"They could be created in the afterlife by God in the same form as today, with finite souls. "
Yet souls nevertheless and they would be eternal.
"I've seen animal lovers defending the notion on other forums, but their theological evidence is scanty."
Not a big lover of four-footed creatures here myself but there are references about animals in the afterlife or heaven. Not sure what Church doctrine has to say about it, maybe they're silent on the issue.
". I don't see the need for animals in heaven, we have everything, God."
Revelation 19:11 ESV
"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. "
"Where would the "animals" stop, you would only have good dogs and horses that don't bite, and no fleas, ticks, mosquitos, sharks, gators?"
Well I guess of course it would be heaven so these things wouldn't exist. Just think of the Garden of Eden, there were beasts of the field there but they were harmless and were more or less in harmony with man for which God created these beasts to commune with in some way, they might have even had the capability of speech, hence the Serpent. But I'm sure all forms of violence and survival instincts will be unecessary.
Seems God had intentions of animals to be part of his grand design of nature in some way, I'm sure this could possibly continue in paradise.
Isaiah 65:25 ESV
"The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord."
Of course the bible is full of allegory and symbolism, but that sound pretty cut and dry to me about animals having some kind of role in the afterlife. But like I said, I need to see what or if any of the Church fathers had anything to say on this subject, I'm certainly not an authority or about to go all Sola Scriptura to back up animals in heaven.I need to research more on it.