Whidbey animals blessed on St. Francis Day

Freeland’s St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods Episcopal Church held its annual Blessing of the Animals this month.

October 13, 2015 5:24 pm
Rev. Susan Gaumer blesses a miniature horse at the Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 4 at St. Augustine's in-the-Woods Episcopal Church in Freeland.
Rev. Susan Gaumer blesses a miniature horse at the Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 4 at St. Augustine's in-the-Woods Episcopal Church in Freeland.

Freeland’s St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods Episcopal Church held its annual Blessing of the Animals this month. Contributed photo | Father Nigel Taber Hamilton blesses a dog during the annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis on Oct. 4 at St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods Episcopal Church.

The Oct. 4 event is held each fall on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. This year the blessing included about 40 pets, ranging from two horses and a pony to a chicken and a rat in addition to the usual cats and dogs.

Several animal welfare organizations joined in the celebration: Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation (or WAIF), Equestrian Crossings which provides horsemanship training for the disabled, Fetch that maintains the island’s off leash dog parks, and Oasis for Animals that provides low-cost spay and neuter services for cats, both feral and domestic.

Dog trainer/behaviorist Diane Garrod also came to answer questions that attendees had about their canine’s behavior. The blessings were conducted by rector Nigel Taber Hamilton and assisted by the Rev. Susan Gaumer.