When I was around 12-13 I asked that exact question and I got the serious reply of the animals “Talk to you” like humans you can understand their language. (My religious grandmother who new i liked animals)
This is strange because it tells me she didn’t know the answer she just responded with something she thought I might like I “Assume” or she actually believed that who knows. It was very odd though and not convincing. I also got told the streets were gold and you’d love it there and get to talk to your loved ones forever. The longer I considered it the more unpleasant it sounded. I don’t know what it’d do i don’t have connections to my dead family members and most of them are creepy so no thanks.