Is it Really “Just a Dog”?

Last updated: November 23, 2023

Since my beautiful Buddy’s passing and going through an adoption process for an elderly dog, I have been thinking a lot about the plight of these poor babies and why there are so many abused and homeless four-legged creatures out there in desperate need of love and homes. It got me pondering some Bible passages I’ve read throughout the years and the mentality I’m sure we’ve all heard… “It’s just a dog.” This is one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever heard uttered, so I’m here to do one of the many things I love to do, and that’s ED👏🏼U👏🏼CATE!

Let’s ask ourselves… what does God Almighty think of animals? Does He think, “It’s just a dog”? I remember finding insights into God’s feelings towards animals surprising… even more so because I’d grown up on church my whole life and had never heard not one person touch on the subject. Considering my findings were news do me (and even surprising to some of my Christian friends I shared with), I decided to dedicate an entire blog post in hopes of sharing what I know and perhaps even learning more from my readers (all six of you 😂).

Let me first say that when I read God’s Word, I give the best effort within myself to completely focus on what I read and to comprehend it before moving on. This often requires an entire study session for one single verse. So when I read Joel 1:20, I had to back up and read it three more times to make sure I actually read that the animals cried out (prayed) to God.

The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Joel 1:20, KJV

Imagine how my jaw dropped when I read that God actually answered the animals prayer in the next chapter.

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Joel 2:22

Did I just read that animals prayed to God and He not only heard them, but answered their prayer? Yep, sure did!

Remember when God sent Jonah to go preach to Ninevah and Jonah didn’t want to go so he ran from God’s calling and ended up in a whale? Long story short (well, actually, not that long; just 4 chapters), Jonah didn’t have much compassion for the 120,000 people that lived there and wanted God to just destroy them and their entire city and God said this to him:

And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Jonah 4:11 KJV

God actually used the cows, along with the people, as the reasons He did not want to destroy the city. Interesting…

And let’s not forget that idiot Balaam🙄. God tells him to do something and the man rides off on his donkey the next morning, totally disregarding God. Well, God sends an angel to basically kill him and it’s standing with a sword drawn in an alley and the donkey sees the angel, so she’s trying to go the other way because.. it’s an angel with a sword blocking the way and she’s like, “Ummm… no thank you, I’ll go around.” Balaam doesn’t see the angel and tries forcing the donkey down the path but when she goes another way, he beats her. They do this three times to the point that if Balaam would have had a sword, he would have murdered the donkey right then and there. At this point, God just goes ahead and gives this donkey the ability to speak so she can explain to her owner what’s going on so he can stop beating her. I know all that sounds crazy, but here it is (kinda long but thought you might want to read it with your own eyes):

24 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

Numbers 22:24-33

This angel tells Balaam that had it not been for his donkey that he’s just beaten, he would have already killed him and opted to keep his donkey alive.

Lastly, there’s this:

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast…

Proverbs 12:10a

I’m sure there’s so much more but my point is, God has a place in his heart for animals and as Christians striving to be Christ-like, we should too!

So it’s not “just a dog”. These are creatures who even God himself loves and expels compassion towards… even a donkey! For me, Buddy was a friend, my partner in crime, the dude who always had time to hang out. He was always photo ready and never said no to a hike. He was never too tired for a run or walk and always encouraged me to GET UP and go do something. He taught me that the simple things in life are what give you the best day ever… like opening your eyes in the morning and seeing your best friend, walking on the grass, or getting a snack.

I really hope you learned something, but it’s entirely possible I’m the last to learn all that. If you have something to add that would compliment the information within this blog, please drop a comment below at the very bottom of this page! I would love to learn more about God’s compassion and love toward animals and I truly have hope I will see my Buddy again one day.