At 10:00 A.M., October 4, chauffeur your leashed creature(s), great, small, and in-between, and bring a chair for yourself to the Village Green on Frank Allen Road.
It’s time for the annual Blessing of the Animals.
Be ready for music, prayers, woofs, and meows. Well-contained feathered friends and reptilians are invited too. Every pet is a blessing to its owner and welcomed to a special St. Francis blessing itself.
You’re encouraged to donate one or more of the following to Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society: monetary gifts, items like blankets, rugs, towels, healthy treats, unscented cat litter and/or canned dog and cat food.
The tradition of Blessing of the Animals in the Cashiers community was initiated by the Church of the Good Shepherd. Other area churches join Good Shepherd, continuing their tradition of animal and pet blessings. It’s in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all of God’s creatures. St. Francis, whose feast day is October 4, wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things: “All praise to you, O Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
This reminds us of Scottish Sportscaster Andrew Cotter, who says his pets are all about seizing the day. St. Francis and Cotter are peas-in-a-pod, a few hundred years apart.
Here are Life Lessons of the wise ones:
Start with a good breakfast,
simple and healthy
Be grateful for what you have
Wallow on something familiar
Beat your happy tail on a door like a drum
Walk often and smell stuff
Shake any parts that require it
Be less interested in yourself and more in others
Before bed, enjoy a treat, but only one. Moderation, you know
It’s okay to sleep with your tongue lolling
Be grateful for food, warmth, safety and most of all, love.
These things are a blessing Cotter offers to his two dogs daily.
The Village Green will provide water and trash cans for the animals, Make sure they are leashed or otherwise secured and under the owners’ control at all times.
For more information, contact the Church of the Good Shepherd online at goodshepherdofcashiers.com
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