Do Pets Go To Heaven When They Die? A Christian Response with Funeral Service for Pets

I distinctly remember being asked this question decades ago when I was a much younger person and new to serving in ministry. My response to the curious child at the time was the same as it is today :

"Of course! God will renew all of creation, including our pets."

Somehow, my maternal instinct had overridden biblical understanding in an attempt to comfort a child. Now as a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, I hold my ground - our God will surely redeem all of His divine creation. The Christian funeral service for pets posted is one that I developed for our beloved cat and family member, Goku this week.

Our beloved family member Goku passed away after fifteen beautiful years. He is survived by his adoptive sons Gohan, Itachi, and Luffy, and his daughters Haru-Chan and Nami.

Goku on the back porch. He loved to lounge in the sun.

Simple Funeral Service for Pets

Please substitute the name of the pet for P and family members for F.

Minister:

We are gathered to joyfully remember (P) Goku, a beloved family member of (F) Natalie, Jordan, and Joshua. He is survived by 5 beautiful adopted children, sons: (P) Gohan, Itachi, and Luffy, and his daughters Haru-Chan and Nami. (P)

Goku was born in Maple, Ontario Canada April 9, 2009, and entered peaceful rest on January 8, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee. Although losing a loved one is hard, we remember the Word of God which says:

For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

Since we know that God holds all things created together we trust our Lord Jesus Christ to receive the body of our family member, (P) Goku for burial. Let us pray and remember with confidence that our Creator will keep our family together in eternity.

This is the Word of God for the People of God

Attendee Response:

Thanks Be to God.

Minister's Prayer:

Into your hands our Blessed Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer we commit Goku our beloved pet and companion. He was born and lived, like all animals, without sin and entered into eternal rest with his Creator. We commend his body for burial and ask that he may peacefully make his way to the place prepared by Christ while we live in the hope of being reunited with all we love. We trust these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and all God's people said:

All Say: Amen

Hymn:

All Things Bright and Beautiful (Hymn 721 in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer)

As we commit Goku back to the earth we remember the Psalm which tells us:

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;

And You renew the face of the ground. (Psalm 104:30)

At this time, the family of (P) Goku is invited to return him to the ground by covering his coffin (substituting the word "urn" if cremation has occurred) with earth.

After the burial, the minister says:

Losing a family member is a difficult time and so we look to God knowing that "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

At this time we share our remembrances of (P) Goku and the joy he brought.

Eulogy (Family Member Story - please ask family members to prepare a few memories to share)

(P)Goku came into our family just after Easter in 2009, right before (F) Jordan's 18th birthday. He was tiny and still had his milk teeth. We bottle-fed him for three weeks, racing home from work and school to make sure that he was fed on time. His whole world was the bathtub and he was so small that we used a pie pan for his litter box because the smallest litter was too big for him. On the day he was able to climb out, he nearly drowned in the toilet which had accidently been left open! He grew to be an engaging and vocal member of our family, learning to play mini-basketball with (F) Joshua and Jordan until he was tired and then enjoying watching anime with his family. Naturally, he spent many hours taking in the sounds of the characters of Dragon Ball Z after all, (F) Jordan chose to name him after the main character.

(P) Goku was funny, rambunctious, playful, and the most snuggly of all our cats. He was also very courageous. This amazing cat saved my life twice. The first time, was directly after surgery when I had, somehow buried myself under the blankets while under the remaining influence of the anesthetic. I remember feeling trapped and unable to move; like I was buried alive. I couldn't wake up, and I could not breathe properly. I thought I was going to suffocate. Then, miraculously, I felt the sensation of air on my face and soft, velvet paws stroking my cheeks. A raspy tongue licked my forehead and I awakened to (P)Goku who was staring at me with his beautiful emerald-gold eyes. He butted my face with his head over and over, trying to get me up. Throughout my recovery, he stayed with me and never failed to comfort, cajole and protect me. The second time he saved me was a few days later when in response to some pain medication I fell into a deep sleep. I felt myself choking and again, could not breathe. I had somehow vomited in my sleep and was literally choking on my own vomit. (P)Goku once again used his tiny velvet paws to swipe away all the filth and find his family member, he pawed at my nose and mouth and lifted my head into an upright position by pushing his own tiny head under my neck. He used his little body to push me and I rolled over and choked for breath. Twice saved in a matter of days.

