[ WP ] When you die , you do n't go to the afterlife of you 're religion , you go to the afterlife of the religion whose tenets you followed most closely , knowingly or not .

`` Huh, what? Where am I? Todd? Here boy! Are you okay?'' 
 
 The small mutt trotted up to Sam, beaming and wagging his tail. He was a good boy. Sam told him that often. 
 `` how did we get here? `` Sam said absentmindedly to Todd as he knelt down to scratch around his collar. `` the last thing I remember is... I ca n't really recall.'' Sam looked around. 
 
 His surroundings seemed to suddenly appear around him. He was in a green field, the sun shone warmly on both Todd and him and he felt a wonderful calm in his heart and body that he had never experienced before. It was just him and Todd. 
 
 Then there was another being with them. Todd acknowledged it first, humanlike but also doglike. It smelled familiar, more familiar than anything Todd had ever smelled and longed for. It smelled like Sam. It smelled like love. 
 
 The Being led Sam and Todd across the field. The landscape changed quickly and beautifully. They were now in a mountain valley, the grass was long and luscious, Todd dipped low and rolled through the greenery as they walked along. 
 
 This is heaven, thought Todd and also, `` Sam.'' 
 Todd could n't be any happier than when he was near his buddy. 
 The Being opened it's hand and created a ball made out of bacon and held it down at Todd's level. The meat smelled overwhelmingly delicious. THROW! THROW! thought Todd eagerly! 
 Todd raced after the spiralling pork projectile, his ancestors, his wolf brethren at his sides, hunting as a pack. 
 
 Sam watched as his small companion gracefully and powerfully made after the Being's hurled dog treat. He had adopted Todd 8 years previously from a shelter when Sam turned 32. Todd had many anxiety problems caused by abusive previous owners. It had taken more than a year of visits from Sam to the shelter to coax Todd to come home with him. It was the best thing for both of them. 
 
 Sam's second marriage ended when he was 29. Many negative decisions later and his life nearly ended two times by his own hand when he was 31. Todd came into his life by a random fluke, a much needed miracle. They were miracles to each other. Sam was 40 the day Todd followed a squirrel into traffic. Sam had always been irrational when it came to his little buddy. 
 
 `` Your assumptions are correct Sam, you are in dog heaven.'' The voice came washing over him. 
 
 `` That's wonderful, however can I ask how I made it here? I mean, I'm not a dog,'' he laughed nervously. `` Am I?'' 
 
 The Being chuckled. `` No you are n't, fear not. You will not remember your previous life, but I can tell you that you showed true love and sacrifice for your canine friend here.'' 
 Todd trotted up to the pair, dropped the bacon ball at their feet, and laid down in the wonderful grass. 
 
 `` Actually,'' continued the Being's melodic voice. `` I want to be completely honest, in your previous life you also met all the proper lounging and eating requirements for dog heaven. You exceeded the requirements for marking your territory and catching Frisbees. You were loyal to a fault and happened to also save a life which does n't hurt on a heavenly resume. You had the optimal level of disdain for felines, but never caused one any harm. You were comforting and friendly, not to mention you really excelled at being Todd's owner. It's hard to believe you waited so long to get involved in a dog's life.'' 
 
 `` Wow,'' said Sam. `` Uh, so was I only good by dog heaven standards? What about regular heaven? You know what, do n't tell me.'' He was at peace. 
 
 Sam bent down and stretched out beside his sleeping buddy Todd. He reached out a hand and saw that his arm and hand were actually glowing radiantly like the Being that had also laid down in the grass, petting the heads of two very happy and excited dogs. 
 
 So what does this mean? 
 
 `` You're a dog heaven guardian now Sam.'' The answer came to his mind the second the question formed. 
 Sam noticed for the first time that the field around him expanded out further than he could see, but also just a few steps away. Millions of dogs lazed in the sun, rolled in the grass, and played together within the mountain valley. 
 
 `` So can I make those bacon treats too?'' one appeared in his hand an instant later. 
 
 `` you'll get the hang of heaven pretty soon,'' said the Being, standing to his feet. `` come on you too, how about we go swimming?'' 
 
 It did n't need to be asked twice.
