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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 4, 2004 A mutual blessing By Emily Morris Tidings Correspondent Animal lovers brought their pets downtown Sunday afternoon for a mutual blessing in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Kaj Pandey, 3, sits with his father Deepak waiting to get his fish blessed as people pray Sunday on the Trinity Episcopal Church labyrinth. Photos by Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings The non-denominational ceremony was held to the chorus of about 50 barking dogs in the Trinity Garden and Labyrinth. Some owners brought nervous cats, a rat, a hamster, birds, some fish, and a rubber snake to make up the menagerie. "Take a look at the animals," Rabbi David Zaslow of Hvurah Shir Hadash, told the crowd, "You can't tell the Lutherans from the Methodists and Jews." A short ceremony conducted by Rabbi Zaslow and the Reverend Anne Bartlett of Trinity Episcopal Church was followed by individual blessings of the animals. "God transcends all religions for his love of creation. We are not blessing the animals, they are blessing us," Bartlett said. Christy McKendry brought 5-year-old Misty, her golden labrador retriever for a blessing. McKendry left her two other dogs and five cats at home, bringing their photos instead. Misty was the only one trusted to comport herself properly, McKendry said. Young Kaj Pandy brought his three new fish for a blessing. His father Deepak said Kaj, 3, would have preferred a dog, but is starting out with fish instead. "How do you take care of the fish Kaj?" Pandy asked. With a little prompting Kaj responded that he feeds them and cleans - but his love for animals overtook him and he ran to meet the cockatiels he spotted. Lucy Aycock brought her reluctant 17-year-old cat, Sissy for her blessing. Sissy lost an ear to a dog as a kitten, and perhaps it was that memory that kept her on edge as she was surrounded by barking dogs. Aycock lives in a retirement home with Sissy, "I wouldn't have gone if they hadn't let me take her," she said of her pet. St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals. Founder of the Franciscan Order, he was born a rich playboy before he found religion during imprisonment and became a devout follower of Christ. He is known for his love of all creation, and his feast day is celebrated around the world. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams