We know of no Bible verse saying that animals will live beyond their life span here on earth. Ecclesiastes 3:19 and 20 says that animals and man each have the same animating life force within them, which at death is gone, and they then go back to dust. People who have believed God’s Word will be raised up to everlasting life, but He does not say the same for their pets.
In that vein, how wonderful it is that God had the idea of domestic animals, and how thankful we are for the joy that a pet brings. Even though when we get a puppy or a kitten we unconsciously know that we will one day weep about its death, we know that the love we will share with them is worth it.
The Bible does say that during the Millennial Kingdom, all animals will be vegetarians, which is why Isaiah 11:6 and 7 says: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” For that 1000-year period, all animals on earth will be tame, so you can have the cuddly pet rhino you’ve always wanted. For more on this subject see our article: “The Dead Are Dead,” we teach about man and animal’s life force and their deaths.
