Wangi Wangi Uniting Church has brought forward its annual pet blessing service to be held this Sunday, September 8.
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Reverend Tony Lang, who has conducted the service since its inception four years ago, said the service traditionally was held on the first Sunday of October to coincide with the feast of St Francis of Assissi.
"However, we have had to bring the service forward one month because unfortunately I will be away in October," Rev Lang said.
Rev Lang, who was awarded an OAM for 40 years' chaplaincy service to both the military and police, said that the pet blessing held at the French Road church had grown immensely in popularity each year.
"We have cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, fish, guinea pigs and a whole lot more attend the service. Fortunately to date we haven't had anything like a cow or a horse," he said.
"Initially we thought it could be a bit messy but thank goodness we have had not had a single accident inside the church building. The animals always seem to be well behaved."
Previously, Rev Lang's sermon spoke of the love and devotion that animals share, not only with their owners, but also in the wild.
He has included the true story of 'Greyfriars Bobby', a little west highland terrier who, after his master's death in Edinburgh, stayed by his grave for 14 years, until he himself died..
Pet owners are invited to take their animals to the church this Sunday to be blessed.
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