Wyandotte Church Celebrates Blessing of Pets

The front pews of were occupied Tuesday night, but not by the usual crowd. Unlike during most worship sessions, some of these churchgoers had four legs and a tail.

Pet owners brought their beloved furry friends to be blessed at the put on by in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.

Several legends about the saint involve animals, including one where he tamed a wolf terrorizing a town and made peace with the beast.

“Animals, pets in particular, really are objects of love and affection for us, and they return that,” said the Rev. Jerry Brohl, pastor of St. John XXIII.  “And so there often is a very meaningful love relationship between people and their pets, and that’s a symbol or a sign of the love God has for us as his children.”

The blessing was not just limited to church members. Brohl sent out fliers to local veterinarians and police K-9 units inviting them to attend.

Sandra Schlipp of Wyandotte brought her 4-year-old miniature doberman, Max, to be blessed.

“I think it’s great they have something for dogs,” she said. “Dog spelled backwards is God, you know.”

Following the blessing, workers from gave an animal CPR and first aid demonstration to pet owners to show them how to properly care for an injured or choking pet.

“It’s very important to know (CPR) on your animal,” said Cindie Loucks, owner of the pet sitting company. “That way, you save a lot of time by starting CPR. It’s good, if you start it, to yell for somebody else to come because there’s not a doggie ambulance you can call.

“It saves precious time from the time you find your animal until you get him to the vet or the emergency vet,” she said.

In addition to swappinig pet care tips, attendees also had a chance to enter a raffle for pet-themed gift baskets and purchase some homemade pet treats.

The common bond between everyone there was an appreciation for canine companions.

“They bring comfort to people,” Schlipp said. “I’ve worked in nursing homes and taken my dog to work with me to bring the people’s spirits up and everything. (The patients) learn to walk all over again and help themselves. (Dogs) are very important on this earth.”