In addition to considering animals in the canonical gospels, where I will largely proceed by topic (eating animals, working animals, animals at metaphor, etc.), I also plan to work through some of the extra canonical gospels as well, in which I will proceed throughout one gospel at a time. These issues will ultimately intersect: one can analyze how the different kinds of representations of animals in the canonical gospels and extra-canonical gospels intersect.
I plan to begin the extra-canonical investigation with what is largely considered the most important extra-canonical gospel: The Gospel of Thomas.
The Gospel of Thomas includes references to animals or animality in the following sayings: 3, 7, 8, 39, 47, 60, 86, 90, 93, 102, 107. Most of these parallel the canonical gospels; others do not. I hope to work through a couple of these per posting with my own translation of the Coptic (and sometimes Greek) as I proceed. Keep an eye out of these if you are interested!
Jaeda Rising & Reborn: Ancient Jewish & Christian Crossings & Transitions 