Do None, All or just Good Dogs go to Heaven? Do We Really Think We Have a Say in it

This is Heaven, please leave your dogs at the gate

Perhaps it has to do with the time of the year but there is a surprisingly number of articles dealing with the question if dogs go to heaven or not popping up on the local news sites.

What triggered me to the topic was as an article showing up in one of the several readers installed on my iPad to keep tap on possible interesting reading material. The article was written Dominic Lynch by published on www.thefederalist.com under the title “Not all dogs go to heaven”.

Now, regardless of your believes, reading this almost Orwellian (Not all animals are created equal, The Animal Farm) the title most bring several questions to mind, not in the last case why some dogs do qualify where others apparently are weighed and found too light,in the author’s view.

Lynch starts his article by telling the reader about losing his 13-year-old yellow Labrador retriever and how her passing felt like losing a family member leaving him heartbroken by the sad event.

Stating his case using several references to the writings of David Bentley Heart and Stephen Webb, Lynch states that the following “No matter how good dogs are (and they are good), they don’t compare to the majesty of God” and from there works his way through his final conclusion that in the all encompassing sense of fulfillment felt by being in the immediate presence of God dogs simply are not needed.

Now I’m sure the above, limited to just a few sentences, does not do justice to the original article and I therefore urge you to read the full content.

http://thefederalist.com/2015/10/28/not-all-dogs-go-to-heaven/

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Now on a completely different note but touching on the same subject is the article “Good dogs go to heaven” published on www.colletontoday.com written by Julie R. Smith and much like the previous article it opens by telling us about how her beloved dog, Nicky passed away.

In contrast to the previous article this one is much lighter in tone and content as well but more importantly, I think it was not written to express the author’s doubt if dogs will go to heaven or not, instead of seeking answers the author writes about how dearly she and her family loved that little dog.

Having said that, I think the author did a great job in expressing her feelings in a way every only true dog lovers can really understand and feel connected with.

Anyway, here’s little Nick’s story

2015-10-29_2204

 

Good dogs go to heaven | Opinion | The Press and Standard – ColletonToday.com: News
There’s no easy way to say it: On Oct. 7, Nicky, our English Jack Russell Terrier, went A) To be with Jesus or B) To that great bacon buffet in the sky. Or both. Why not?

Curated from Good dogs go to heaven | Opinion | The Press and Standard – ColletonToday.com: News – Good dogs go to heaven | Opinion | The Press and Standard: News

 

 

 

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I have never traveled to Nepal and am not familiar with its culture at all but after reading the article that I am sharing here today I feel sympathy for that little country and its people because respecting and treating dogs well (perhaps worshiping dogs would be a better way to describe this) is not a commonly spread feature within Asia.

However in Nepal dogs are said to have special powers and people believe that if you treat dogs with love and respect in life, it will save you in the afterlife.

I hope you will enjoy reading the next story about what is perhaps the world’s most dog-friendly festival.

http://www.ozy.com/acumen/all-dogs-go-to-heaven-in-nepal/65200

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Now something completely different

In the following article the author finds a way to link the mythological roles dogs fulfilled in pre-christian cultures, dating a far back as Aztec culture, to how nowadays dogs are dressed up to participate in trick or treating during Halloween.

Enjoy reading the article

http://aldianews.com/articles/double-take/all-dogs-go-heaven-or-go-trick-or-treating/40997

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The following text was curated from the Bully Rescue & Advocacy Group, Inc. and  reading it surely caused me the have a serious lump in my throat.

Anyway, I think it is a nice way to end this post

 

2015-10-29_2229Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge…

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

THEN YOU CROSS RAINBOW BRIDGE TOGETHER…

That’s all folks

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