All Dogs Go To Heaven

Recently our family went through a bit of a crisis. A family pet crisis. It began about a year ago when my wife discovered that a local animal hospital had a cocker spaniel up for adoption. It was a fairly simple process. We filled out an application, they did a background check to make sure we were suitable pet owners, we paid a small fee to have her immunizations updated, then waited a few days for it all to clear, and presto we had adopted a new addition to our family.

We named her Mitzi. My wife’s grandpa had a cocker that was almost identical to this one, even had the same name. Thus, Mitzi had some natural sentimental and familial value. It reminded my wife not only of her blessed childhood, but of her beloved grandfather, who passed away when she was only 9. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet him.

While I was reluctant at first to embrace Mitzi, we already have a dalmatian, she naturally grew on me. She was one of the most loving and playful dogs I had ever known. She loved to just crawl up into your lap and sit with you. My children loved her because she was mostly an inside dog where they could play with her, whereas our other dog Shelbee lives outside. It also gave my boys some added responsibility. They fed her, gave her water, and took her outside to potty. When we would go camping or travel for extended days she would travel with us. We took her for walks in the neighborhood and to local parks. She adored people She truly had become the family dog.

Our house has driveway that is a bit up hill, and then curves around the back and enters into our garage. About 2 years ago we put up a fence so that we could close it off so our children could play outside without us worrying of them wandering onto the street. So, frequently we would allow Mitzi to play out there as long as the gate was closed so she couldn’t get out. Well, one night last week I let her outside, thinking the gate was still locked, I had locked it earlier that day, but my oldest son unlocked in order to take her out, tragically I didn’t realize it was still unlocked.

My wife woke up the next morning to run some errands and noticed Mitzi was gone. At first I didn’t worry too much because I thought she would find her way back. My wife worked tirelessly that morning making lost signs, calling animal control, and speaking with our vet. The weekend past and no signs of her. On Monday we recieved several hopeful calls about people who had possibly seen her, but our continued search turned up empty.

Then on Tuesday night I got a call from a local neighbor who was out jogging and noticed a dog on the side of the road that fit the description of our Mitzi. She gave me the location and I reluctantly went out to investigate. Sadly, it turned out to be her. I then had to call my wife to break the news to her, and then had to tell my 3 boys. It was devastating, to say the least, especially to my wife and my oldest son. I confess that I to was grieved and saddened by it all. As a child I never became emotionally attached to a pet, but I was strangely awakened to a deep sense of loss in our family. My oldest son asked “can’t we take her to the doctor and he can fix her? Or can’t Jesus make her come back to life just like he came back to life.” It was my son’s first real brush with death.

It was difficult trying to help my sons understand the concept that we would never see Mitzi again…she was never coming back…but I said “maybe or hopefully we might see her again in heaven, if dogs in fact do go to heaven.” I don’t know if animals and pets go to heaven or not, but it gives my son hope and comfort that maybe he would see her once again. It was one of those life moments that we never want to happen, but know that inevitably we will have to walk through it…I just wasn’t prepared for it this soon.

It was almost a year to the date that we adopted her. We buried her in our yard. She will be deeply missed!

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