Do dogs and cats (and other pets) go to heaven?

Thats one of those questions Id like to have the answer to. I have read several essays by modern-day theologians who believe they have resolved the dilemma. I am familiar with the modern anonymous poem, The Rainbow Bridge, which comforts pet lovers during their time of grief and loss.

I have also read through the Bible enough times to know the answer is not plainly spelled out in the scriptures. I have lost enough pets that this quandary matters to me.

On Aug. 22, four days before this column was due, my husband and I lost our oldest son, Dan, to lung cancer.

Dan wasnt just another one of our kids he was the one who loved animals with a passion. It was Dan who rescued our orange tabby, Jake, from a barn in Montana and brought him to Oregon to live out his 23 years in our hearts.

It was Dan who took sick leave from work to deal with ill or injured animals, because, though his boss didnt understand this, Dans pets were his children.

It was Dan who had more animals than he should, because if an animal needed a home, Dan provided one. When funds were scarce, it was Dan who bought pet food before he fed himself.

Nine cats snuggled up next to Dan while he left this life. Dan also left a dog named Bear.

We do know for sure The Rainbow Bridge is a poetic myth. But what a wonderful myth it is. I like to picture Dan arriving at Rainbow Bridges grassy meadow and being bowled over by a menagerie of his pets that have been patiently awaiting his arrival.

As the animals recognize their beloved companion and run to greet him, jump into his arms and lick his face, tears of pure joy stream down Dans cheeks. The silence breaks with sounds of barking, purring and Dans delighted laughter.

What about snakes? Will they be in heaven, too? Some people love their reptilian pets. Yet, since the devil appeared in the Garden of Eden as a snake, the Bible says there will always be animosity between women and the snake.

I, for one, dont care for them, and I cant imagine sharing my space in heaven with one. My Boston terrier yes; a snake no!

My mother had an aversion to mice and rats. If our pets go to heaven, Im sure she would want an exclusion on rodents to include banning hamsters, gerbils and ferrets. You cant please everyone.

Some questions we just dont have the answers to. I choose to believe what I know for sure. What I know for certain in this case is there is not enough information in the Bible for me, a lay scholar, to come to a satisfactory conclusion.

God has not given us the answer to every question. Therefore, I will continue to treat my animals with loving kindness in the anticipation we will someday be joyfully reunited at The Rainbow Bridge, or someplace similar, and make that journey together into heaven where we will live in eternal harmony.

Do animals go to heaven? I dont know. I dont believe the theologians know for sure either. I think they want to believe we will share heaven with our pets.

It is the feel-good thing to say, and it sells books. Probably most of the writers have had beloved pets they hope to spend eternity with. Since there is no conclusive evidence to the contrary, why not leave the readers with that expectation? There is no harm done in perpetuating the belief.

Im trusting Dans eternity will be filled with wagging tails, sandpaper tongues and cold wet noses.

To read the poem The Rainbow Bridge, visit rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm.

Karen R. Hessen lives in Seaside and Forest Grove. She may be reached at karenwrites@frontier.com.