Over the course of fifteen years, (P)Goku moved from Canada with our family to the United States where he lived out his days chasing birds in the backyard but never catching any or lounging in the sun, or snuggling his family. Nothing made him happier than to relax in a sunny window or on the back porch while chatting with all of creation. He commanded the squirrels to leave his yard and dared birds to land. He chased butterflies and dead leaves. His life was filled with joy and we remember all the happiness we had with him. He slept with his choice of person every night.

(P) Goku had rules. He taught (P) Gohan how to have a cat tea ceremony and let the little ones know who was in charge. For all of that, he was gentle, allowing newborn baby girls (P) Nami and Haru-Chan to dash between his front paws and eat from his bowl. The boys were not so lucky, each chased away from his food in turn.

Our guy was keen on being included in all family activities, even our hobbies. He gladly loaned a paw to sewing, quilting, or cooking - especially fish or poultry, and sports. He was concerned for the safety of his family and was quick to offer to taste any dishes that looked delectable but "might" be poisonous. He was also a consummate mouser.

(P) Goku loved to help with anything on the computer as well. I have lost count of the number of assignments, papers, and articles that have received a pawful of added text that I could not make sense of. Still, he tried his best to be helpful. Today we say au revoir to our dearly beloved (P) Goku, our family member, hero, and trusted companion. We love you (P) Goku.

Minister's Message:

The loss of a beloved family member brings to mind the words of our Lord Jesus found in the

Gospel of John chapter 14 verses 1 to 14:

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Some think that God only has a place in heaven for humans but from this text, we take comfort in knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for us and is willing to answer our requests. So, at this time, we ask in Jesus' name for (P) Goku to enter the place that our Lord is preparing for us so that we may be together for all eternity. We believe and trust Jesus to do all that he has promised us and to keep his word.

We know that every living being is precious in the eyes of our Creator and humbly seek the peace that God offers so that our hearts are not troubled in this difficult time. We lean on our faith and give thanks to God for the gifts of joy, love, peace, and comfort that the Lord gave us through (P) Goku.

In the days to come when our hearts ache for our lost family member, it is good to think of him in the place that Christ has prepared for us, playing with butterflies, chasing birds, and lounging in the bright sun. Life beyond death is a mystery and we only have the texts given to us for insight. So it is by faith and hope that we confidently lay (P) Goku to rest knowing that our good Creator will surely keep all that he has promised including allowing us to see those we love who are found righteous by the blood of the Lamb if human, or as furry companions did not sin and thus were able to enter his presence as they were. We face the days with joyful memories and keep the hope of eternity in our hearts.

Let us bow our heads and pray.

Sovereign Lord, we are thankful for family, and fifteen beautiful years with (P) Goku. We acknowledge that it is only by faith that we can have the hope of being reunited with those we love. We offer our hearts and our sorrows to you Lord and ask that the peace that surpasses all understanding be our portion as we mourn the passing of our beloved companion and family member. You alone are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all life. We yield to your will and patiently wait for the unfolding of your perfect will. Your ways are mysterious to all who ponder them and the ever-expanding universe is beyond human comprehension. Almighty and most merciful God, look upon the bereaved with tender love and utmost compassion, remembering all your promises. We meekly and humbly, yet joyfully reflect on the joy of a better home where our Creator is ever worshipped, world without end.

Amen.

Hymn: This is My Father's World

Responsive Prayer modified from the United Methodist Church Service for Animals

Minister

God created us and placed us on the earth to be stewards of all living things, therefore let us proclaim the glory of our Creator, saying:

ALL: O God, how wonderful are the works of your hands.

Minister

Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe; you create the animals and give us the ability to train them to help us in our work.

ALL Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe; for the sake of our comfort give us domestic animals as companions.

Minister

Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe; you care for us even as you care for the birds of the air.

ALL Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe; you offered your Son to us as the Passover lamb and in him willed that we should be called your children. AMEN.

Closing Hymn: All Creatures of our God and King