Do Animals Go to Heaven? (What Does the Bible Say?)
Do animals go to Heaven? In this article, Erin Odom digs into whether we’ll see our pets in Heaven, if animals have souls, Bible verses that talk about animals in Heaven, and more!
When I was a child, my parents, church leaders, and Christian school teachers taught me that animals do not have souls and do not go to Heaven.
This did not bother me as a child, as my family of origin did not have any indoor pets. At most, we had a variety of “farm” cats and dogs that roamed our six acres. I barely remember the names of these animals, and I never considered myself an animal person until well into my adult years.
Enter: Domino.
Domino is the fluffy, cuddly, almost-feels-human labradoodle that became part of my family on Christmas Day 2018. To date, my children–now mostly teenagers–see that Christmas as one of their favorites.
The surprise puppy crawled out of a box and into our laps–and hearts–that Christmas morning.
A few months after getting Domino, I told my husband: “I never knew animals had feelings, but I think Domino does.”
“Of course she does,” my husband replied. “Animals may not have the same feelings as we do, but they do.”
Throughout the past few years, I’ve observed Domino feeling excited, sad, lonely, frustrated, and even guilty when we’ve caught her digging into the trash or doing something else she knew she wasn’t supposed to do.
I’ve also experienced her comforting us in our sadness or snuggling up when she desired affection.
For the first time, I’ve pondered: Do dogs go to Heaven?
Because our family is so close to our beloved dog, I know it’s a question my children will inevitably ask when the day comes for Domino to pass away. With this in mind, I set out to see what the Bible says about whether or not pets go to Heaven.
If you’re wondering, “Do animals go to Heaven?” or “Do animals have souls?” you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’re diving deep into Scripture to answer the following questions:
Do Animals Go to Heaven?
Yes, there are animals in Heaven. However, we do not know if those animals were created for Heaven and have always been there or if those animals were once on Earth and entered Heaven in the same way as human beings (when they died).
Some Christians believe that animals are like children who have not yet reached the age of accountability when they die and, therefore, go to Heaven automatically.
(Note that not all Christians believe in the “age of accountability,” nor is this idea directly mentioned in Scripture. See Focus on the Family for more about this belief when it comes to the loss of infants and young children.)
Scripture contains several references to animals in Heaven. Revelation 19:11 says: “I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”
We will look at more Bible verses that mention animals in Heaven later in this post.
Do Pets Go to Heaven?
The Bible does not say if pets go to Heaven. While we know there are animals in Heaven (see more Scripture references for this below), we have no Scriptural evidence that our beloved four-legged friends–like cats or dogs–go to Heaven.
This does not mean pet cats or dogs can’t go to Heaven. (It also doesn’t mean other animal pets can’t go to Heaven.) It simply means we do not have an answer spelled out in Scripture as to whether or not our pets will be in Heaven.
We do know that God has given us animals as our companions here on Earth, and that gives many Christians hope that pets may go to Heaven to be reunited with their human owners.
However, whether or not pets go to Heaven is one topic we cannot have 100 percent certainty of before we die.
Do Animals Have Souls?
There is no Scriptural indication that animals have souls. This is one reason why many theologians believe that animals do not go to Heaven when they die. However, although the Bible does not explicitly say that animals have souls, that does not mean they don’t.
While researching for this post, I found an insightful article from Christianity.com that distinguishes the differences between a body, soul, and spirit in this way:
The body is our physical functions and here we feel our physical senses such as the sense of sight, taste, smell, hear, and touch. The soul on the other hand is our humanity that makes us feel emotions. It is our way to magnify God through our human limitations.
Finally, the spirit is our spiritual and deeper connection with the Lord.
If someone were to adopt this definition of “soul,” which references our humanity as what it is that allows us to feel emotions, then it would seem to be evidence that animals do not have souls.
However, if we’re looking at the soul as how any living being feels emotions, for those who have observed their pets experiencing happiness, sadness, frustration, and more–as I believe I have with my dog–there may be a case for animals having souls but not having spirits.
Others believe that animals do not have souls because the Bible never mentions Jesus having died for them, and most Christians believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection was to save human souls from eternal death.
In Romans 5:12, we read: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—”
Again, Scripture makes no mention of Jesus having died for animals.
Also, even though the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus as a dove (Matthew 3:16; Markk 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32), there is no indication in the Bible that the Holy Spirit can indwell or has indwelt animals at any other time.
While we see God using animals for supernatural purposes in a variety of places throughout the Bible–like when Jesus cast demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; and Luke 8:26-39) or when a donkey talks (Numbers 22:28), the whole of Scripture gives no evidence for animals themselves having souls.
Are There Any Bible Verses That Prove Animals Go to Heaven?
There are no Bible verses that prove animals go to Heaven when they die. The Bible does say that there are animals in Heaven, but it doesn’t give a complete answer of which animals or how or when they got there.
From the beginning of Genesis–when God created animals and preserved two of each kind during the flood–to Revelation–where Jesus is depicted as riding a white horse in Heaven–animals are shown positively.
Some Christians point to Isaiah 11:6-9 as evidence of animals in Heaven. However, most theologians believe this passage refers to the New Earth that Jesus will establish during His thousand-year reign. Regardless, animals are depicted as a very real part of our future. The passage reads:
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
In Isaiah 25:65, we read about how animals will interact in the New Heaven and New Earth that Jesus will establish: “‘The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the LORD.”
Scripture also shows all creation, including animals, praising God in Heaven and Earth. Revelation 5:13 says: “Then I heard every creature in Heaven and on Earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'”
Job 12:7-10 seems to indicate that animals are aware of God, even while on Earth:
7 But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Perhaps the most straightforward Bible verse that depicts animals in Heaven is one we mentioned earlier in this post, which is worth repeating, Revelation 19:11. This verse reads: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”
While the following Bible verses do not prove animals go to Heaven when they die, they show abundant evidence that God cares deeply for animals, which can serve as more proof that animals will, indeed, be part of Heaven:
- Job 12:10- “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
- Psalm 36:6- “Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.”
- Luke 12:6- “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.”
My Personal Beliefs About If Animals Go to Heaven
I still don’t know if Domino will be in Heaven with my family one day, but what I do know is that we will have no tears and no sadness in Heaven. If our beloved cats, dogs, and other pets don’t go to Heaven, I do not think we will be aware that they are not there.
I do not believe we can know on this side of Heaven if animals will be there, but we can trust fully that, according to Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
What do you think? Do you believe animals go to Heaven?
In Ecclesiastes 3:18-21….”As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth.?”
This makes me think that animals do go to heaven. They can’t sin so they wouldn’t go to hell and v 21 verifies that we don’t know where the spirit of the animal goes……..but it states a spirit. When my granddaughter’s puppy died she wanted a funeral and I read this scripture at the burial. It gave her comfort but I don’t want to take any scripture out of context.
That is a really great Scripture that seems to lend itself to animals having spirits! Thank you for sharing! That was so kind of you to participate in the funeral for your granddaughter’s puppy!
I really love that you’re asking this question. I do believe animals and our pets do go to heaven but like you said, even if they don’t there will be no sadness there so we either won’t know they aren’t there or we will understand why and just be rejoicing to be with Jesus. I know there are animals in heaven based on scripture but I don’t know if they’re earthly animals.
I have had pets my entire life but there are a few that healed my heart and kept me comforted when I was sad and lonely. I would love to see them again but that’s up to Jesus. Sometimes I wonder if our pets are part of heaven to help us here on Earth.
I agree completely. I’m so glad you’ve had such wonderful pets to comfort you, too!!