Francis of Assisi, the 13th century patron saint of animals, is honored on the October 4 anniversary of his death. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church has planned a Blessing of the Animals service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 4 in the Garden Columbarium.
According to Father Winston Welty, area residents, are invited to bring well-behaved, appropriately restrained pets—be they dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, turtles, etc.—for this special occasion. Farm animals, including ponies, alpaca, llama, goats, sheep, ducks, and horses are welcome, too.
Welty quipped, “ Venomous pets—scorpions, tarantulas, piranhas, etc.—will be blessed by the Deacon.”
More seriously he explained the event, “This brief service is a way to recognize and honor the great bond and relationship between pets and their people, and the interconnectedness among all living beings. In addition, those attending are invited to bring the collars, photos, and/or ashes of deceased, sickly, or immobile pets.”
There will also be a moment of silence and vigil at the beginning of the service for pets who are subject to inhumane, unethical treatment, neglect, or abuse.