet Loss and Grief Counselors. His work in the field of Loss and Grief, especially Pet Loss and Grief, has earned him recognition from The Washington Post, People Magazine, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Reader’s Digest and other media. He is a “thought leader” in the emerging field of animal-human bond work, and a practicing grief counselor. You can visit him at Animal Talks and speak with him on Petworks.
