Recently in blessing of the animals Category

Kimberley Foley purchased the former Kritter Korral pet store more than a year ago, but this weekend marks the official grand opening celebration of the remodeled and renamed store at 1724 Palos Verdes Drive North, Harbor City (at the corner of Western Avenue and PV Drive North).

Dino's Pet Shoppe (named after one of the owner's springer spaniels) will offer three days of special shows, along with vendor booths and other specials.

Here's the schedule:

• Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Bird Experience will put on a bird show. Hand-fed birds also will be on display and for sale.
• Saturday: 11 a.m. to noon, Illusions by Allen, a show featured at the Magic Castle, with "magic with animals;" 1 p.m., ribbon cutting ceremony with the Lomita Chamber of Commerce; 1-2 p.m., reptile and bug show.
• Sunday: 2:30 p.m. Blessing of the Animals to be held in the store's parking lot; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., pet adoptions; discounts on the store's newly remodeled self-serve dog wash ($12 per dog, a savings of $4).

Information: 310-514-4924

There were lizards and birds and a pig and an iguana and an albino python and a sloth and a porcupine and three rats named Diamond, Amethyst and Sapphire. 

While there are several Blessing of the Animals events this weekend in the South Bay, there's also one in our neighboring city of Long Beach.

It's the 9th annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals presented by Haute Dogs, Justin Rudd and Gazette Newspapers at noon Saturday at Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli Way.

Free spay and neuter vouchers will be handed to the first 10 animal owners to visit the Animal Care Services booth at the festival, which also features a series of dog contests, pet adoptions and vendors.

Here's the schedule:

• 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., pet adoptions and vendors
• 11 a.m. Ugly Dog and cute Dog contests
• Noon Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
• 1:15 p.m. Chihuahua Beauty Contest
• 1:45 p.m. Most Photogenic Dog contest (contestants bring two photos)
• 2 p.m. National Mutt Show

There are entry fees for the contests. The pet blessing ceremony is free -- and never boring. Last year's participants included a wildcat, monkey, ground hog, owl, monitor lizard and a 7-foot-long python.

Go to the Haute Dogs website for more details.

 

 

Several Blessing of the Animals events are set for Saturday and Sunday throughout the South Bay.

They have been traditionally tied to the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, with Jewish congregations tying the celebrations to the story of Noah and the flood from the book of Genesis.

For inspiration, we give you Desi, one of two Chihuahuas owned by Daily Breeze colleague Sandy Gerety, in the photo below (that's Sandy's daughter Rachel holding Desi).

If Desi looks a bit terrified, Sandy says it's because she had been having tummy troubles at the time and when the priest went to touch her tummy for an extra blessing, well, Desi just wasn't so keen on the idea.

Coming up Saturday and Sunday in the South Bay (all dogs must be onleash and smaller pets need to be in carriers). Readers are invited to send us photos they take at any of these (or other) events for posting next week:

Saturday (Oct. 2) events:

10 a.m. to 1 p.m., First Lutheran Church and School presents the second annual Blessing God's Creatures Festival. Pets will receive free souvenir buttons labeled "I've Been Blessed." Other highlights include a petting zoo, pony rides, exhibitors, demonstrations, door prizes, free samples, refreshments and a mobile vaccine clinic. 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. Call 310-320-9920.

10 a.m., St. Anastasia Catholic Church invites the community to bring their pets and animal friends. All species are welcome. Every pet will be recognized and blessed for the friendship and companionship it brings. Animals need to be brought in carriers or on leashes. 7390 W. Manchester Ave., near Westchester. Call 310-670-2243 or e-mail parish@st-anastasia.org.

11 a.m., St. John Fisher Catholic Church will hold its 24th annual Blessing of the Animals on the school patio. Monsignior Steven Zak will officiate. Each animal will be blessed individually and receives a "Blessed Creature" badge. 5448 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. This is a free, nondenominational event.

Sunday (Oct. 3) events:

10:30 a.m., Unity Church of South Bay will celebrate with a nondenominational full service devoted to the human-animal connection. Each pet will receive a certificate of blessing and a ribbon. Those who want to honor a deceased pet or who cannot bring their pet are welcome to bring a photo to be blessed. Dogs must be on a leash. Cats and small animals must be in carrying cases. 2545 W. 237th St., Torrance, Call 310-325-2760.

