Animal lovers agree: Having pet is a real blessing - Chicago Sun-Times
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com August 28, 2011 8:00PM
Pastor Jed Watson says a prayer for Wendy Siedschlag and her dog Chesney during a pet blessing ceremony at Millburn Congregation Church in Millburn. | Josh Peckler~ For Sun-Times Media
Underdog Rescue
The non-profit group has a foster-home network with 24 licensed foster homes. The group's mission is to build a more humane community through animal rescue, adoption and outreach. Most pets are cats and dogs that animal-control facilities and other shelters don't have room for.
Source/More info: www.underdog-rescue.com
Updated: August 28, 2011 8:09PM
Eight dogs, one cat and one snake were all blessed at Millburn Congregational Church's third annual Blessing of the Pets at a special liturgy on Sunday in Old Mill Creek.
"We always talk about the fact that God is the creator of all things, not just human beings. We wanted a liturgy that would celebrate and affirm remembering that the universe does not center around human beings," said the Rev. Jed Watson.
Watson said the animals are always lively and seem to enjoy getting blessed.
Wendy Siedschlag of Twin Lakes, Wis., was among about 20 people who attended the service, which was held outside. She brought Chesney, her 6-year-old beagle, to get blessed.
She is a volunteer with Underdog Rescue, a charity that fosters out dogs and cats. Siedschlag called herself a "foster failure" because she wound up adopting the dog she intended to foster out.
"I'm blessed because Chesney had heart worm when they found him. He was sick for a long while. He deserves now to be spoiled. I don't know how anyone could let him go," Siedschlag said.
This was the first year the animal-rescue non-profit Underdog Rescue group attended the pet-blessing service, according to Alison Storaasli of Ingleside, a Millburn Congregational Church member who brought the pet-blessing idea to the congregation three years ago.
She said she had attended a church in Northbrook that did them and wanted to bring it to Old Mill Creek.
"I think it celebrates the bond between pets and people. They are God's creatures and it felt like the right thing to do," Storaasli said.
She brought Max, her 8-year-old black lab, and her cat Earl Grey, to get blessed. She got Max from Labrador Education And Rescue Network and Earl Grey from Underdog Rescue.
Storaasli said she thought it was a good idea to expose the church to Underdog Rescue, and vice versa.
Underdog Rescue president and founder Joan Boro said she had never attended a pet blessing before.
"It's a wonderful idea. I think it's great for the community and a great reminder for people about loving their pets," Boro said.
She brought the charity's mascot, Brynn, for blessing. Brynn is a three-legged dog who lost a limb in an accident and was abandoned when her owners moved.
Underdog has 13 animals being fostered. The animals include dogs, cats and one bird.
Birds and fish have been among the animals blessed in previous years, Storaasli recalled. However, it was dogs, a cat and one garter snake that received blessings Sunday.
The snake, dubbed Arthur, poked its head out after the other animals had been blessed. Watson prayed over the snake and released it back to the wild.
"He was moved to join us," Watson joked.
29 Aug, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFYYv8CV3-ARgJiX3iUn7_CTW0b1g&url=http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/7272553-418/animal-lovers-agree-having-pet-is-a-real-blessing.html
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