Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things for the journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man's dog with them. If God used his resources to protect a boy and his dog, this would seem to indicate other resources may be available for dogs. Some Mensans report that they pray for the well being of their sick cats and dogs.
Many churches hold special services for animals.
The services are held annually in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The pets even include toads, llamas, goats, and donkeys. Perhaps it was too hard to convince the natives to denounce their belief in animals in heaven when the Bible specifically refers to it. The sun dance reflects relationships with nature that are characteristic of Native American religion, and includes symbols of various animals, particularly the eagle and the buffalo, that once played vital roles in the lives of the people and which still hold sacredness and special powers. According to Navaho religion, the soul after death assumes the form of an owl, and the souls of dead Amazonian tribes-people may take the form of hummingbirds.