“We’ll start with a prayer,” said Pastor Amanda
McCullough, and Chloe, a golden retriever, barked
approvingly and impatiently as if she was anxious to get
the pet-blessing started. “We pray for all pets, for all
God’s creations . . . ”
About 16 dogs and a black kitten named Jinx were on
their best behavior during the ceremony, some even
decked out in pearl necklaces and dresses.
Rev. McCullough said that Christians everywhere
celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4
by blessing their pets in the spirit of this patron
saint of animals and the environment.
“We have done it for three years, and we do it on the
Sunday before that date,” she said of the pet blessing
at St. Jude. “We hold brief prayers and individual
blessings of all the animals and their owners. We also
pray for healing and that all pet owners are spending
their time and money on their pets as they should.”
Aside from a couple of hisses from Jinx, who had to
leave early because she was a bit overwhelmed by all the
dogs, not a mean bark was heard.
Casper, a cream-colored Chihuahua, came with his owners
Ronnie Butts and David Ronzello. Mr. Butts and Mr.
Ronzello told Rev. McCullough that Casper was in dire
need of a blessing, because he has a bad habit of
running away – he escaped his collar once during the
ceremony – and is too trusting of strangers.
“We call him Casper, after Casper the Friendly Ghost,
because we never know when he will disappear,” Mr. Butts
said.
Casper likes to frequent the South College Road-Oleander
Drive intersection, Mr. Butts said.
“The busiest intersection in this city and he just jumps
into people’s cars,” Mr. Butts said. “Last week he was
on ‘vacation’ in Southport before we found him and got
him back.”
Liz Beach had decked out her mixed-breed lapdog Brie in
a pink dress with a pink headband.
“She’s got all sorts of clothes,” Ms. Beach said.
“Mostly feminine, but she has some butch outfits too.”
Ms. Beach said Brie hadn’t exactly been pampered by her
former owners, so she had decided to change that and
spoil the nervous little dog rotten.
“She likes to be the only dog, the center of attention,”
Ms. Beach said. “And she deserves it.”
Deacon Twinkle Gordon, who donned an animal-print stole
over her white robe for the occasion, read The Rainbow
Bridge story, a tale about where animals go when they
die.
Standing beside Kira, her purebred German shepherd, Ms.
Gordon cried along with some listeners while reading the
story, thinking of some of her pets that had already
gone on to Rainbow Bridge.
Most people who have pets don’t have just one, she said.
A pet owner usually has more than five pets in a
lifetime, she said.
“And all these animals put a print in our hearts,” Ms.
Gordon said. “If it’s a person, it’s ‘Thanks,’ ” Ms.
Gordon said. “But an animal is so grateful. Give them
water, a pat on the head, food and they will reward you
with giving everything that they have to you.”
Some people say “dog” is “God” spelled backward, Ms.
Gordon said.
“I think there is something to it,” she said. “Pets and
especially dogs have that unconditional love we talk
about with God.”
After the blessings and prayers, which took about half
an hour, every dog received a collar pendant with an
image of St. Francis.
“We’re here for pets, for people,” Rev. McCullough said.
“We’re here for all God’s creations.”
And as if she had been asked to assist Rev. McCullough
in the pet-blessing, Chloe barked again like she was
saying “Amen,” and rolled over in the grass.
Majsan Boström 343-2075
majsan.bostrom@starnewsonline.com
