From The New York Shitty Inbox: Calling All Creatures Great & Small…

(And The People Who Love Them!)

This item comes from my friend Jay at Dog Habitat. He writes:

Hey Heather! Here’s the scoop on the upcoming event on October 3! Could you please post early next week? We’re printing postcards and
posters that we’ll start handing out on Tuesday. THANK YOU!

Church of the Ascension and Greenpoint Williamsburg Mission in cooperation with Unleash: Brooklyn & Dog Habitat Rescue invite you
celebrate your beloved animal on October 3rd at 4pm at the Church of the Ascension. There will also be a service of remembrance for beloved
animals no longer with us — if you would like the name of your deceased animal read during the service, please send an email to ascensionbrooklyn (at) gmail (dot) com or call (718) 389-3831

Follows is the full rundown per the folks at the Church of the Ascension!

This St. Francis day, October 3, at 4 p.m. we will be holding an Animal Blessing and Remembrance service at 4pm at the Church of the Ascension (127 Kent St. between Franklin and Manhattan Ave — emphasize Kent Street, not Avenue!). It is a wonderful service for two reasons. First, animals bless us every day with their presence, their unconditional love and a communication that exceeds anything words could ever convey. Those of us who love animals, who live with them daily, feel as deeply toward them as we do toward humans (sometimes more deeply). On this day we gather to bless them, and ask for their health and joy in the coming year. In addition, we will be having a remembrance of those animals we love that have died. Losing an animal and the lack of closure or ritual around it is very hard for many of us left behind.  We hope that the solemn reading of their names during the service affords some sense of healing and shared mourning over these losses.

Beginning at 3:30 there will be a processional of rescue dogs from Dog Habitat Rescue. If you would like to join the parade we will be meeting at co-sponsor Unleash: Brooklyn (216 Franklin St between Huron and Green St) with the whole array of animals for a solemn, yet noisy procession (incense included) to the church — New Orleans style! If you prefer, you can meet at the church at 4 p.m. There will be tables outside the church to bring awareness to animal rescue concerns and rights issues. All are welcome – cats, dogs and all creatures great and small — inside the chapel for the service. At the conclusion of the service there will be a reception in both the back yard and front of the church replete with animal and human refreshments. Wine generously supplied by Lily from Dandelion Wine and her dog, Bonita (the cattle dog). The event is also sponsored by District Dog. Dogs must be on leash. Cats, rodents and other animals must be in carriers. Teddy bears may roam freely if accompanied by a child.

One such “rescue dog” is the cover canine gracing the flier at the beginning of this post. His name is Buster!

All Creatures Great & Small: Blessing The Animals and Service of Remembrance
October 3, 2010 starting at 4:00 p.m. (the procession of adoptable cuties— including Buster— starts at 3:30 at Unleash Brooklyn)
Church of the Ascension
127 Kent Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Miss Heather

P.S.: I can only hope Draco, the Greenpoint dragon and resident of Kent Street, gets blessed. Sometimes those we love (and, in return, love us) have scales!