TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

I’ve read many different opinions on this subject and I really don’t know the answer! Of course, I want the answer to be yes, but I see no definitive answer in scripture.

Yesterday Charlie started his day out pretty good but as the day went on he started going downhill. We gave him the maximum dose of his medication, but by late afternoon his backend completely collapsed. At that time it was too late to take him to the vet to have him put down. Charlie was in extreme pain and crying at this point. We knew we absolutely had no other choice. We would not let him suffer anymore. I carried my Charlie to the backyard and we gave him our last hug. We thanked Jesus for his blessing us for 15 years with a remarkable little friend. It’s hard this morning without my little shadow following me and sitting out here in our favorite room, the screened-in porch!

Jesus saved the best little friend for me for the last! We won’t replace Charlie

God Bless all our little friends that give us all so much comfort, love, pleasure and the unending laughter!
I sure hope we see them again!

Rose42

You made the right choice for the dog and I know its hard especially because they never live long enough. I'm so sorry you lost your friend. They can never be replaced but that doesn't mean there's not another good one out there for you. I sure hope we see them all in heaven. The dog is a special creature.

I've posted this before. Its a great piece.

God summoned the beast from the field and He said
"Behold, man is created in my image. Therefore adore him.
You shall protect him in the wilderness,
shepherd his flocks, watch over his children,
accompany him wherever he may go...
even into civilization.
You shall be his companion, his ally, his slave."

"To do these things," God said, "I endow you with the
instincts uncommon to other beasts:
Faithfulness, Devotion and Understanding
surpassing those of man himself.
Lest it impair your courage,
you shall never foresee your death.
Lest it impair your loyalty,
you shall be blind to the faults of man.
Lest it impair your understanding,
you are denied the power of words.
Speak to your master only with your mind
and through your honest eyes."

"Walk by his side; sleep in his doorway;
ward off his enemies; carry his burden;
share his afflictions; love and comfort him.
And in return for this,
Man will fulfill your needs and wants...
which shall be only food, shelter and affection."

"So be silent and be a friend to man.
Guide him through the perils along the way
to this land I have promised him.
This shall be your destiny and your immortality."

So spoke the Lord.
And the dog heard, and was content.

SWMBO

Even if you get another dog, you will not be replacing Charlie who will always have a special place in your heart. Many people get another dog, not to replace the last one, but to honor the great memories of the last one, who is now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for you to come so he can walk through the gate with you.
Over the years we had had many different dogs before the 5 we have now, and they are waiting patiently so we can all go in together Don't worry guys, it won't be long now before we are there to walk with you through the gates. We can all play together and thank the Good Lord for all the good times yet to come.
NPP and SWMBO

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

Thank you so much! It’s such a peaceful perfect morning. It is softly raining. Charlie would bark at me and insist that we come out here on this porch. He loved it out here! He wouldn’t stay out here without me! He had me trained real good! LOL!

My husband just read it and said, “yep, that’s Chuck!” It was especially hard on him!

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

Our decision not to get another dog is because of our age and health concerns. Our home is the usual home on the coast and is built up on piers. Training a puppy would be more than we want to take on at this time going up and down stairs. We also live away from all of our family and close friends that can help with a dog if we needed it. We have our cats that we inherited with this home so we’ll just concentrate on taking care of them. The Mama cat thinks my husband is completely her human. She follows him around like a dog! He has always claimed that he didn’t like all my cats, but he can’t hide from this one......he likes her! 😂

When we hugged Charlie and told him bye, my husband said, “love ya old man, we won’t be far behind!”

What wonderful memories we all have of our beautiful wonderful beloved animals! We have been blessed!

But it sure hurts right now!

Simple Sam Loc: USA

The answer is simple, yes you will be reunited. The bible does give you the answer. Isaiah 65:17-25. Could you imagine a perfect world without dogs? Neither could God, for He gave us these perfect little teachers. Here are a few things I learned from the "teachers" God has given me, some lasted years, some for a few weeks, But each instilled in me the same lessons.

Dogs want to be close to us. They will curl up at our feet even if the bare, hard floor is not as comfortable as their favorite cushion. They jump up when they see us because they want to be as close to our faces as they can get.

Is that not how it is when we kneel to pray? We can pray while seated or even lying down, but sometimes it seems better on bended knee. We do this to make us feel closer to God. Does this make God smile? I think so.

Dogs try so hard with head-twisting, ear-twitching effort to understand words we speak to them in a language that is not their own. Their faces are so amusing when they are trying to understand what we are saying. We are creatures of a totally different species, as we are to God.

If God’s words were easy to understand, there wouldn’t be 38,000 different denominations all based on the Bible (World Christian Encyclopedia, 2001). Yet dogs do learn to recognize some of our words out of sheer desire to understand us. They learn commands first, then they recognize when it’s time for a walk or where the snacks are kept.

Do we try to listen to God telling us what he wants us to do? Do we learn God’s commands first and then long to go deeper in our understanding? When we try to hear God, does God smile? I think so.

