Service extends blessing to animals

OGDENSBURG — Parishioners at St. John's Episcopal Church didn't have to be human to attend Sunday afternoon's service.

About 20 people and their pets helped the church observe the Feast of St. Francis by taking part in the annual blessing of the animals, fittingly held in the church's Garden of St. Francis.

Gathered around a statue of the patron saint of animals and ecology, dogs, a cat and a pet fish each were blessed by Rev. Robert J.D. Longbottom, the church's rector. He sprinkled the animals with holy water, wishing them long, healthy lives.

"They're members of the family. When they're sick, we pray for them. When they pass, we mourn them. They all bring us such joy, so why not bless them?" said Lawrence M. Caufield, a lay leader at the church.

Mr. Caufield said his 14-year-old basset hound, Keeper, has attended every animal blessing at the church.

"Even Catholics are coming!" Mr. Caufield laughed as he waved to John M. and Jane T. Pinkerton, who brought their 11-month-old yellow Labrador retriever, Bailey, to be blessed.

Mrs. Pinkerton and her husband attend St. Mary's Cathedral, a few blocks away on Hamilton Street. Bailey escaped from the couple one day as they were going to Mass, and she headed straight for St. John's, Mrs. Pinkerton said.

"She had a great time, so here she is again," she said.

Debra M. Dority, Lisbon, brought Taz, her daughter's 14-year-old Lhasa apso-terrier mix, for health reasons.

"He's a three-year cancer survivor," she said. "We just came to get him a blessing. Besides, he just loves to get out."

Lexy, a 3-year-old Lhasa apso, is a blessing to William L. and Sheila E. LaMere, the Flackville couple said. Mr. and Mrs. LaMere said this was not the first year they'd brought their beloved pooch to be blessed.

"But he still chases the cats when we get home," Mr. LaMere said.