World Animal Day

It’s that time of year again! World Animal Day and the Feast of St. Francis is October 4^th. You can actually celebrate the Feast of St. Francis anytime in October. Catholic, Episcopal, and Anglican churches will be having pet blessings during the month.

Other religions also have pet blessing but not all of them are in October. Hindus celebrate in February. If you can take your pet to a pet blessing, do it. You’ll never forget it. If your pets are like mine and get easily overwhelmed, you may want to do a blessing at home. You don’t need anything special to do this either. I did some research and found several different blessing for different religions. Take your pick.

Here’s a Franciscan Blessing for All Animals:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. On the fifth and sixth days of creation, you called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this animal. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

If you want to do individual blessings, there are several to choose from. Just substitute your pet’s name and your name for the ones in the blessing.

“Bless, Oh Lord, Abby, and fill the hearts of its owners with thanksgiving for its being. Amen.”

The blessings above are Christian. If you’re not Christian, here are some from other faiths.

Jewish:

Blessed is the one who spoke and the world came into being

Blessed is the one who maintains creation

Blessed is the One who has compassion on the Earth

Blessed is the One who has compassion on the creatures.

(From Morning Prayers)

Native American:

Grandfather Great Spirit,

All over the world, the faces of living things are alike.

With tenderness, they have come up out of the ground.

Look upon your children that they may face the winds

And walk the good road to the day of quiet.

Grandfather Great Spirit, fill us with the Light.

Give us the strength to understand and the eyes to see.

Teach us to walk the soft earth as relatives to all that live.

~Sioux Prayer

Buddhist:

“May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their pain. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people befriend all life. May those of all species who find themselves lost, the young, the aged, the unprotected, be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.”

—Buddhist Prayer for Peace

Other:

“Creator God, make us kind in our relationships with all your creatures and all creation.”

“Rascal, we love you, we bless you, we appreciate you, and we behold the loving Spirit within you. May you be blessed with a long life, good health and a happy home. We acknowledge your presence as a blessing in our lives. Thank you, God, for Your sweet blessing for Rascal.”

I found several videos of pet blessings too. They’re easier to see if you have DSL or high speed internet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gOzgE9z8s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ogGGnq4YMY&feature=related

www.squidoo.com/animalblessings

If you don’t have a pet to bless, or would like another one to join your home, this weekend is a great time to take one home. Saturday and Sunday the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control will have several pets in need of a home at the Neptune Festival. You can see them from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Boardwalk. Their website is www.beachpetpals.org/

If you need extra money to spoil your pet (who doesn’t?), here’s a chance to win $1000. Oust is having a contest and giving away five $1000 prizes and five matching $1000 donations to the Petfinder.com Foundation. To enter the contest, go to www.petfinder.com/contest/oust

Have fun with your pets this month. Maybe you can think of something special to do in honor of them for World Animal Day. I’ll have some ideas for you next week.

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