The Bible teaches that out of all the creatures on earth, only a limited number of humans will go to heaven. (Revelation 14:1, 3) They go there to rule as kings and priests with Jesus. (Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 5:9, 10) The vast majority of humans will be resurrected to life on a paradise earth.—Psalm 37:11, 29.

 There is no mention in the Bible of a pet heaven or dog heaven—and for good reason. Animals cannot take the steps needed to qualify for “the heavenly calling.” (Hebrews 3:1) These steps include taking in knowledge, exercising faith, and obeying God’s commands. (Matthew 19:17; John 3:16; 17:3) Only humans were created with the prospect of living forever.—Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:22, 23.

 To go to heaven, earthly creatures must be resurrected. (1 Corinthians 15:42) The Bible mentions a number of resurrections. (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:32-37; 13:20, 21; Luke 7:11-15; 8:41, 42, 49-56; John 11:38-44; Acts 9:36-42; 20:7-12) However, every one of them involved humans, not animals.

•  Do animals have souls?

•  Can souls die?

•  Do animals sin?

•  Is animal cruelty acceptable?

 No. The Bible says that both animals and humans are souls. (Numbers 31:28) When the first man, Adam, was created, he was not given a soul but “became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7, footnote) A soul is composed of two things: the “dust from the ground” and “the breath of life.”

 Yes, the Bible teaches that souls can die. (Leviticus 21:11, footnote; Ezekiel 18:20) At death, animals and humans return to the dust of the earth. (Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20) In other words, they cease to exist. a

 No. To sin means to think, feel, or do something that violates God’s standards. In order to sin, a creature must be able to make moral decisions, but animals lack this ability. They usually act according to instinct during their limited life span. (2 Peter 2:12) At the end of their life span, they die, even though they do not sin.

 No. God gave humans authority over the animals but not the right to mistreat them. (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:6-8) God cares about the welfare of each animal—including small birds. (Jonah 4:11; Matthew 10:29) He commanded his worshippers to treat animals considerately.—Exodus 23:12; Deuteronomy 25:4; Proverbs 12:10.