Churches Respond to the Spiritual Needs of Dogs
As part of a new and growing trend, a Los Angeles church recently opened their doors to dogs needing spiritual guidance. Called the Canines at Covenant Service, Reverend Tom Eggebeen is offering these special services at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The services come complete with dog beds, a special series of prayers for canines, and dog treats. The service lasts for thirty minutes and canine's and their owners are able to worship together. Dog treats are handed out during the offering, prayer requests are taken for pets and special pets are honored, and the hymns at the service are also related to dogs.
This trend of pet-centered religious services is not exclusive to California. While most Christians traditionally believed that only humans have souls that can be redeemed and saved by religion, more and more people are beginning to recognize that canines may be spiritual and have souls as well. After all, dogs seem to exhibit emotion. They show love to their owners, sometimes behaving selflessly to rescue them. They grieve when their fellow canine companions pass away and are sent to rest in a dog urn or below a pet memorial stone. It is not surprising that people would begin to believe that it is possible dogs have a spiritual side that should be attended to.
Over 500 different churches nationwide have offered blessings for animals. Services are also becoming increasingly pet-centric, with examples like Covenant for Canines described above and a similar offering Woof 'n Worship held in a Boston suburb. Those who attended the service in Los Angeles reported to the local news that the dogs were playful, romping and rough housing until the service began and then settled down on their dog beds to listen once the piano and service began. These services not only cater to the possible spiritual needs of their dogs, but also to owners who want to include all members of their family- including their pets- in their religious worship. The services help to foster a sense of community, and may help to revive interest in churches where congregations have aged and/or dissipated and the sense of community has been lost.
Owners also report loving the service and the opportunity to worship with their pets. One owner explained that her dog "knew it was a safe place and a good place to be, a place to be loved," and said she would definitely be returning for another service. Another commented that the ability to bring her dogs to the service might spur her to begin attending church again.
This growing trend reflects, more then anything else, the increased importance pets are assuming in the role of the American family. Many owners consider their dogs or cats to be almost substitutes for children, treating the animals as members of the family. Dogs and cats sleep in their owner's beds, go on vacation with their owners, have funeral services and are honored with a cat urnor a pet headstone, and receive Christmas and birthday presents. It's no wonder they are now also invited to church to worship with their owners.