St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 1865 Georgia Highway 20, McDonough, is sponsoring a Pet Festival and Animal Blessing Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A scene from last year’s animal blessing event.
“We had a lot of fun last year and this year promises to be even better,” said organizer Marcie Hale.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit will be offering a demonstration of their work.
The event will also include vendors and organizations that cater to pets — including the Henry County Humane Society (which will have pets to adopt), the Henry County Schools Advanced Studies Veterinary Science Program, Puppy Parenting, Noah’s Ark, Barber Burrows (rabbits), Shag to Swag (grooming) and Southern Grace Hospice (they have animal volunteers for pet therapy).
A photographer from will be on hand for individual portraits of you and your pet(s).
There will also be a pet parade around the parking lot, with awards given to those with the best costumes. You do not have to dress your pet up to participate in the parade.
A scene from last year’s animal blessing event.
The Rev. Ann Barker, rector of St. Joseph’s, said that we bless animals because God loves all the creatures that God made. Oct. 4 is the feast of St. Francis, who is known for his love of animals.
There will be a brief blessing service and each pet will be blessed individually.
Usually pets are dogs and cats, but in previous years, the church has blessed a fish, a snake, a horse, a turtle, a goat and a lizard.
If you would like to have a blessing for your pet and he or she is uncomfortable for any reason in larger groups, please feel free to bring a photo, and Barker will offer a blessing.
The church also welcomes stuffed animals and pictures of endangered species.
There will be drawings for gift baskets sponsored by various vendors and a prayer jar for your prayer requests.
“Many amazing pet prizes will be raffled to benefit the Henry County Humane Society, which is raising money for a new building,” a press release read.
Any donations will also go to the Humane Society.
The event will be held rain or shine.
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For more information, visit www.stjosephsmcdonough.
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