North Huntingdon church offers blessings for pets, support for animal rescue groups

The Rev. Brenda Barnes gave kisses, and got some, after delivering her Sunday sermon.

The pastor applied a kiss, as well as anointing oil, to animals that were cooperative, as she conducted the annual Blessing of the Pets from noon to 2 p.m. at the pavilion of New Hope Presbyterian Church in North Huntingdon.

“They are offered near the day of St. Francis of Assisi, Oct. 4,” Barnes said. “Francis was known for preaching to the animals because humans wouldn’t listen. He felt that all creation needed to know the love of God.”

Most of the 17 animals Barnes blessed during the event’s first hour were dogs. Some of them responded with their own slobbery signs of affection.

She also offered a repeat blessing to Flash, an Eastern box turtle that is in the care of church secretary Tracy Winzek now that Winzek’s son, Brent, is in New York City. The family has owned the turtle for about 18 years.

The turtles usually live for 25 to 35 years but have been known to survive for more than a century.

“He’s a family legacy in a tank,” Winzek quipped.

“I have blessed horses, goats, sheep and chickens,” in addition to cats, hamsters and guinea pigs, Barnes said. “The most unusual blessing at New Hope was a few years ago — Sebastian, the bearded dragon.”

Among the canine majority on Sunday was Ali, a 4-year-old Beagle mix rescue owned by Susan L. Galik, an Amtrak retiree.

“She’s a reason to get up every day,” Galik said of her beloved pet. “She likes to go to day care and to the White Oak Dog Park. She loves to play.”

Stella, a 4-year-old therapy dog who is part pug and part Jack Russell terrier, also came for a blessing. She was brought by owners Jeannie Sonnenberg and Scott Baldridge of North Huntingdon.

“We visit medical facilities, personal care homes, retirement homes, youth groups and church groups,” Baldridge said. “She’s done reading with autistic kids. We recently started visiting with first responders and veterans.

“When you put that (therapy dog) vest on her, she just gets calm. She loves to be petted and loves to give kisses.”

Humans also were served during the event, as the church offered flu shots.

Donations were collected to benefit the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Verona, which displayed barn owl Cecilia at the blessing event.

The organization received the bird after it was struck by a vehicle. Since one of its wings had to be amputated, it could not be returned to the wild and has instead become an ambassador animal for the group.

Barnes said her church makes regular charitable efforts on behalf of the wildlife rehab group.

“In the past, we collected paper towel rolls, toilet tissue rolls, Kleenex boxes and other cardboard “houses” for animals in their care,” she said. “We also support financially.”

The church has hosted visits by similar area organizations, including Pet Friends of Irwin and White Oak Animal Safe Haven.

“Our goal is to bring awareness to these organizations, to initiate interest and, hopefully, adoptions,” Barnes said.

“New Hope has become a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, and we are in the process of becoming a certified Earth Care Congregation.” she said. “We believe that all of God’s creation is important, and we have an obligation to care for all of God’s creatures — human and nonhuman alike.”