I Guess All Dogs DON'T Go To Heaven

[filkertom]

I always thought it was weird that there are competing chains of pet "spas". Well, tinrat alerts us to After The Rapture Pet Care, which seems to be legit.

If you have pets, what's your plan if there's an emergency? My sister has a sign on the front door for firemen, telling them to rescue the dog.

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Uh...ur...I'm having a little logical head-explodey thing here. I get that there are business that cater, either sincerely or cynically, to the farther-out Christian beliefs. But the idea is that the only people who will do the work are people who don't believe that it will ever happen and the whole thing is a con? Or that they have found a corps of non-Christians who actually believe that the rapture *will* happen, but choose to spend eternity in Hell in spite of their belief in this branch of Christian theology?

*TILT*

[braider.livejournal.com]

Oh, they're cynical. It's not a con - they *will* provide the service, if the rapture comes. They just don't believe it will.

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

Besides "Viagara in the Water," there's another song by Camille West in my repertoire called "Gettin' Raptured." It (ahem) addresses this issue.

If you wish, I'll sing it at Acorn next fortnight. (Note to self: remember to pack the Bag of Noise.)

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I've heard you sing "Gettin' Raptured" a couple of times--I'm thinking at least once at Acorn. But it's a fun song, and I certainly wouldn't object to hearing it again.

[lizziecrowe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the same thing happened to me when I first heard about these guys, but it is a perfectly legit service. cynical, sarcasasm covered in sweet spice, but FUNNY. :)

[salexa.livejournal.com]

I am having a hard time believing this even after looking at the site. Why would people who believe the Rapture will happen trust their beloved pets to "godless heathen" (or whatever they are calling us these days)?

[braider.livejournal.com]

What choice do they have?

A news article I saw said that they really have to work to find people who are bad enough that they certainly won't be taken in the rapture, but who will certainly good to any left-behind pets. The people running the site really are taking people's money, and - should the rapture come - are willing to take care of the pets, but they certainly have a sense of humor.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

I'm both an atheist (therefore barred permanently from "heaven") and an animal lover.

I have experience with most common types of pets, and I can research any others that come up. I actually thought of this idea a couple of months ago, but never got around to doing anything with it...

Where do I sign up to take care of the hamsters?

[braider.livejournal.com]

*grin* You'll have to email the folks at the website.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

It's tempting, actually.

[braider.livejournal.com]

Yeah - there was a great article on them that a coworker sent me the link for. They're a bunch of atheists/agnostics. One direct quote was, "Obviously, if we believed it would happen, our pricing structure would be a bit different."

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

That's insane crazy. Even at the height of my Christian life (which I'll miles away from now) I would have laughed myself silly over that.

[cathain.livejournal.com]

Thank my gods that I believe in a "heaven" that will accept the animals I love as well as me!

[invader-tak-1.livejournal.com]

I sent this to normalbobsmith.com!

I really hope he comments on this, if its legit or not, its a perfect example of the deep down crazy called "religion"

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about that site!

I still keep one of his pamphlets in my wallet...

[pbrim.livejournal.com]

I'll repeat here what I said on another blog where this came up recently:

Any god that proposed to take me bodily up to Heaven, while leaving my cats behind trapped in the house, to suffer and die of starvation and thirst, believing I had chosen to abandon them, is not a god worthy of worship, from me or anyone.

[danceswithlife]

Amen.

I'm a Christian and I don't believe in the rapture. Therefore this group would say that I'm not a Christian. Their loss.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

I firmly hope that if there is indeed a Rapture (and I am speaking as a former Jew turned agnostic/atheist here), that the Rapture believers are the ones left behind and everyone else gets taken up. The irony would be incredible.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

I just hope there's enough of a warning for people to take care of immediate issues.

Land the plane, park the car, turn off the stove, that sort of thing.

Beyond that, not my problem.

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

That what Camille said:

http://www.camille-west.com/camille_west_lyrics-getting_raptured.htm

(See my comment above to Peter)

[alverant.livejournal.com]

Here here!!

Christianity isn't that specific about what Heaven is like. According to the Bible you just stand around praising God for eternity. That sounds pretty boring (better than being tortured I guess). Then you have the pop culture heaven made popular by Family Circus and Philly Cream Cheese commercials where you stand around in robs all day doing jack squat or whispering advice to the living. That sounds pretty boring too after a while.

What happens when a pet is loved by two people. Who gets custody after everyone is dead? I grew up with a cat named Opus. He was my buddy but when I went to college he eventually drifted over to be Mom's cat. So assuming god lets everyone into heaven (it would be a non-christian god though) would Mom get him when she dies and what happens when it's my turn to go? Does she have to give him up for me or does she get to keep him?

If there's an afterlife, I hope it's not perfect or boring.

[mskauri.livejournal.com]

I heard a bit on this on NPR's All Things Considered last week....gotta say it's a heck of a business model, but not one I'm willing to buy into in any way shape or form.

And to those who have commented about the expectation that there are NOT "No Pets Allowed" clauses in whatever "Heaven" we each foresee/anticipate, I can only say "Hallelujah, and AAAAAA-MEN!"

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Animals are unensouled, ergo no afgterlife for them.

Remember, this is the same god who leaves infants to die of starvation in their cribs by taking their parents away. (Some believe all the babies up to a certain age, 7 or 13, go)

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Grab Pinball.

Put him into the kritter keeper I keep next to the tank.

GTFO.

If it's a true emergency, I won't be concerned with him keeping his tail.
(That's a major concern with cresties, as they cannot regrow dropped tails)

[EDIT] In case of "rapture" I'll still be here, same as always, so there will be nothing to change.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

Your hamster is named Pinball huh? ;)

I suppose it's more original than "Rhino!" (I just saw Bolt for the first time recently)

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

Wow I wish I'd thought of thought of this first.

