Pets in paradise?

Lutheran, The, Oct 2001

Will the doors of our celestial home have a dog or cat flap? Will the end of the tale be the cat's meow? An ABC News/Beliefnet poll of 1,018 Americans shows fur flying over that question.Although 43 percent of respondents think pets will go to heaven, another 40 percent think heaven is for people only. Even pet owners are divided: 47 percent believe the pearly gates are open to their furry companions while 35 percent say no pets are allowed.

In Table Talk, Martin Luther weighed in on this question, while playing with his own dog:"The dog is a very faithful animal and is held in high esteem if he isn't too ordinary. Our Lord God has made the best gifts most common.... But we don't acknowledge such everyday gifts.We are stupid clods. In the future life we'll see them, however...."