All creatures great and small will be welcome at a north-east church as part of their annual summer blessing service for animals.
Taking a page out of St. Francis’ book, the Rev Kenneth Petrie of Aberdeen’s Craigiebuckler Church will once more lay hands on hounds, and maybe even horses, as the church hosts the special service on June 7.
The church has been conducting the special services for 24 years, and usually between 30 and 50 people attend with assorted animals.
Over the years the congregation has welcomed dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chickens, stick insects, frogs, snails, tortoises, iguanas, snakes and even a horse.
Alongside the many weird and wonderful lifeforms that have come along there have also been waggy-tailed representatives from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Canine Partners and Therapets.
There will be hymns sung and prayers said during the service which is to be held in the church hall rather than in the main church.
Myrna Forrester, who helps organise the event, said it was a chance to “give thanks” to our four-legged friends.
She said: “The animal blessing services provide us with an opportunity to give thanks for the companionship, loyalty and love our pets provide.
“It is also to promote kindness and respect for all living creatures and to pray for those less fortunate animals which are exploited and abused.”
Ms Forrester added that the therapeutic value of animals was “now proven”.
She said: “Children raised with pets are more sociable and pets can help us make new friends and help ease the pain of bereavement.
“In fact so beneficial are animals to our health and well-being it has been suggested they be supplied on prescription on the NHS.
“We’re all really looking forward to this year’s service.
“All animals with their human companions are welcome.”
The service will be held at Craigiebuckler church hall on Sunday, June 7 at 3pm.