Do dogs have souls?

Different religions have expressed varied views as to whether dogs too have souls. Some religions, such as Catholicism, have also altered their perspectives over the years.

In 1990, Pope John Paul II, then leader of the Catholic faith, said animals did not have souls. However, Pope Francis expressed a contrasting view in 2014. People who practice Islam generally believe animals have souls. Hinduism too believes that all animals have souls and they are part of the reincarnation process. In the Jewish faith, there are varying opinions as to whether dogs have souls, which differ based on branches of faith and even individual rabbis.