You’d think with as long as I’ve been taking newspaper pictures I’d have shot such an event before. I don’t recall ever doing so. The Blessing of the Animals program marked the Catholic feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.
It was a great opportunity to give something back to the Humane Society after they euthanized my constant companion of more than 12 years a couple weeks ago. Hannah was a stray puppy we picked up as a companion for another dog we had at the time. Ultimately she wormed her way into becoming a house dog after he passed.
I got lucky with the image of the cute little girl and her mother with their pair of little chihuahaus. The light was cutting right through the area where the minister was giving the blessings. I crouched low and used him to block the sun. At the other end of the spectrum, during the service I spotted the woman with the cocker spaniel on her lap, struggling to come to grips with a recent diagnosis of cancer for her other dog.
I’ve had a few pets in my time and while it’s been traumatic for me to say goodbye I wouldn’t trade the grief and sorrow it brings for all the memories I have of the joy and laughter each and every one of them has brought into my life.
