Do Dogs Go To Heaven? A Tribute to "Trixie"

I received a email today from someone I have never met, never talked to. Our only contact has been by emails and blogging. She read's mine and I read her's, connected by the net, both of us owning Yorkies. This is my tribute to "Trixie"...dog, pet and friend...
Well, this morning I opened up my email to find a sad one...don't like sad emails. It was from a friend, she told me she lost her dog of 10 years to illness. She was devastated, and asked me if I thought dogs go to heaven. Now talk about religious beliefs and animals, and you get looks like your totally insane. Some people believe animals don't go to Heaven, it's for humans who are seeking redemption, and since animals don't have sin, nor do they have souls, they aren't allowed in Heaven. I am a animal owner and lover, I believe...no I hope that my God does allow our animals to come to Heaven. I can't imagine Heaven without animals. My Lord allows animals, he does in my belief of the Bible. Not having anyone come back from death and tell me different, that's the way I will believe until I find out myself. I will make some mad, some won't even come back and read my blog, but that's fine. I will miss them, but I can't force them to live my beliefs as much as I won't live theirs, we all are different, yet the same at times.
I searched for a story I saw many years ago on "The Twilight Zone". It's written by Earl Hamner, and follows the storyline of a man and his dog. The man and the dog go raccoon hunting and they both fall into a lake and drown. The story goes something like this:

An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they come to a gate in fence and looked in, it was nice - grassy, woody areas, just what a huntin' dog and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'No Trespassing' so they walked on.
They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. "Welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him.
The gatekeeper stopped him. "Dogs aren't allowed, I'm sorry but he can't come with you." The old man asked "What kind of Heaven won't allow dogs? If he can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now." The gatekeeper responded "Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promiss you anything, but, the dog can't go there either. If you won't leave the dog, you'll spend Eternity on this road." The man and his dog went on.
They walked awhile and came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside. "Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?" "Of course, there's some cold water under the tree over there. Make yourselves comfortable." "You sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs aren't allowed anywhere." "Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?" "No Sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But I won't come in if my buddy here can't come too, and that's final."
The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven." "You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?"
"That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The dogs come here, the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man's companions in life, why would he separate them in death?"
Wow...been years since I saw that story on TV...feels good to read it again. They don't write storylines like that anymore...reality tv has replaced writers. I saw on the website a quote from Will Rogers...he said "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Funny man, a true legend lost in time.
I told my friend the story... forgot a few things..but all in all the same story...I told her that God wouldn't give us our animals in life to be taken away and never seen again. I believe that my Rosie, my first dog I had, will be waiting for me. To rub her ears, pet her back...brush her. But that's my belief, your entitled to yours. I hope I helped my friend, made her feel a little better. I know that thinking about that story helped me, it gave me a great memory and put a smile on my face and love in my heart. I love my animals, my wife and I have had Yorkies everyday of our marriage...they have seen our good days and our bad. But they have never judged us, yelled at us or abandoned us. And when we come home, they are waiting for us...hoping for a little love, a small price to pay for a lifetime of love back. So yes, I believe dogs go to Heaven...but I am lucky I have a little bit of Heaven already in my house, and 3 Yorkies to show me what it's going to be like. And "Trixie" will be waiting for my friend...wagging her tail, waiting to lick her face and give her the love back, she had received all those 10 years on Earth together.
Thank you for taking time and reading about my friend, her dog and my beliefs...I hope those of you who own animals will appreciate this entry on my blog...and those who don't...maybe it will touch your heart and make you want to help a animal, maybe one in a shelter near your house. I can only hope that this story made someone feel the need to go save a life and start a lifetime of love and affection...God works in many ways, and loves all of his creations...even dogs.