St. Francis of Assisi became known as the Patron Saint of Animals because of his endearing devotion and tenderness towards all animals. Throughout his life and travels, St. Francis preached and demonstrated love and care for our animal companions. Today, we celebrate his legacy with the "Feast of St. Francis." It has become a special day for people and their pets that is celebrated the first weekend in October with an event called the Blessing of the Animals. The annual Blessing of the Animals promotes compassion for all animals and offers individuals with pets an opportunity to reflect upon the positive impact animals have on our emotional and physical well-being.
Although my girls and I were excited about going to the celebration today, it was a bittersweet day. After returning home from this event that celebrated my dogs and what they mean to me as well as my community, I sat down and read the weekly breed-specific-legislation update that tells all the places in our country where my dogs are considered monsters and not allowed... simply because of what they look like.
It doesn't matter that they have saved lives, that they have helped bring closure to many grieving families, taught thousands of children how to be safe around dogs, helped the disabled through therapy or even comforted abused children who did not know what trust or love was. Cheyenne, Dakota and Tahoe have touched the hearts and souls of those in need.
Yet, many want them destroyed.
I've always said that we can learn far more from our dogs than we can ever teach them. The way they accept people without judgment, the way they love so openly. They do not have egos nor do they know revenge or how to be vindictive, and although their hearts are just as fragile as ours, one of the most admirable qualities of the dog is their ability to forgive. A dog can sense good and evil, fear and anger, sickness and death, and can teach us about trust, loyalty and forgiveness...things that seem to be lost in todays world.
So tonight, as I do every night, I will thank my lucky stars for these incredible animals for I am truly blessed. Then I will say a prayer, as I do every night, that someday I won't have to imagine what it would be like to have my dogs looked at and treated as the heroes that they really are.
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