Chewing up the garbage can: Sin?

        After our Bible lesson on the first part of Jesus’ crucifixion, I had a rather interesting, if impromptu, discussion with my class of 8 second graders. It went something like this.....

Student 1: “If a pet dies before it’s owner, is there a special place in heaven for it to go and wait?”
Teacher: “I’ve never read in the Bible where it says there is a place for pets to go. I don’t believe that they go to heaven because they don’t have a soul. We have a soul and we know what is right and wrong, we know what is sin. Animals don’t have a soul like we do so they can’t sin.”
Student 3: “But what if your dog chews up the garbage can? Isn’t that a sin?”
Teacher: “It’s not a sin. The dog doesn’t know it’s wrong, even if you’ve told it several times not to do that. Now if you chewed up the garbage can, it would be a sin because you know it’s wrong.”
(Laughter all around.)
Student 2: “I think if there is a special place for animals in heaven then the donkey that Jesus rode on will be there.”
Teacher: “I think if there is a special place in heaven for animals the donkey Jesus rode on would certainly be there. Now, let’s get ready for math!”