Beatific Beagles

And God and Allah and Jehovah and . . . bless Sparky . . .

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• Mecca
• Long Beach (New York)
• Religion
• Pets

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I've never seen All Dogs Go to Heaven. Perhaps then, it was naive of me to assume from the title that all dogs, in fact, automatically go to heaven. At best, I'm forced to admit that on the topic of canine nirvana, I'm an agnostic. When it comes down to it, no one really knows for sure. So the question of what I can do to ensure my pet's smooth transition from terra to ether has, for years, weighed heavily on my mind. One day, Fluffy's physical remains will find rest beneath the browning ficus tree out back, but I want her soul to find rest with the one who made her.

Speaking to your pets about their deeply personal religious beliefs is never easy. Many of us just assume the beliefs of our pets mirror our own, never considering the ramifications of living with an animal that doesn't share our faith. Perhaps you've mistakenly believed your cat was a finicky eater when, in truth, your choice of cat food just wasn't kosher. Maybe your new puppy's refusal to use its housebreaking pad is due to its need to kneel upon it three times a day while facing Mecca. And who hasn't seen dogs jump into swimming pools every time a person splashes a little water? Turns out, they were probably just trying to save someone. It's important to understand the beliefs of your furry friend so misunderstandings like these can be avoided. And if your pet is without religion, I would think it would be in everyone's best interest to cultivate a little spirituality. After all, eternity is a long time to spend without someone to play fetch with.

This Saturday, as part of their Walk to Save the Animals day, the Friends of Long Beach Animals present the fifth-annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals. The blessing is intended to recognize and honor the bond pets share with their human pals—not, apparently, as a guaranteed listing on St. Peter's VIP list—and eight different clergy people representing multiple faiths will be dolling out the blessings, which seems to indicate that no one wants to take any chances.

Interfaith Blessing of the Animals at Heartwell Park, 5100 E. Carson St., Long Beach; www.hautedogs.org. Sat., 11 a.m.