Yes, if I recall, we did discuss the soul. As you well know we do leave room for shades of understanding regarding the literal meaning of many Hebrew words. I would be hard pressed to base a doctrine of animals in Heaven, upon the literal interpretation of nephesh as soul. But I won't deny that it couldn't be a possiblity.

I tend to lean more toward the distinction between humans and animals; somewhat in the vein of Pilgrim's post.

SDG,
Dan