DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac community members and residents with furry friends and animal companions can attend a blessing of the animals hosted next weekend.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is hosting its first ever public blessing of the animals from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 on the James Snow Building lawn, 302 S. Front St. The blessing of the animals is to honor St. Francis of Assisi.

Many churches internationally, particularly Catholic and Episcopal churches, celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi by hosting animal blessings, said Karen Judd, who has been a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for more than 30 years.

“Because of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, this is a routine thing,” Judd said. “I mean, he loved animals.”

Most commonly, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi is recognized during the first weekend of October.

“Many churches throughout the country actually bring the animals right into the church for the blessings,” Judd said.

While a majority of churches will hold blessings of the animals on Friday, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church decided to make their blessing public and instead host it on a Saturday, because the church has a Saturday evening service.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Reverend Diane Pike will be giving the blessing of the animals.

“We’ve never done it here, none of our churches have,” Judd said. “So, this is all new.”

Judd said in the past, members of the church have brought in their animals for blessings when the priest gave permission, but this is the first year the church will be doing an event open to all animals along with their owners. The only animals the church is asking community members not bring are snakes and spiders.

Judd said she is unsure about the response the event will receive but is hoping to see some unique animals show up to the service.

“I don’t know what kind of response we are going to get,” she said. “We might have five animals here, who knows. I am hoping someone will show up with a rabbit or a goat.”

The church is also encouraging children with stuffed animals to bring them to the blessing event.

Treats and water will be provided for the animals on behalf of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Judd herself does not have any pets, but regularly visits and watches her “granddog” and “grandcat” and noted how much pets mean to people.

“I think people love their animals,” Judd said. “They feel comfortable and secure with their animals around them. I think pets are special.”

Judd added that pets can offer companionship and friendship, especially for those who are elderly.

“This is one way of showing how much our pets mean to us,” Judd said as she hugged her “granddog,” Carmela.