Despite animal rescue that goes back to the the early 1900s and the recent passage of the PETS Act (Pet Evacuation Transportation & Standards Act), animal disaster rescue education and efforts still fall by the wayside.

The recent fires in California found people still ill prepared for disasters and rescue agencies had little thought for the animals.

There is an answer–but it is up to the pet owners to prepare.

My booklet, Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals was recently updated and a special podcast will be released this week.

Don’t wait for another disaster to hit–take action now!

Pet blessings are on the rise and happening in record numbers according to author and blessing of the animals expert, Diana L Guerrero. The author of BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS shares little know facts about the day when thousands of animals will gather at churches around the world in celebration of World Animal Day and the Feast Day of St Francis.

On October 4th creatures that slither, swim, walk, or fly will gather together to form peaceable kingdoms in locations across the world. It isn’t some mass foray but an annual celebration known to some as the Feast Day of St Francis and to others as World Animal Day.

“Today more than 63% of households in America have pets and so pet blessings are on the rise. A large percentage of them take place in late September and early October due to celebrations of St Francis and World Animal Day–and this trend will continue to escalate.” according to Diana L Guerrero.

Guerrero is a pet blessing expert and author of BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: A GUIDE TO PRAYERS & CEREMONIES CELEBRATING PETS AND OTHER CREATURES (ISBN 1402729677) a new book that explores the long traditions of pet blessings and contemporary trends such as pet parties and pet memorials.

Diana said, “All faith ceremonies and other gatherings celebrate this day. Anecdotal accounts about animal blessings surface frequently, going back to the 4th Century, but actual documentation is scarce. World Animal Day, originally established in 1931, was conceived by a group of ecologists as a way to highlight the plight of endangered species, but it wasn’t until 2003 when it became a worldwide celebration of animal life of all types.”

During her work on BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Guerrero interviewed many spiritual leaders about their animal blessings and discovered that animals catalyze people to cross religious lines to find common ground and that contemporary ceremonies have become mainstream staples of the metro pet crowd.

Pet showers and parties, pet eulogies, yappy hours, pet pageants, howl-o-ween, and many other animal events are on the rise but the celebrations attracting the most animals and pet parents are the blessing of the animals events.

“Blessings are a way to honor animals and the roles they have in our lives. In some areas the blessings still ask for health and fertility of working animals but today most pet owners celebrate the love and companionship they get from their animals.”

St. Francis is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment (ecology) and was the founder of the Catholic Franciscan Order. St. Francis believed that all God’s creations reveal something about the nature of God and God’s love.

“On the Feast Day of St Francis churches across the globe celebrate with blessing of the animals. Here in the United States blessings take place from San Francisco to New York.”

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City attracts thousands of people and animals to its animal friendly service which makes the largest blessing of the animals in the United States. The Holy Eucharist & Procession of Animals takes place from late morning until early afternoon but participants arrive hours before services begin.

“Blessing events are usually peaceable kingdoms.” Guerrero continued, “Sometimes animals are restless, but most cooperate. That is because they have a list of commandments: Thou shall come when called, Thou shall behave in public…”

If you are interested in the other commandments Guerrero included ten in BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: A GUIDE TO PRAYERS & CEREMONIES CELEBRATING PETS & OTHER CREATURES (ISBN 1402729677). The book is available at booksellers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom or online at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

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Diana L Guerrero

Blessing of the Animals (ISBN 1402729677)

ABOUT: BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS is an animal lover’s collection of anecdotes, prayers, and ceremonies for pets and an exploration of animal blessing traditions. The book is a mix of historical fact, fun, quirky descriptions, heartfelt sentiments, and novel ceremonies. Readers will discover contemporary celebrations such as meow mixers, pet mitzvahs, and pet nuptials and learn about the pet party craze, beastly beauty pageants, and the real party animals who show up at yappy hours and seasonal galas.

Review copies of BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: A GUIDE TO PRAYERS & CEREMONIES CELEBRATING PETS AND OTHER CREATURES (ISBN 1402729677) are available to reviewers and journalists. Contact Krista Margies at Sterling Publishing (212) 532-7160 or email: publicity@ sterlingpub.com

This Sunday, September 9th 2007 is National Pet Memorial Day. The tradition was established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories as a way to honor the loss of people’s precious pets.

Diana L Guerrero, author and animal blessing expert said, “Pets are part of the family and the loss of a pet is a devastating experience. What makes it difficult is that traditionally society has not offered pet owners a whole lot of sympathy. Fortunately, that trend is changing and even flushing fish is passé…”

Guerrero has officiated over different pet blessings and ceremonies and is the author of the recently released, Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1893361845). The interfaith guide covers everything from the history of blessing of the animal traditions, how to hold pet parties, to ways to conduct pet memorials. It also includes tips, hints, prayers, and ceremonies.

When researching Blessing of the Animals Guerrero discovered that although pet burials can be traced back between 14,000 and 9,000 years ago, contemporary ceremonies began to escalate in the late 1800s–and today pet memorials are on the rise.

“Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York is the oldest cemetery in the United States and was established in 1896. However there has been a huge increase in different types of pet memorial services and related options within the last 30 years. This coincides with the increase in pet households which estimates say now comprise 63% of all American homes.”

The increase has triggered a growth in pet bereavement services and products. Some of which include pet chaplains, custom made coffins, urns, lockets, and even funerary gems which the manufacturer says can “turn a man’s best friend into a girl’s best friend.”

Guerrero said, “The important thing to remember is that the human-animal bond is a strong one. Even though the grief process is the same, pet loss is often more devastating because people don’t get the same support or sympathy that they do when they have lost a human family member.”

If you need a few suggestions on how to memorialize your pet, Guerrero includes a list of suggestions in the section titled, Grave Topics at Tails End. She stresses that flushing fish is a thing of the past and includes a fish prayer and fishy funeral as a respectful, compassionate alternative.

If you want to do something special on pet memorial day the book suggests, “Keep a candle lit in honor of the pet and let its brilliance symbolize the light and joy the animal added to life. The illuminating glow the flame casts represents the ethereal light of the pet’s existence beyond this realm.”

Here are Guerrero’s seven additional tips for honoring pets during pet memorial day:

*Send a card or note to a friend who has lost a pet or make arrangements to spend the day with that person.

*Create a collage or memory box with favorite photos, drawings, pet tags, baby teeth, remnants of favorite toys.

*Visit the pet’s favorite place and have a picnic.

*Make a shelf into an alter and commemorate your pet with a photographic memorial and candle.

*Sow a living plant or tree in honor of the animal.

*Scatter flower petals, or make a special potpourri mix, in honor of the pet.

*Share, or listen to, joyful memories and stories about the pet.

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Review copies of BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: A GUIDE TO PRAYERS & CEREMONIES CELEBRATING PETS AND OTHER CREATURES (ISBN 1402729677) are available to journalists. Contact Sterling Publishing Publicity at (212) 532-7160.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS is available from Sterling Publishing, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and available at booksellers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.