4 p.m., St. Peter's Episcopal Church's annual Blessing of the Animals will include goodie bags filled with treats. a representative from a local animal clinic will also be available to provide free pet care information and to answer questions. 1648 W. Ninth St., San Pedro. Call 310-831-2361.

5 p.m., Congregation Tikvat Jacob invites the community its Pet Havdalah, where people can bring their pets for a special Havdalah service to close Shabbat Noah. The service will include special blessings and treats for the pets and their humans. 1829 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Call 310-546-3667 or e-mail office@ctjmb.org.

 

Events and services organized around blessings for household pets have grown in popularity over the past few years.

Many of this year's events are planned for Saturday, Oct. 2. Among them is the second annual "Blessing God's Creatures" festival at First Lutheran Church and School (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance).

Organizers say they expect about 500 animal lovers to attend the event that includes adoption booths, demonstrations, a petting zoo, pony rides and pet vendors.

At 4 p.m. on Oct. 3, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in San Pedro (1648 W. Ninth St.) will hold its animal blessing, handing out goodie bags filled with pet treats. A representative from a local animal clinic also will be on hand to provide free pet care advice and answer questions.

We'll post a full list of the upcoming events soon (they'll also be listed in the Daily Breeze -- here's a preliminary list, but more will be included in another round-up next week).

All kinds of animals show up for these ceremonies now, from sloths to zebras to horses.

And I just love this photo below that I saw today at the Orland Sentinel's animal blog, Animal Crazy.

In 2005, the Rev. Blake Rambo brought his cat, George Harrison, and his parrot, Toby, for the blessing event at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New Smyma Beach, Fla.

I don't know, but from the look on that cat's face, I wouldn't exactly trust George Harrison to be alone with Mr. Toby too many times.

I've seen that look before. What do you think he's thinking?

Have any experiences (or photos) you can share with our readers about attending one of these events? Or one in particular you'd like to plug that's upcoming? Leave a comment or email me at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.

 

For Perry, who belongs to South Bay dog trainer Barbara Millman. :-)

The special occasion for the Shetland sheepdog took place in August.  

   

He sits so nice.

(If you want your dog to sit that nice, sign up for Barbara's next beginning dog training class. The class starts Sept. 25 and meets at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays for 7 weeks in the parking lot outside Dino's Pet Shoppe, 1724 Palos Verdes Drive North, Harbor City; first class is owners only & you can sign up in advance at the store or on the first day of class. Cost is $75 and that allows you to bring your dog back free anytime for refreshers).  

It's almost time also for the several "blessings of the animals" held throughout the South Bay in October and November. 

Among them this year is one hosted by First Lutheran Church and School in Torrance
(2900 West Carson Street) set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2.

If you know of others, send the information in and we'll post the details.

 

 

 

 

 

Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes held a blessing of the animals service on Sunday.

John Linder, who works at the church and first suggested the service to the pastoral staff a decade ago, said 112 people attended this year's event, bringing with them 22+ dogs, 3 cats "and 2 very nice snakes." Oh, and one tortoise. 

John sent us the pictures below.

 

Whoa. Bless you, too!

 

 Dressing up for the occasion.

Cats really don't take to new experiences too well.

A friend and I took the Metro rail into downtown Los Angeles where we walked around Olvera Street this past weekend. 

I was struck by all the sweetly drawn animals on Leo Politi's Olvera Street mural depicting the popular Blessing of the Animals event held there each year (by the way, there's a blessing service coming up locally -- at 10 a.m. July 18 -- at Wayfarer's Chapel, but there will be more on that from us later, or just click the link).

I especially liked this girl's basket of cats. Los Gatos.

 

 

 

 

 

A tortilla chip please? 

Last but not least, here's Lola. She's quite real -- and very hungry. She was waiting for her mistress, in the foreground in the blue shirt at the far right, or anyone else to take pity and hand her a bit of that authentic Mexican food.

 

It seems that Covenant Presbyterian Church in Westchester (at 6323 W. 80th St., at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and 80th) is the most recent congregation to offer a monthly worship service where people can bring their dogs. It's called "Canines at Covenant."

Read more in the Associated Press story.

 

 

There's even a YouTube video: