Blessing of the Pets

The Fourth Annual Blessing of the Pets will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016, on Hendersonville’s Laurel Park Green. All will be welcome to bring pets of any kind to be blessed by Pastor Richard Weidler of the First Congregational Church of Hendersonville.

The event would have been the Fifth Annual, but the planned 2015 Fourth Annual was deluged out. While a few ducks might have been happy with the conditions, they would have been alone in that opinion. Proceedings for the 2016 event will start at 11am and continue until all the pets brought to be blessed are blessed.

The late Jane Peck and her beloved Golden Retrievers.

The Blessing of the Pets was started in memory of Jane Harlow Peck, a Hendersonville animal lover and activist. She was a long-time church member who passed away in 2012 after decades of service to people and animals.

Peck had introduced the “Paws for Love” Therapy Dog Program in Henderson County  and served as its director for many years. (See article on Becoming a Therapy Dog Team). She was also very active in the Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue, the Sandlapper Golden Retriever Club, and the Obedience Club of Asheville. In addition, Peck was an active member of the Hendersonville Kennel Club for 25 years

Parking for the Blessing of the Pets will be available across from Laurel Park Green in the church parking lot at 1735 Fifth Ave. West.  Water and pet treats will be provided.