ROBERTO - Do animals have souls? Could we have our deceased pets with us in heaven?

JOEL - God created the spirits of all living things before He created their bodies; this includes both humans and all forms of animal life. The combination of body and spirit constitutes a living soul; therefore animals do have souls and were created to fulfill the measure of their creation. They will die and be resurrected and probably obtain some level of glory in heaven.

President Joseph Fielding Smith said:
"The Lord created all things for a purpose. Nothing has he created to be destroyed, but that all things might endure forever. . .
So we see that the Lord intends to save, not only the earth and the heavens, not only man who dwells upon the earth, but all things which he has created. The animals, the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, as well as man, are to be re-created, or renewed, through the resurrection, for they too are living souls. (Conference Report 1928 Oct: 99-100)

The Doctrine and Covenants says:
"For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea;" (D&C 29:24)

Joseph Smith said:
"John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The four beasts were four of the most noble animals that had filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect: they were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God. [See Rev.4:6] (General conference of the Church held on the floor of the Nauvoo Temple, April 8, 1843 HC5:343-44)

According to Joseph Fielding Smith:
"As to where the beasts, birds, and fish, and all other creatures will go after the resurrection we can only express an opinion. John saw many of them in heaven in the presence of God (Rev. 5:13). It is very probable that they, like mankind, will be distributed in the various kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, and telestial. We may well believe that in each of these kingdoms such creatures will be assigned." (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 2)

So our deceased pets may indeed be with us in heaven.