A snake spoke to Eve and she was not even mildly surprised by that.
IMO, there was a time when animals spoke but no longer do.
Perhaps God, in His infinite mercy, struck them dumb because it would break our hearts if we could hear them, now.
After the flood;
The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.
Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.
Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.
And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.
I will demand an accounting from every animal.
And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
Why would God demand an “accounting” from animals if they had no souls and were therefore, not spiritually accountable?
God created our wonderful dogs. Why wouldn’t He want them in Heaven?