Companion animals blessed

Star Beacon

September 16, 2008 08:04 pm

— The enrichment pets brings to the lives of their owners was recognized Monday morning at Austinburg Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
A blessing of the pets ceremony was held there for pets of both residents and staff. Cynthia Ziegler, activities director, says the nursing home has a resident cat, several birds and an aquarium of fish. The cat, however, did not attend for fear of over stimulating the pack of barking, yapping canines.
Jennifer Eppler, spiritual care coordinator for The Hospice of Western Reserve, performed the blessing after reading several passages from the Old Testament. She also read the “Rainbow Bridge” poem to a room of teary-eyed residents and employees.
Eppler blessed each pet individually at the end of the ceremony.
Ziegler says the event was not held for any special reason.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do at this time,” she said. “We’re doing it so our residents can have some fellowship with the staff’s companion animals.”

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