From About Heaven:

“Isn't there heaven,”

(She was but seven)

“Isn't there” (sobbing), “for dogs?” she said.

-L.I. Guiney Davy raises the question that bothers many dog lovers. It has something to do with a soul-part of beings that is immortal, that continues on after death.

It is painful to believe the traditional idea that animals are different: that in matters of immortality, they have no soul; that they live a relatively short time and then, "pouf" it is all over. Particularly this concerns those who love certain animals: horses, birds, cats and dogs and want them to have, at least, the same advantages of eternal life that they, as human beings, possess.

A guru of Buddhism, after speaking of reincarnation was asked by one of his followers, "Do dogs live again, perhaps as human beings? The wise man nodded, "yes of course." This was followed by another question: "What about people; do they return as dogs?" "Only the best of us are allowed to do that!" was the gurus' reply.

Only human beings have souls? From whence did such prejudice arise? I suspect that it comes from spatial thinking: that eternal life necessitates a locale, a place that takes up room. If we allow dogs and cats and horses and birds to have souls it must follow that all creatures, large and small, have the same prospect of eternal life as human beings. That would include animals that are not so lovable such as rats and mice and polecats. And insects, fleas and carpenter ants and termites and yes, mosquitoes! Thinking of living on after death in a space that is also frequented by such pests, robs the human being of much of the joy of anticipating eternity!

Suppose heaven is compartmentalized so that spiders are contained in their own locale, skunks in another, no-see-ums behind an impenetrable screen, alligators and crocodiles in a swamp from which they cannot escape and separated from the quiet lakes where immortal humans are allowed to fish for trout (whose souls, of course, are immediately freed to another form of life). Where in the world (or out of it) could there ever be enough space to contain all of the forms of life that have lived since the beginning of time?

Copyright © 1998. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved

- Description from Lewis Gold.

This is a delightful book about the attitudes and actions that help us to interact successfully with others, and lead productive and happy lives. H. D. Johns has bridged the gap between the laborious studying of a complex subject, and the spontaneous, easy, and almost unaware absorption of the experiences and motives that guide our lives.

And he did it in a way that should be a model for all educators. By taking a subject in which most of us believe we are experts (the behavior of dogs), he has immediately captured our interest and participation. When he describes the behavior of one of his dogs (he has loved and cared for them, and vice-versa, nearly all his life) in a particular situation, one nods in recollective agreement. And then he gently, and ever so naturally, eases that experience into a similar one we humans face. The appropriate response is sometimes immediately apparent; and sometimes it is guided by Johns in his roles of, teacher, psychotherapist, dog trainer, and observant student of human nature.

Either way, we gain insight into nearly all the large and small, good and bad, unalterable and changeable, facets of human emotions and activity (yes, Virginia, if you MUST know; there IS a chapter on Sex). And we learn without realizing it, with some easily recalled pet behavior to help remember it.

It is amazing, after reading this small book (150 pages of 46 chapters), to realize that a complete psychiatric education has been presented, and a handy topic reference provided, in such entertaining fashion.

My only qualm; it is humbling to wonder if my little Yorkshire terrier is wiser than I am....

 

What I Need To Know About Living... I Learned From My Dogs , by H.D. Johns (150 pages; December 1, 1998; Paperback; Professional Press; ISBN 1570874387 )