Years ago, I received a publication that asked the question "What Good are Animals?" Many of the articles dealt with relationships of God, animals and humans. This is my favorite, and I have made copies and always keep one close at hand.
"Dogs in Heaven have almost always belong to somebody on Earth and of course, the dogs remember this. Heaven is full of memories. So, sometimes an angel will walk a dog back to Earth for a little visit and quietly, invisibly, the dog will sniff around his old backyard, will investigate the cat next door, will follow the child to school, will sit on the front porch and wait for the mail.
When he is satisfied that all is well, the dog will return to Heaven with his angel. It is where dogs belong, near God who made them...
They will be there when old friends show up. They will be there at the door."
Cynthia Rylant, Dog Heaven.
Bobbi