Question from a reader:

I just read your story of losing your sweet dog, Moses. I wept and wept as I read. I’m a Christian and am having such great difficulty with the suffering and death of animals everywhere. I have prayed for understanding but can’t find peace. I have begun to realize it is the curse of sin. How do I stop the pain and find peace?

Answer from Julia (Stager) Mayo, former EPM research assistant:

You are very right about the extent of devastation brought on the entire earth due to the curse. The amount of pain in the world is terrifying, but that pain is bearable when we remember God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. Our world is moving toward a day when there will be the New Heavens and New Earth, where things will be right and such pain will be no more. 

This present suffering, of all types and as terrible as it is, is fleeting while the hope of peace we look forward to is eternal!

Below are a few links that I hope will be helpful, encouraging, and biblically informative regarding God's love for animals.

http://www.epm.org/resources/2011/Apr/30/q-it-wrong-grieve-loss-our-pets-video/

http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/3/will-there-be-animals-heaven/

http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/May/20/why-did-god-save-animals-flood-audio/

http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/May/20/why-was-meat-first-given-people-eat-audio/

http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Jan/18/are-animals-capable-praising-god/

http://www.epm.org/static/uploads/downloads/12_Chapter_39.pdf