As for emergencies, it depends on the emergency. I have enough supplies on hand to carry me through a lot of things. In case of fire I can only hope they are rescued by me or the fire dept. Flood isn't a likely problem for me.

[angel-vixen.livejournal.com]

We have a kit made up for each cat (we have two) of basic supplies, and we're getting one of those little "pet rescue" door/window clings. My brother and a close friend have keys to the place and know where the list of specific-to-our-cats instructions/important contact numbers is, in case something happens and we're unable to care for the Feline Overlords ourselves.

Your readers may find these links helpful:
Caring for your pet during an emergency (http://blog.halopets.com/2008/09/09/pet-disaster-part-one/#more-164)
Similar entry on a different blog (http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/resources/disaster_preparedness_for_pets.html)

[msgeek.livejournal.com]

Call me a nut but I kind of think a deity that would take their believers while leaving the non-human part of their family behind is not a deity worthy of worship.

(http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x249/msgeek703/?action=view&current=st_gidget.jpg)

St. Gidget says "Yo no quiero."

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

For those who think Heaven will take their pets - what of the loyal animals we've eaten? Will Heaven have cows, pigs and chickens? How about mice, cockroaches and mosquitoes? Won't the cows be angry at the non-vegetarians?

(Please ignore me. I'm just trying to cause trouble, as usual.)

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Well, in the definition of Heaven I like best, there will be all kinds of animals but since none of them will need to eat anymore, we won't get pestered by mosquito bites. And nobody (human or animal) will be angry at anyone.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

I've always rather liked what E.E. Cummings said in the poem he wrote about his mother:

"if there are any heavens my mother will(all by herself)have
one."

Multiple heavens always seemed like a reasonable solution to the various logic problems a single heaven might create.

And not just for people and animals. Pie also has a heaven, as we learned from Twin Peaks.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I like that idea too. Of course, my personal preference would be for endless reincarnations, in a world that is neither heaven nor hell, but just life. It's more interesting.

I don't believe in any of the aforementioned. But it's what I would like.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I don't have pets right now, but usually when I have, the person who is my emergency medical contact is the same person who has instructions from me for taking care of my pets if something happens to me (temporary or permanent). Since they'd be notified automatically anyhow in case I wasn't able to tell somebody who to call (the information's in my wallet), I expect they'd take it from there. I didn't think to leave a sign in case nobody human was at home in a fire, though.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

I don't know if there is a Heaven or Hell or whatever, but I sincerely hope there is one at least for our pets. They certainly deserve it. I often do wonder if, should there be a Heaven and I go there, will the first to greet me be my two dogs?

Ok now I'm depressed. I miss my boys so much. :(

[saganth.livejournal.com]

I suddenly have to wonder if this business is actually taking in any money. Because as far as I am concerned, there will be no "Rapture", so this is a kind of scam. It's a scam I appluad, mind you.

And I apologise if this offends anyone as normally do not put down anyone's religious views, unless they are views that go out of their way to offend or harm others. Not only do I not believe in the Rapture, but I have serious issues with those who do. It strikes me as the height of arrogance and religious bigotry, and anyone foolish enough to go along with it deserves to be bilked.

[zellion.livejournal.com]

That really sums it up for me too - "A scam I applaud." Couldn't have said it better.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

The good news is that the emergency plans for my pets is as well thought out as the emergency plans for myself. That's also the bad news.

My problem is that I have 3 cats and 2 hands and 2 cat carriers so in an emergency I would have to make 2 trips to the car. Worst case situation is that whoever is hardest to catch gets left behind.

It's like writing a will. You know you have to do it, but you keep putting it off.

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

I an true evacuation emergency if I didn't have enough carriers I'd put them in pillowcases.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

Good idea! My smallest could go in the pillow case. I should still get a third carrier. The big problem would be catching my youngest in an emergency. She's very energetic (to put it nicely) and excitable. When the caca hits the fan she'll claw me to death while I'm trying to save her life.

[batyatoon]

I feel that to make plans of any sort for anyone or anything remaining on the earth after the Rapture demonstates insufficient faith. The whole point is that you're leaving behind everyone and everything that God doesn't deem worthy to be taken up.

These people are trying to have it both ways, and I can't respect that.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

we are all speechless in our little christian household. what a bunch of bull.

[ororo.livejournal.com]

Is anybody else reminded of the Twilight Zone? I can't remember the name of the episode, but it featured a man and his dog traveling down a road. He was invited into one place, but it wouldn't allow his dog. He opted not to go in, but continued on the road.

The next stop, he was welcomed with open arms to what turned out to be heaven, and yes, of course his faithful dog was welcome too. The man said something about not wanting to be in heaven if his dog couldn't be with him

So I wonder why people believe in a god that would take them and not their beloved companions as well?

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I remember that TZ ep! Written by the same guy who went on to create "The Waltons." I also loved that the angel who greeted him at real-Heaven was a jeans-wearing farmer like himself and assured the guy that there'd be some fine square-dancing that night.

[ladyskada.livejournal.com]

I think my head just exploded.
Oh my....

As to my pets, they are all outdoor animals and can fly or crawl wherever they need to. I'm not ever far enough away from home that I couldn't get there in under an hour (or 2.5 hours in blizzards totalling over 2" an hour...)

[wrenn.livejournal.com]

I, cynic that I am, too, applaud this business plan.

Money from fundies pre-rapture... (Money for nothing if it doesn't happen as they believe it will)

And food source locations after, if it does.