| Updated: 10/06/2008 8:35 am |
Published: 10/05/2008 7:46 pm |
For many of you who went to church Sunday morning, you may have noticed it was a little more crowded than usual. Many congregations, like Saint Margaret's in Little Rock, encouraged pet owners to bring their animals to Sunday service for the blessing of the animals.
"Kaiser, may your days be filled with sunshine and good things to eat, and may your owner always treat you with respect and dignity," said Rev. Peggy Bosmyer.
Kaiser, a German Shepherd, and his friend, Annie, a Yellow Lab, are both considered very important members of their families. Both dogs helped these women through tough times when their husbands were sick. "She's pretty special. My husband died a year-and-a-half ago and we got her while he was still here, so she reminds me of him," says Rosemary Siegfried.
Annie was even able to get help when Rosemary's husband fell.
Sunday was also a time for owners to remember pets no longer with us. "It was at that moment that the Lord placed in its chest the heart of the dog and the miracle was complete," recited one member of the congregation.
The blessing of the animals is always held the closest Sunday to October 4th, the Feast of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals and ecology. The ceremony isn't just for cats and dogs. Exotic birds and hermit crabs are welcome, too.
"We had a horse here once, which was quite fun. So, mostly dogs and cats, but, you know, spiders, rats, you name it," says Rev. Bosmyer.
Annie had ACL surgery, costing her owner 3,000 dollars. Siegfried says by bringing Annie to the pet blessing, she knows her dog will live a happy, healthy life.
