Do Dead People/Animals From Our Past Come to Welcome Us to Heaven?

Question: My daughter died a couple weeks ago from cancer and before she died she saw our dead dog. Did he really come for her? Are they with me now, and will I see them again when I get to heaven and are they well now?

First of all, please know of our condolences to you and your family on the death of your daughter.

Secondly, in answer to the first part of your question, we don’t really know what ways we are welcomed by those gone before us into the heavenly kingdom. Is it possible that doggy came to welcome her? Certainly. All things are possible with God and in the unconditional love that pets often give to their human friends, I could see this being very appropriate.

In reference to the rest of your question, we can wholeheartedly answer yes to this one. In fact, this is a great teaching of our Church and in the Eucharist. In Jesus we are united with him through the giving of His Body and Blood to us. All who have partaken of this are also united to each other. Animals are God’s great creation and there are many notations in scripture about God bringing all things unto Himself, so the great possibility of having animals being a part of heaven is certainly possible.

Lastly, God redeems all things. While God doesn’t stop human death from happening, God does redeem our death by bringing it into a new life, freeing us from pain and suffering. So know that our belief is that God has taken your daughter to Himself and nothing can harm her again. Her cancer is gone and she is free from pain, and the pain of her former life is now redeemed by God’s love. Pray to her now as she is among the saints in God’s heavenly Kingdom.