Mostly dogs came to the event, but there were a number of cats, ferrets and hermit crabs.
RIDGEFIELD PARK -- Kohle couldn't keep still in the minutes before he was blessed on Sunday. It could've been the nerves, but it seemed that all the other creatures gathered for the annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony riled up the nearly 2-year-old black lab and kept him barking ahead of the event.
"He clearly needs to be blessed," said his owner, Kim Seilter, who brought the dog for his second blessing at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Dozens of people brought their pets out in the chilly afternoon to make sure they were blessed. The ceremony was in honor of the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi.
In attendance were mostly dogs, but there were a number of large cats (some in cages, some on leashes), a couple ferrets and hermit crabs. The animals and their owners were blessed by Rev. Fernando Guillen, parochial vicar, at the church.
Guillen doused both the owners and their pets with holy water and presented the creatures certificates stating that they had been blessed.
Guillen remembered the saint, stating that he was someone who cherished animals and pronounced his own love for animals, talking for a bit about his three dogs, who also attended the ceremony.
"With all the craziness that they bring, they give so much," Gullen said.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.