Thank you for your letter – and I’m thankful you want to know more about God. I hope you’ll never lose that interest, because the most important thing we can do in life is to know God and love God, and then do what He wants us to do.

Does God care about animals? Yes, of course He does! After all, God made the animals – every one of them (including dogs and cats and turtles and every other creature we enjoy as pets). And after God had made the animals and everything else at the beginning of the world, the Bible says that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

And don’t ever think that Jesus doesn’t want you to enjoy your dog! Jesus loves you and wants you to enjoy all of God’s gifts to you. When I was your age, my parents owned a dairy farm, and all my life I’ve been around animals. I’m thankful for the happiness they’ve given us over the years; at times they’ve almost been like members of our family. Even today I have several dogs and cats, and I’m grateful for their companionship. Thank God for your dog, and ask Him to help you take care of it.

But I hope you’ll not only thank God for your pet, but you’ll thank Him also for every good gift He gives you – your parents, your friends, your home, and so forth. Most of all, thank God for Jesus Christ, and ask Him to come into your heart and be your friend forever. He is God’s greatest gift.