Blessing of the Animals: October 2007

Howl-o-ween Pet Parade Video

I didn't make it down to Belmont Shores this weekend due to my doggie boot camp commitment but here is a clip from Justin Rudd at a previous parade with excerpts from TLC.

Halloween Pets: Pet Care & Costume Safety Tips

One-year-old Jay and 2-year-old yellow Lab Jackson

as Superbaby and Superdog by Jeddie Busch, Ashburn.

If you want to see some great Halloween Pet Photos visit this Halloween Pet Slide show at the Washington Post

I've been asked to help hand out prizes to the pet Halloween costume party this Wednesday in Big Bear Lake. Since this is a rural area with no sidewalks or good lighting, everyone gathers in the main village area for trick-or-treating activities.

Howl-o-Ween parties can get really wild. Parties and parades just touch the tip of the iceberg according to the American Pet Products and Manufacturers Association. The group estimates that over 3.7 million dog owners purchase gifts or costumes for pets specifically for Halloween festivities.

Need some Halloween Pet Safety Tips? Here are a few:

Keep animals confined on Halloween. Seclude them safely in a room away from the door and distractions.
Walk pets before dark to avoid any altercations with costumed characters.
House animals indoors just before and during Halloween. This protects pets from pranksters who tease, injure, steal, or kill animals.
Make sure pets are wearing current identification. Many pets get spooked and escape. Unfortunately they end up in shelters without identification.
Keep pets away from costumed ghouls and goblins. Halloween bites are not uncommon. Even friendly animals may bite due to stress, fear, or protective aggression.
Store and dispense candy so that it is not accessible to pets. Many treats are toxic and even lethal to pets.
Avoid the liability that comes from dressing up your pet and sending the critter out trick-or-treating with kids.
Restrict your pet's access to decorations. Jack o'lanterns with candles are obvious fire hazards, but cats can also get tangled in streamers. Pets can also become ill from eating holiday decor.

Pet Costume Safety Tips:

Don't dress up pets unless they love it.
If you do dress pets up make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe.
Avoid costumes that restrict movement, vision, hearing or the ability to breathe or vocalize.
Costumes should not contain small dangling accessories that could be consumed or cause choking.

Halloween can be fun for all members of your family but avoid scary stories by taking some pet precautions to make it a Happy Halloween!

Labels: halloween pet safety tips

Praying with your pet!

This picture was sent into me by my pal in San Diego. I don't know the origin but thought it was appropriate for this blog!

At the moment many of my pals have been evacuated throughout California. The fire is not too far away from us here in the mountains and is not a threat at the moment. The fires I evacuated from not too long ago have formed a fire break of sorts. If the wind doesn't shift we may luck out.

Praying for pets and their owners and all the people who have been displaced certainly is on my list and I hope it is on yours too.

Animal Wise Radio Interview with Diana L Guerrero: October 28th at Noon Central Time--Join Us!

Please join me for another live radio interview airing on Sunday, October 28th at Noon Central time. This time the radio interview is with Animal Wise radio out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mike, Beth and I will talk during the first hour about the blessings of animals and other related topics. The broadcast can be heard in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on KDWA 1460 AM out of Hastings and in the midwest via Premier Radio Network affiliates.

You can also listen to Animal Wise Radio online nationally by visiting the new streaming All Pets Radio or visiting the archives at Animal Wise Radio

Labels: animal wise radio

Blessing of the Animals Book Signing at Rescue Me Sanctuary Fundraiser

Above: Pam Murdock of Rescue Me at the fundraiser held in Big Bear, California.

I don't remember if I mentioned that I have two dogs in the Doggie DI Boot Camp--it is keeping me busy. However, I did commit to doing a book signing at a fundraiser for a local animal charity over the weekend.

Since we currently don't have a pet rescue facility here on the mountain, Pam Murdock (a fairly new resident) decided that would be a project that she could get her teeth into. The early turn out was disappointing but we manage to land feature interviews on Channel 6, a local station.

There were a variety of people supporting the new organization and Pam said she will be heading down to Brea for another one on November 17th. I told her to keep me posted but I hate to drive down when the snow may fly--I keep thinking we are going to have an early winter.

Yesterday, there was a blessing of the animals held locally. They waited too long to invite me to attend (three days before!) so I couldn't attend due to the other commitments on my plate. I trust that it went well. It is the first official pet blessing in any of the churches in this area.

Unfortunately, we tend to be behind the times around these parts so I take this event as a good omen of things to come and that change is in the air.

Many Paths Bookstore Pet Blessing

Above: Ebony & Jenny with author Diana L Guerrero after a pet blessing in North Hollywood.

Most of you are aware that I have been traveling since last Thursday. The pet blessing was an intimate group who stayed for an hour...except for Ebony and her mom--we chatted for a long time after.

This blessing was held in a lovely room and we began with a general pet blessing after sharing some stories and then individual blessings followed by the last blessing--the one from the back of Blessing of the Animals.

The energy was pulsing and after the lovely time I ambled to see the North Hollywood Arts Festival...snacking on Indian food before I headed over to see my artist buddy and heading over to an ecologically oriented art showing at the Metro Gallery.

Next week I have a local event and that concludes my current calendar for the year--except for the Doggie DI Boot Camp which starts today and concludes in November.

On an exciting note, I have been asked to go to Spain early next year and will be looking forward to that event.

I hope you all were able to celebrate World Animal Day & the Feast Day of St Francis with your pets.

Blessing of the Animals 2007

Okay, there are a bunch of animal blessings coming up soon and I thought it was time to put up a page so people can find them easily. If you are conducting a pet blessing or blessing of the animals service just click on the "comments" link and add your event to the list: