Kathy McDonald with her service cat Mickey.
Kathy McDonald with her service cat Mickey.

Hope Lutheran Church held their annual Blessing of the Animals Worship Service on Saturday morning. Miniature donkeys, llamas, birds and alpacas joined the many cats and dogs in attendance. Pastor Barry Hunteman officiated and the Spirit Singers performed.

The Blessing of the Animals usually draws an attendance of about 300 people and animals. The event is under a tent on the church grounds.

“This blessing started as a way to minister in the community,” said Pastor Hunteman. This will be his last Blessing of the Animals at Hope Lutheran for the soon-to-be retired minister. 

He opened the service welcoming everyone to the Big Top, saying the only thing missing were the lions, tigers and bears.

This event is put together by a large team of volunteers spearheaded by Bill and Margie Shelly.

“We attended this event several times,” said Bill Shelly. “We were asked to lead and have really enjoyed it. We have a great base of volunteers who have done it for years.”

Many in the audience have also attended for years.

Bridgeport at Lake Sumter resident Joanne McKay with her Scottie Katie in the middle. Her two Havernese dogs Poppy on the left and Roxie re part of the Canine Assisted Therapy.
Bridgeport at Lake Sumter resident Joanne McKay with her Scottie Katie in the middle. Her two Havernese dogs Poppy on the left and Roxie re part of the Canine Assisted Therapy.

JoAnne McKay brought her three dogs. Two of which she takes to nursing homes and schools as part of the group Canine Assisted Therapy. All of the dogs used in the therapy group are AKC trained and certified. Drawing a lot of attention was the five month old miniature donkey owned by Maxine Owens and the llama and alpaca owned by Steve and Tincey German. The Germans have about thirty llamas and alpacas at their farm WillMark Alpacas in Summerfield.

They invite people to come out and see them and tour the farm. Owens says she does not plan to get another donkey.

Maxine Owens with Jose.
Maxine Owens with Jose.

“I am 75. Who wants to inherit a donkey?”

Kathy McDonald brought her service cat Mickey. McDonald has seizures. Mickey senses when she is about to have a seizure before she even realizes it. By the cat alerting her, it allows McDonald to get to a safe place to sit so she doesn’t fall. She has had Mickey for three years. Her previous service cat she had for 18 years.

“Losing him was very hard,” said McDonald. Mickey was decked in a Halloween hat knitted by McDonald.

Blessing of the Animals is an annual event at Hope Lutheran Church. To find out the date for next year’s event contact the church at [email protected].