The original pet cemetery wasn’t a horror movie. It was a real cemetery our young daughter created for our deceased pets. I remember the video she made. It had a voice-over describing the scene as the camera panned across the plot of grass beside the shed. Markers stood in rows like little soldiers for each small animal’s grave.

    “Can dogs go to heaven?” was the question she asked me after an attempted rescue resulted in another furry body requiring burial. “Sweetheart,” I said, “If heaven won’t be heaven without your dog there, then I’m sure your dog will be in heaven.”

    In her younger years our daughter would adopt the most unlikely pets, ill or injured, with no good chance of survival. But that didn’t matter to Rebekah. With her fondness for animals and gift of compassion, she would surely become a veterinarian. Anything she set her mind to, she could accomplish.

    Our German shepherd, Misty, had pawed out a cool chamber in the soft Florida sand under the edge of our house between azalea shrubs. Deep under the slab, she delivered her first litter. When Rebekah discovered it, she took a cardboard carton, slid down out of sight, and came back up with a box full of puppies. We put clean bedding in the shed for Misty and her babies.

    Can dogs go to heaven? What do you think? When C.S. Lewis was asked this question, he thought for a moment and replied, “I suppose if they’ve been around humans long enough to develop a soul, they might.”

    Language scholars offer a tantalizing insight that in the Genesis account of creation, some created animals had the root word for “soul” in the original Hebrew. I think my sweet little dog Gracie had a soul. She had emotions; a will to make choices; and she seemed to pause to think things through … all signs of a soul.

    Certainly, some animals seem purposely designed to interact with people or to serve mankind such as horses and dogs; or the cattle, sheep, and goats that provide us food. Anyone who has read the book “The Horse Whisperer” knows that a horse can communicate with humans who’ve learn their language. They can partner up with a rider without being whipped or forced.

    In the Bible, Jonah argued about preaching to Nineveh. He hated them. God told the stubborn prophet that there were many souls in the city to save and many animals that needed rescuing. My wife and I learned about rescue dogs from our grown daughter. One of her recent adoptions came complete with a gimp – a leg that couldn’t hold weight – but a heart full of affection and joy.

    Animals need and deserve a good habitat here on earth with us humans. The Scriptures say that one day all of creation will rejoice. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” It even says the trees of the field will clap their hands; the lion and lamb will lie down together. Adam and Eve were told to steward the earth, including animals that benefit mankind as well as wild animals.

    We rescued Gracie (our retired Jack Russell Terrier) from near death but she rescued us for the next six years with her love and gratitude. I was delighted when she got her voice back and barked the first time.

    Recently, we wept big tears when her short life came to its end. I can imagine our noble little dog – now free of all disabilities – romping across heaven’s rainbow bridge into paradise, enjoying the bright light and sheer joy of her Creator’s love. RIP, dear Gracie. We miss you.

    Ron Wood is a writer and minister. He and his wife live in NW Arkansas close to their six lovely grandchildren.  wood.stone.ron@gmail.com