On Sunday 1st of October the Chapel in the Garden held a special Pets Day service. It was part of international celebrations of World Animal Day which helps bring people together to increase awareness and improve education worldwide so pets and animals can live the lives they deserve. It’s an annual event on the 4th of October, teaching about kindness to animals, their rights and welfare across the globe. It has been marked since 1925, with a growing international community striving to end the needless suffering of all animals.
Angie Porter, who led the service, chose a range of prayers, poems and stories as well as songs to help the congregation celebrate the life of their pets, she explained “Pets are a great way into “presence” and they remind us how to walk a more mindful or spiritual path. I love that we made space in the service to light a candle to remember animals that have been in our lives and also to celebrate and be grateful for them. We are currently planning a “pets corner” as a permanent memorial for the Dogs and Cats of Dorset”. The service ended with everyone singing Cat Steven’s “Love my Dog” The congregation seized the opportunity to bring their pets to the Chapel, Angie, who is Australian, brought her dog called Bruce, who was joined by Pixie, Queenie and Pretzel and they all behaved beautifully.
Part of every Unitarian service at the Chapel includes an opportunity for the congregation to come forward and share their joys and concerns. Many people spoke of a pet at home; a wonderful cat called Sweetie and shared memories of pets they had loved and lost. Margie Barbour spoke of her great love for an Irish Terrier, “I bought Bridie when I was directing Grange Hill. I was so busy at work I had to have somebody come in during the day to care for her but like so many people, I had no idea that the love of a pet could so take over your life. And of course Bridie had to appear in one of the episodes of Grange Hill, and her death was heartbreaking.”
On the first Sunday of every month there is a children’s gathering at the Chapel called the kindness club. The minister Reverend John Harley told of their activities on this Pet Sunday “ In Kindness Club we painted animals using our handprints in celebration of pets and the animal kingdom- while the adults had their pet service in the chapel. It was a great chance to get messy and creative- and we enjoyed a story and a song.”