"Where do dogs go when they die?"
This is a pretty tough topic to talk about - it is a question that has been asked by pet owners for centuries.
Some people believe that dogs go to heaven, while others think that they simply disappear into the ether.
The truth is, no one really knows where dogs go when they die. However, there are a few theories out there about what happens to our furry friends after they pass away.
But we would like to believe that they'll be somewhere warm, and where their bodies were not failing and enjoying endless fun.
Thankfully, there are a few hopeful theories and stories on where dogs go when they die - let's explore them together.
Dogs go to heaven
And they become angels and watch over us from the sky.
This is a popular belief among pet owners - that dogs go to heaven when they die.
It's also what I personally believe in, that I'll see my boy again when I'm buried beneath the earth.
Some people believe that after a dog dies, their soul goes up to heaven and becomes an angel.
These furry friends then watch over us from the sky, keeping us safe and providing us with guidance.
Many people find comfort in this theory, as it means that their beloved pet is still with them in some way.
Plus, it's a beautiful thought that our pets can be happy and healthy in the afterlife.
After all, all dogs are good dogs, and if they aren't in heaven, where else would they be?
Would it still be heaven if we don't get to see them again?
As Will Rogers once said, "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went".
Your dog reincarnates as another dog
This one is a little more interesting - some people believe that dogs reincarnate as other dogs after they die.
In essence, your dog might not actually be gone forever - they might just come back in another form, and with the same ferocious love they had for you.
The reason people would think this is simple; there are plenty of anecdotes online about pet owners commenting that their new dog behaves exactly the same as their deceased dog.
While of course this is just a theory, it does give us pet owners a little bit of hope that our dogs have come back in a different shape, or at least led the new dog to us that has similar characteristics.
And that gives us a little bit of a mood lifter 🙂
The Rainbow Bridge
You'll hear this the most - The Rainbow Bridge is a beautiful place where dogs are able to run and play together.
At the same time, they are also able to reunite with their owners again, once they have passed on.
Many people find comfort in this idea, as it means that their pet will be happy and healthy after death.
Plus, it's a wonderful thought that we'll be able to see our furry friends again one day.
There is also anecdotal evidence that when they do pass safely to the Rainbow Bridge, our dogs will let us know - in the form of dreams, clouds, or anything really.
Is it our own coping mechanism or are they really telling us they're alright?
I'd like to believe they're telling us that they're alright, and they want us to be happy with the times we spent with them, too.
Their spirit lives on in our hearts
If you're a more rational, analytical person, you may not want to believe they go to heaven or the Rainbow Bridge.
Rather, you may think they're dead and they'll only live on in our hearts.
And I think that's fine as well.
After all, we keep our loved ones alive by remembering them and telling their stories.
And in a way, that's what keeps our dogs with us - even though they're not physically here, their spirit is always around.
We can feel it when we're taking care of another dog, or when we see something that reminds us of them.
Their spirit will never die as long as we remember them.
In this way, I would think that dogs don't die - they just live on through us in our memories and spirit.
Conclusion
The death of our beloved dogs has never been an easy topic to get over.
Even for me - my dog passed away in 2020, and not a day goes by where I don't think about him (The featured image is of my boy, Kafka. )
To those who have never owned dogs, this article may seem silly, but to the rest of us who have loved and lost, it's a nice comfort knowing that we have a chance at seeing them again.
Take care of your dogs, and cherish the time you have with them - because they truly are our best friends.
Take as many pictures and videos of them as well, in the good times, and the bad.
We may, in time, forget how they look, but they'll always look happy and wonderful in our photos and videos of them.
Do dogs die? Maybe in body, but never in spirit, because we always remember them.
And who knows, maybe one day we'll find out where they go when they die. Until then, we can only hope and speculate.