And yet they are not permitted in the "city"
(Small wonder he made his grave with the wicked.)
It seems most Christians believe once an animal dies, that is it. That they have no spirit or soul. That is why their death is so very sad for pet owners and animal lovers, believing that they will never see their beloved companions again.
As a dog owner, someone gave me the book Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates, by Gary Kurz. While there isn't any scripture that bluntly tells us one way or another what happens to our beloved pets, Mr. Kurz does refer to several verses throughout the book. However, since God does not provide us with any concrete answers, deductive reasoning must be used.
I've always reluctantly accepted what the majority of Christians believe that even our most beloved pets have no afterlife. Although I'm not one hundred percent convinced otherwise, this book did give me something to ponder. A very good argument was made that when we get to Heaven there will not only be animals for us to enjoy, but we would also be met by the pets we loved on earth.
Maybe. I hope anyway.