Yes, I believe God loves the animals He created.  The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that animals have a spirit. In the Book of Revelation God says by implication that animals have a soul. God created the animals first for His pleasure then for ours. In the Psalms it says God watches the sea creatures at play. In Psalm 104:30 it is stated that God's Spirit gives them the breath of life.
       In the Book of Proverbs God calls people "wicked" who abuse animals or do not take care of them properly. God instructs hunters in the humane method of hunting. He forbids killing any mother with young or eggs. In His compassion He does not want them to starve to death nor for a species to die out.
       God commands that oxen treading out the grain not to be muzzled. They should be allowed to eat while working. In the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis God rested from His work of Creation on the seventh day. Later in the Bible God tells us He provided that day of rest for the animals just as He did for humans. We are to allow them to rest for 24 hours at the end of the work week. Their bodies like ours must rest one day in seven in order to be healthy, promote long life, and renew their energy.
       God communicates with animals and they with Him. Several Bible passages speak of animals looking into Heaven and seeing God's face. The wild animals look to Him for food. The ravens know it is He who feeds them. After the universal Flood that covered the earth God made a covenant with the animals that He would never again destroy the earth by flood. Genesis 9:9-17 says God placed the rainbow in the clouds as a token to remind man and all the animals of His covenant with them. A covenant must be understood by both parties. When animals see rainbows they know by instinct from God that they are seeing His promise to them.
       What does God's love for animals mean for us? In Matthew 10:29 God says as our Father He is with each sparrow that falls to the ground. Psalm 104:29 says God is merciful when animals die because He simply takes their breath away. Matthew goes on to say, "but the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
       For those of us who have accepted God's free offer of salvation Jesus said when He was gone back into Heaven, He would send us the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter. Sometimes we need that comfort when we lose a beloved pet that God has entrusted to us.
       "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me (Jesus) before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in Heaven." If one confesses that he has repented of his sins and accepts Jesus as LORD and Saviour, Jesus will confess that person to God as belonging to the family of God. We become one with our Creator.
       If you believe in your heart that Jesus died on the Cross to atone for our sins and
that God raised Him from the dead and confess this with your mouth, you will be saved. You will not suffer eternal seperation from God but will live with Him forever. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
       Yes, God loves the animals He created, but He loves us even more.