[WVKayaker]

"All creation speaks to the Glory of God". But, nowhere does it assign souls to animals. Besides which, God created us "in His image". We know that "God is a Spirit", therefor we can extrapolate that our eternal state is as spirit, and that our body (AND THIS EARTH) is a temporal state. We will have no need for dogs and cats in heaven, not even to play fetch! We won't even have husbands nor wives...

[Jemian]

I see where it can be argued that dogs don't have souls. I don't see that in Scripture either. But I do think dogs, cats and even crocodiles will be in heaven. I base this on Romans 8:19 - 21.

Rom 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
Rom 8:21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

You and I will find out when we get there which interpretation, or even another one altogether, is correct.

[kevao]

We will have no need for dogs and cats in heaven

We won't be spending eternity in heaven. Those who die before the end of time will be in heaven only transitorily. The redeemed will spend eternity on the new Earth, in glorified, *physical* bodies.

There is no reason to believe the new Earth will be unlike this Earth which, prior to the Fall, was perfect in God's eyes. An Earth without animals?

You know, "we will have no need" for plants either. Will the new Earth be just a barren rock?

No animals, no vegetation.... Doesn't sound like paradise to me.