Our Beloved Pets

[Lori]

I've been giving this topic a lot of thought and some research. 

 

I'm very close to my Emotional Support dog, Luna.  She's become my best friend and has helped me through many mental health challenges.  Don't know where I'd be without her. 

 

Anyways,  will our beloved pets make it through the Great Tribulation with us?      Will animals live forever with us on earth, especially ones that we love and are close to?   (Maybe we won't know what will happen until it does happen,  if that makes any sense? )

 

Psalm 145: 16 says: "You open your hand; And satisfy the desire of every living thing."   So if our desire is to have our beloved pets by us forever,  does that mean that Jehovah will make that happen?    Or do you think that because we'll be perfect we won't have those emotions where we are so close to our pets?   So we won't be upset or sad when they pass away?  

 

I know that there are articles on jw.org that say that animals have a limited time, but what about the ones that we love?   And depend on?  

 

Sorry if I'm confusing anyone... 

 

Just been thinking about it a lot lately.   I know a few other sisters that have been wondering this as well.  

 

 

 

[carlos]

Lori, I think everyone of us who has a pet has wondered the same things.

 

The truth is that we don't know. We know that animals were not created to live forever. On the other hand, we don't know how far will Jehovah go to fulfill our desires in the new world. Maybe a part of our job in paradise will be to research ways to have our pets live longer. What we do know for sure is that whatever Jehovah decides to do, it will be for our happiness.

[Sheep]

"...born to be caught and destroyed"

[carlos]

1 minute ago, Sheep said:

"...born to be caught and destroyed"

 

I guess that scripture refers to vermin and harmful animals, not to beloved dogs and cats.

Probably Peter had in mind the way things work now in this system, where sadly many animals are just born to be exploited and destroyed. But it doesn't necessarily reflect how we will treat animals, especially pets, in the new world.

[Hanni]

I really do hope our pets will make it with us through the GT, otherwise I won‘t feel joy after our liberation, at least not for a very very long time. Having to leave my flat during the GT to stay with brothers is not my first choice, as I probably can’t take my pets with me. I would only think about what they are going through, and how I‘m supposed to love someone that doesn‘t love me enough to welcome my pets in his house. Can‘t imagine playing cards and smiling (as pictured in last weeks study WT) while my pets are starving. I know I sound over-dramatically and frustrated, and I probably love my pets too much. Just want to say you‘re not alone when feeling the same way. 

[Lori]

3 hours ago, Hanni said:

I really do hope our pets will make it with us through the GT, otherwise I won‘t feel joy after our liberation, at least not for a very very long time. Having to leave my flat during the GT to stay with brothers is not my first choice, as I probably can’t take my pets with me. I would only think about what they are going through, and how I‘m supposed to love someone that doesn‘t love me enough to welcome my pets in his house. Can‘t imagine playing cards and smiling (as pictured in last weeks study WT) while my pets are starving. I know I sound over-dramatically and frustrated, and I probably love my pets too much. Just want to say you‘re not alone when feeling the same way. 

I feel the same EXACT way that you do.  I'm not leaving my dog and cat behind.   I just can't do it.  

 

 

[Ysaias]

Our pets are included in version 2.0 of our family's evacuation plan, as per our daughter's request.

[Hanni]

On 9/19/2023 at 9:12 PM, Lori said:

I feel the same EXACT way that you do.  I'm not leaving my dog and cat behind.   I just can't do it.  

 

 

I‘m sure everything will be fine in the end. Jehova is the creator, he cares about his creatures (that includes animals) and he knows how we feel about them (it was him that made them so cute and loveable). Our job is to trust and obey him, even if we don‘t understand everything. I pray that we get instructions before/during the GT regarding our pets 🙂

 

[Vthiel]

I have a question that I've been thinking about alot lately.  When the tribulation breaks out and we have to get our backpacks, do we take our animals with or leave them behind?  Will they do better if they arent with us?  After yesterday's watchtower study,  it's the one thing that gives me anxiety thinking about cause I dont want hard to come to me pets.  If I leave them, what will happen?  If I take them with me, what will happen?  If it was a fire, flood, etc. , I would take them with, but do i do that knowing that the tribulation will bring about harm to us, I can only imagine my animals.  Any thoughts?

[Vthiel]

In accordance with yesterday's watchtower study. It said we wouldn't want to have anything that would keep us from leaving when the tribulation breaks out.  Does that mean we take our pets when we leave our home and all its belonging or would they be safer leaving them behind?  It's the one thing that gives me so much anxiety that it's hard to think about it and there isn't anything that says specifically yes or no.  I dont want my animals hurt!

[carlos]

Vicki, welcome to JWTalk!

 

We don't know which instructions we will receive during the great tribulation. Maybe we will have to leave somewhere, or maybe we will have to stay put. We will only know when it comes. So we cannot really give you a reliable answer to your question.

 

However, we know that Jehovah is very aware of our feelings. He knows that our pets are like family members for us. And he loves animals too and cares about their wellbeing. So I am sure he will take all that into account.

 

We have so little information about the great tribulation, so there are lots of possible what-if's. But thinking of those is a waste a of time because we don't have the answer and they will only stress and discourage us with possibilities that probably will never happen after all. It's better to trust that Jehovah will care for all our needs tenderly.

 

[Wanda Hill]

We are in the same situation, my daughter's cat is her emotional support pet. We stick with the decision that if we have to leave her, Jehovah is surely able to care for her. He will take care of us all.

[computerwiz]

We have so many old and ailing ones, I don't think we'll be going anywhere.  I think we'll be hunkered down in our houses.  This seems to be the idea being portrayed with the basement videos & recent watchtower pics.

[Tortuga]

37 minutes ago, computerwiz said:

We have so many old and ailing ones, I don't think we'll be going anywhere.  I think we'll be hunkered down in our houses.  This seems to be the idea being portrayed with the basement videos & recent watchtower pics.

Agreed. Life during the GT may not be much different than what is happening now, just worse. Some places in the world are affected by war, some aren't. As Carlos say, it doesn't make sense to create worse case scenarios in our imagination, all that does is create anxiety. I personally prefer to say Jehovah's Day instead of GT, it reminds us that Jehovah has everything under control.

[Pjdriver]

Noah took all his pets with him. 

 

Seriously though, my wife is a cat lady. I hope we don’t have to quickly leave, because trying to take 2 cats in crates who are skittish will be a problem.

While I love my cats and dogs I’ve had over the years,  and I still think of my childhood dog and get a little emotional.... yet my reason and better judgement  tells me to do whatever Jehovah directs me to do and don’t do a  "Lots wife" with respect to our pets. However, if the situation seems right I would take my 2 cats with me.....but not if it is a risk to my family. 

 

If we get thrown in Jail, perhaps our brothers and sisters can care for them. 

Whatever pain is caused if we have to let our pets go, Jehovah will help with that.  

 

On the other hand we know that animals in general will survive the GT.  Why not our pets?  So maybe we will have our pets. 🐈

 

[Tortuga]

On 11/30/2024 at 6:26 AM, Pjdriver said:

Seriously though, my wife is a cat lady.

Looking at your picture, you are obviously the biggest cat in the house..

[Orey Iness]

On 8/25/2023 at 1:51 PM, Sheep said:

"...born to be caught and destroyed"

I've  thought the same thing. Jehovah knows how much we love our pets and the pain we suffer when they die. Maybe he will extend the lives of the pets we love.