Company to Care for Pets After Rapture

Millions of Americans believe that the righteous will be taken to heaven after the Rapture—unfortunately, their pets may be left behind. The solution: Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, a company that promises to rescue and care for those abandoned by their pious owners. More than 100 clients have committed to a $110, 10-year contract, which guarantees that their left-behind pets will be put in a home and cared for—by an atheist.

"Pets don't have souls, so they'll remain on Earth," explains the founder of a biblical prophecy website. "A lot of persons are concerned about their pets, but I don't know if they should necessarily trust atheists to take care of them." That's the challenge for owner Bart Centre, notes BusinessWeek: Convincing his clients that his rescuers are wicked enough to be left behind but good enough to care for their pets. His rescuers, animal lovers who have cleared a criminal background check, "take this very seriously," he says—though he may not: "If we thought the Rapture was really going to happen obviously our rate structure would be much higher." (More pets stories.)