Star billing for Fitcha and Ferris at St John’s blessing of the animals
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The blessing of the animals, marking St Francis’s Day on October 4th brought a host of pets to St John’s Green. Once again, Ferris Mueller, a mule resident at the October Dream Animal Sanctuary in Voluntown was the center of attention. Ferris was joined this year by a 30-year-old mare, Fitcha, who quickly appointed herself as head horse after she was rescued by October Dream.
Fitcha, a hit with St John’s junior members, was rescued after her owner became too disabled to care for her.
Among the dogs receiving a blessing was Ramapo, in training to be a service dog for veterans. Ramapo spends weekends with Tiffany Caouette and her cat Pete and was at St John’s for his first blessing. He spends weekdays with long-term prisoners in Connecticut.
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Ramapo, who is being trained by America’s Vet Dogs, with Tiffany Caouette and Mother Jackie.
There were plenty of other newcomers making themselves available to be blessed with holy water and a prayer. Once again, this year they included many welcome visitors to St John’s.
Jax, Zena and Sammy with their owners Carol Bunnell and Mark Higham (left) and Willybean, a Belgian Bouvier, who belongs to Tim Fitzpatrick and Carrie Marks.
Cindy Auth brought her Maltese Yorkie, Toby, who will turn 17 this year (left). With Duane and Julie Witter was Bea (full name, Glory Be!), a Portuguese water dog (center), and with Diane Scully, her cavapoo, Charlie.
In her sermon, Mother Jackie described how St Francis of Assisi had allowed the Holy Spirit to guide him into a life of serving God’s creatures, both human and otherwise. She encouraged the congregation to be open to new visions of ministry, including finding the same joy that St Francis did in serving others, and in the wonders of nature and animals.
Focused on the moment: Arthur the brown Dane, Vedder the gray Dane, and (below) Sammy the Staffordshire mix, and Zeus the Weimaraner.
Lily, the pug, Cosmo, a shiatzu with his owner, Diana Gregory, and Bitsy, the cane corso, were at home with blessing procedure...
…Jax, the long-haired dachshund, chose a different orientation.
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A double-handed blessing for Fitcha.
Although October Dream has been an official 501c3 charity only since 2023, Amy Gannon-Carson and her husband Bill Garson have been rescuing animals since 2019. They keep cattle, goats, pigs, chickens, and Ferris, the mule.
Ferris Mueller, was making new friends on Sunday.
Amy and Bill are developing October Dream as a center providing animal-assisted therapy. They rely on donations to run the sanctuary. https://odsanctuary.com/please-donate-1
Like all our pets, an unofficial support animal, Mother Jackie’s dog Gus.