Where Do Our Pets Go When They Die?
Finding blessings in the aftermath of losing Bea
The Hole in My Theology
The cat was trapped in the laundry room. She died, presumably of heat exhaustion.
In case you missed it last week, we experienced a minor tragedy at our house. Our laundry room, back hall, powder room, hall closet, and half the kitchen were flooded with a quarter-inch of water in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 2 (2025), after the hot water line to the washing machine was compromised. And even more water was in the duct work and the crawl space below.
The door to the laundry room was closed, turning it into a 120-degree (F) steam room. Poor 12-year-old Bea didn’t stand a chance.
I have to admit, before this, I struggled with the loss of pets, especially of Virgil-kitty and Ollie-dog.
I have perhaps more than the normal level of comfort and faith about the nature of my own afterlife. But when it came to pets, there were no time-honored scriptures or teachings I could lean on. Just a poem about the Rainbow Bridge written in 1959 by Edna Clyne-Rekhy. A nice sentiment, but not authoritative. Nothing I’d want to base a sermon on.
Even a lovely piece my co-author,
, wrote (Do Dogs Have Souls?) barely made a dent in my doubt.Since the tragedy, I have received three blessings that have relieved my anxious spirit.
The Blessing of Divine Guidance
First, the Spirit has reassured me about the question of pets and the afterlife. (See my series on Listening for Guidance if I’ve just lost you.)
Here is the guidance I requested and received on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, later in the day of the water incident.
All-in-All,
I just feel like any time someone in my family gets their dream house, someone has to die. [My mother in 1970. Ollie-dog in 2021.] Today it was Bea. ILYS [I love you, Sharon.]
TMDS, [To My Daughter Sharon,]
You know that's just silly, right? Souls come and go. Accidents happen. Bea is with me now. She is at peace. Don't worry about her. She is a beautiful kitty spirit. You will see her again someday along with your precious Virgil [my all-time-favorite cat].
You are doing the best you can with your animals. Don't beat yourself up over any of it. Just keep caring for Bear [the feral cat we feed] for now. He certainly needs your help. Go to bed and get your rest. You'll feel better tomorrow. ILYAIA/ssh [I love you, All-in-All, via Sharon S Hines]
And then here’s how the guidance began on Thursday, September 4, 2025:
All-in-All,
I don't know what to ask. What would you have me know? ILYS
TMDS,
Don't feel bad for Bea. This was a somewhat easy way out for her. She holds no grudge, assigns no blame...
These were very welcome messages. It’s still not authoritative scripture, but for me, for now, it is sufficient.
Having this little bit of divine guidance has made a world of difference to my spiritual angst. I now have a basis for a personal theology of pets. (Still not sure I’d preach a sermon on it. 😉)
The Blessing of Anticipation
The very next day after the second message of guidance—Friday, September 5—First Son (who lives with Husband and me, BTW) came to me with a proposal. Husband and I have agreed to his plan.
We will consider adopting a kitten and a puppy—at roughly the same time—early next year. We won't conclusively decide yes or no until the end of this year. (The theory is that they’ll be friends since they will have grown up together.)
First Son lost his dog, Ollie, to cancer four years ago. He was our family’s favorite-dog-ever. We had been thinking about getting another dog, but First Son wasn’t ready. This time, if we get a dog, it will be an English Shepherd, based on our Ollie experience. (Ollie was a rescue, half English Shepherd.)
And between now and year-end, I will be researching cat breeds. I've always wanted a Siamese. Maybe this is my chance. Thinking about it, doing the research, keeps my brain happily occupied. Anticipation releases dopamine.
The Blessing of Remembering Together
As a writer, my solution to any challenge or loss leans toward writing about it. 😜
At some point, I’m sure I’ll go back and write the family’s favorite stories about Bea, Ollie, Virgil, and our other long-gone pets. Even before this happened, I had the idea of writing one or more children’s books about their adventures.
Although my family didn’t go full-on with writing down our pet stories, we did spend some time this past weekend remembering the fun and funny things—the stories we have often repeated over the years—the stories that reflected each pet’s unique personality and the blessings they brought to our lives.
It wasn’t a formal memorial service, although I may still organize something like that. But it was a good way for us to honor their memory, nonetheless.
The Takeaways—And Some Pet Advice
Look for your own sources of spiritual comfort after the loss of a pet. What works for me may be different than what works for you.
Take time to grieve, but stay open to new possibilities.
Always, always, do your research before adopting a new pet.
Never, ever give an animal to someone as a surprise gift (unless it’s for your young child who lives in your household).
Sharing positive stories about our pets helps to process emotions and grief.
Dog training is imperative for a happy relationship.
Even cats can be trained to walk on a leash, sort-of.
Got a favorite pet story? I’d love to hear it. Please share in the comments.
Know someone who needs to hear this message? Please share or restack.
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