Our motives and values are beyond a dog’s ability to understand. They are puzzled that we are upset over a chewed shoe or a hole dug in the yard. To a dog, these are good things.

Neither can we really understand God—whether it’s the challenges we face, the trials God allows us to endure or our seemingly unanswered prayers. There are mysteries we contemplate but may never grasp, like the Trinity or the Eucharist.

Our dogs seem to accept our greater wisdom even if they can’t understand our ways. Do we do that with God? And does it make God smile when we try to understand what cannot be understood? I think so.

Dogs test their boundaries. They escape from their safe backyard to run wild for a while—not because they don’t love us, but just to have some fun. Isn’t that how we are sometimes with God? And after a while, after the fun is over and the cold sets in and we’re hungry, do we not long for God? Do we not come limping and weak, filthy and tearful, to scratch at the door, asking for readmittance to the warmth of God’s love?

Scripture assures us that God will always forgive us and welcome us home. And does God smile when the prodigal comes home? I think so.

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

I have to disagree that those scriptures prove that our pets will be with us in eternity. Those scriptures state that there will be animals and that they will not be carnivores. It doesn’t indicate that the animals are resurrected or that they were once our beloved pets. I sincerely hope that we will be united with our little friends but I haven’t seen proof in the scriptures yet. We do know how much we are loved and whatever our Lord and Savior has planned we will be more than satisfied with it!

I do know this, our Creator loved animals, and wherever Charlie is he is at peace.

MARANATHA!

Simple Sam Loc: USA

Well okay! For you, Charlie is dead and that is the end of it.

Have you read Ecclesiastes 3? 19 "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

For me, those scriptures indicate that man will be judged by God, he resurrects, but the beasts simply die.

I would love to see Scriptura proof, but I just don’t. Thank you for your comments, I really appreciate your opinion on this subject! I sure hope you’re right and I’m wrong!

My Dad bought a little filly colt that wasn’t even weaned at a horse sale when I was 2 years old. The rancher that bought the filly’s Mom didn’t want to mess with a colt. He ran the filly back through the ring and nobody wanted her! My sister cried and my Dad ended up buying the registered filly quarter horse for 6 bucks! I literally grew up on this mare! She was 24 years old and I was 26 years old when we had to put her down. I have loved her my entire life and I’m almost 72! So, you see, I really want this to be true! I would be satisfied with her and Charlie for my choice in Eternity and I’ve had wonderful animals all my life!

Simple Sam Loc: USA

I do not want to go to a heaven if animals are excluded. I think they are closer to God than many people.

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

I can understand that! When I think of the description of the New Jerusalem, it’s sounds cold and stark! I’m an outside kind of person! It’s a good thing that I’m completely confident in the Lord’s taste of any and all things! LOL! It will be wonderful even if I don’t understand and see it right now!

We know how much he loved us and his wonderful creation of animals! 🙏🏻

Simple Sam Loc: USA

Our Shaman tells us that God wants all his creations to be happy. I think there is no single heaven, but as there are many worlds, there will be different heavens. Mine would have animals, oceans, streams, plants and trees with few humans. Wouldn't it be good if we could visit our friends' heavens and return to our own when it gets to be too much?

As a cop I see both the best and worst in humans....although we do not have big city crime on the Res, we have our share of negative people. I recharge at home with my critters and fur babies!

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SWMBO

I agree with you about some very special animals. The dogs we have are all certified therapy dogs and any of "ur boys" will tell you how vital they have been in helping abused boys grow past their pain and become wonderful, wise and strong in spirit. Many have ended up helping train therapy dogs for others because of the bonding and support they got from the dogs we have had. I fully believe that the dogs were at least as important in the boys healing process as were any of us who worked with them. Yes, their spirits may be in Heaven or perhaps they came back as another therapy dog for a child who desperately needed them.

TexaCan Loc: Homeward Bound!

That is one happy dog!

I can’t imagine what you see as a cop! I admire guys like you and I can certainly appreciate your need to recharge with your little friends! Some of my best friends have been animals. I grew up pretty remote in West Texas on ranches and had more animal friends than human!

I wish I could show a video of Charlie watching Kittens on TV! A few years back we were spending some time on Dauphin Island, before we moved here! The TV was on a low table and I had put his stool close to the TV. He sat his butt on the stool and put his front paws on the table and his face right up to the TV. He couldn’t figure out where the kittens were! He would go around the TV, out the door, back up on his stool! He was so funny! He just couldn’t find those kittens!

He was tough on our grown cats, but never hurt one of the babies!

Simple Sam Loc: USA

Thank you for that mental picture! Do you have a photo of Charlie that you can post? My mind's eye sees him as a small dog... Either white or "peach" with longish straight hair. Eyes filled with curiosity and a tail always wagging with pleasure! I can tell that you love him, as love never dies or a condition one can be cured, share with me your memories. And should you go to a different heaven than me, perhaps he will be waiting in mine and I will share with him the stories you tell.

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