Flaco (Spanish for "Skinny") the cat

We've been cat-sitting for 6 months. Such a lovely pet. Goes back to my son & daughter-in-law on Monday.

One of the hardest questions I've answered: "Did my bunny go to heaven?"

I was about 28 and I was with a small team going door to door in my neighborhood in Level Green, Pennsylvania.  A woman, perhaps 40, answered the door in tears. She said that her pet rabbit had just died and she asked me if God took him to heaven.

I'm not really sure what my answer exactly was but it wasn't "I'm sure of that". It was a difficult spot for me to be in and I'm sure that I wasn't as tactful as I could have been.

[If this woman has any recollection of this brief exchange, I'm sure that she doesn't remember it fondly like "that nice young man from the church comforted me"]

As an aside, this would be a good question at an ordination: "Do pets go to heaven?"

Before I give my view, I start with these comments:

• Call me crazy, but I tear up when I hit a squirrel with my car. I avoid them, but they seem sometimes to be suicidal. And sadly every couple of years I crush one - and it pains me!
• In my early 20's, I hit a raccoon with my VW and I cried
• We've had 7 cats - 1 is now living. I've put 6 cats down - Gatsby, Smokey, Tabby, Blue [Blue when he was very sick], Emily, and Daisy. All the events were very painful. Gatsby was our newlywed cat that sat on my lap as I read and studied for seminary. Daisy was a bit different because we put her down (she was very sick and probably had just weeks to live) the day before my mother died. And pet grief is not at all like mother grief!
• On Emily: she was the sweetest kitten, and her death was very painful! (but really the others too - I just didn't do blog posts on them!) (Please click these links!) - yet another Emily 

• As I am writing this, Flaco is on my lap. We are sitting for my daughter-in-law's & son's 14 year old cat while Roger is away at Fort Benning. We've had Flaco for about 6 weeks.
• There's a lot on the Internet about this - try Googling "Do pets go to heaven?". Obviously the Internet is not the authority which brings us to the next point ...
• The Scriptures must be our authority
• I did find this article - Do Pets Go To Heaven? - helpful. I only quote one very small passage: "it is most important to state that if pets do go to heaven, their owners will also have to go to heaven to see them. The Bible makes it clear that the majority of people will not go to heaven—see Matthew chapter 7, verses 13 and 14 (Matthew 7:13,14) for one example. Therefore, it is critical that we remind everyone that they need to get right with God themselves or their chances of seeing a departed pet again are zero."
• So do pets go to heaven? 
• One thing is clear is that there is coming a new heaven and new earth and animals will be there:  Isaiah 11:6, "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."; Isaiah 65:25, "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."; Isaiah 11:8, "And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."  The curse (from mans' fall) will be ended / there will be no more death! The current natural order of violence and carnivorous activity will have ceased! As an aside, on more than one occasion, the aforementioned Smokey killed and ate mice!
• Much has been made about Pope Francis' comments about pets in heaven. Before I link to this, even the Pope is not our authority! Google if you want more, but here is a link that says Pope Francis indeed did so state, and another that refutes it!
• Back to Flaco. His real name is "Skinny". After Roger and Kate married, Roger renamed him Senior Flaco. His telling is that Flaco is Spanish for Skinny.  We think he's been underfed and we are, in spoiling him as much as we can, attempting to make him "Gordo"
• Flaco and I share some traits or characteristics: We both breathe air. We each have a heart, lungs, kidneys, et cetera.
• I have cancer just as Smokey had cancer. I hope my cancer won't kill me but time will tell
• What Flaco and I don't share is that I am an image-bearer of God. God has stamped his image on my soul!

• And as an image-bearer I have a soul that will exist forever - either in heaven or in hell!
• Back to animals: they are not image-bearers and they do not have eternal souls. 
• By the way, one man's pet can be another's monster: think: pet chimpanzee, pit bull, or a snake
• I think that I have answered the question!
• But: it is normal and healthy to grieve over the loss of an animal!
• For the Christian, it is very important to discipline one's mind to think Biblically!
• Finally: heaven will not disappoint! 

Comment: Image source is Wiki.  PETA often gets the animal issue completely wrong as in this!

Emily - Gone but not Forgotten

From January 2013

October 1st 2015

Comments:

• She was born March 2001
• And died today
• She was a lovely, goofy, little pet
• She was frequently on my lap
• Often slept by my head
• Would try to wake me up (most times successfully) by patting my face or pushing on my eyelid
• Loved by Kathee, Loved by my children, Loved by my Brother. Loving to all!
• I am grieving

September 2009

Pet Diaries

Excerpt from a Dog's Diary........

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpt from a Cat's Diary...

Day 983 of my captivity....

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.

Comment: From my daughter

Church marqee fight

HT: Sandalstraps' Sanctuary

Comment: I labeled this "humor" as it looks photoshopped to me!

An open letter to pets

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.
   
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
   
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
   
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
   

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less
   
2. Don't ask for money all the time
   
3. Are easier to train
   
4. Normally come when called
   
5. Never ask to drive the car
   
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
   
7. Don't smoke or drink
   
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
   
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
   
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.
    
11. And finally, If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.
    

Comments: Sent to me from my Sister-in-Law, Kathy Peet. Picture is "Emily". Emily was curled up in my sink this morning and would not move. I skipped shaving! (The little sacrifices for a pet!)