Boanerges
I am very sorry to hear about your about your dog. I'm a cat guy and have one cool kitty.

I will try to respond to your question (half way down) not with what I think but with the Bible.
May God help me.

Animals were created by the word of God and have living souls which make them different from plants.

Ge 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air,
and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life,
I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. {life: Heb. [b][color:"FF0000"]living soul[/color]}[/b]

I believe though that animals soul is in there blood and is not spiritual like mans so when an animal dies it returns to the earth.

Ec 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward,
and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Do animals go to Heaven? No


Quote
Boanerges said:
... will there be animals in either heaven or the new creation?

[color:"0000FF"]Will there be animals in heaven?[/color] I think so for the whole creation groaneth and will partake in the final regeneration.

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one [b][color:"FF0000"]all things[/color] in Christ, [color:"FF0000"]both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [/color] even in him:[/b]

Re 22:3 And there shall be [color:"FF0000"]no more curse[/color] . . .

Re 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold,
I make [color:"FF0000"]all things new[/color] . . .

Amen and Amen