Each and every animal we have loved will leave a pawprint burned into our souls. God made it this way for a reason. That for each pet we have loved well, our hearts shall be "branded" one by one by their pawprint when they enter into Heaven. When our own judgement time comes, these marks, scars bourne out of the purest kind of love, He shall count those burnings and He will recognize these as signs of our being blessed, good, souls. So when you are grieving the loss of your pet, and the ache in your heart continues to be too much to bear: Please remember this little passage. God is searing into your soul a mark of your pure devotion to this, His, animal, so he may recognize it later. The stronger and longer the bond was with your animal companion, the harder and longer the branding on the soul. And He shall cherish the highest those who have chosen to endure again and again, the branding of our departed pets' paws on our Hearts. -Kelty Hamilton (Peridot13). From Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, on May 21st, 2010.