Vivian Englund Photo
The Branford green was filled with puppy kisses and blessings as pets and their families lined up a Sunday ago for the Blessing of the Animals. The animals were calm and orderly, realizing this was a special occasion.
Mary Johnson Photo
The highlight of the day was the Blessing of the Animals, which is why the event is always held as close as possible to the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of all animals. Town Clerk Lisa Arpin took Quincy, her 22-month-old Boston Terrier to the town Green. He was very attentive as Father Matthew Gworek of St. Mary’s Catholic Church bestowed his blessing.
Mary Johnson Photo
Arpin was proud of young Quincy and took a moment to pose with him for our photographer Mary Johnson.
This year the Branford Compassion Club (BCC) invited the ministers from five local churches, who bestowed their blessings on all types of pets on the town green. They stood in separate lines as families and animals lined up to receive a blessing of wellness
With Permission
Alex Palluzzi, Jr., the head of the town’s Parks and Rec Department, brought his beloved Buddy to be blessed.
Mary Johnson Photo
BCC organized the vendors and music. It was all part of the organization’s annual Animal Awareness Day, a day that attracts dogs, cats, gerbils, horses, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and mice to the Green. Those who couldn’t make it in person often were represented in photos. Gathered for this photo are L‑R: Paula Gladdys and her dog, Ted Kennedy, Jr., Eunice LaSala, the founder of the Compassion Club, State Rep. Sean Scanlon, and Pat Cotton, BCC president and shelter manager.
Mary Johnson Photo
BCC members from L-R: Pat Cotton, Tom Turner, Viktoria Sinani and Leslie Johnston.
BCC President and Shelter Manager Pat Cotton said the event was a success and attracted scores of people to the town green.
Mary Johnson Photo
Animal Shelter Director Laura Burban and staff.
The Branford Animal Shelter had a tent as well.
Cotton said, “We had fewer volunteers and fewer resources last year, and we just could not get it to go last year. So we took the year off, and everyone missed the event and was asking about it.”
Mary Johnson Photo
Cotton said she was glad to have the Blessings back this year. The Eagle’s Sally E. Bahner, a longtime cat consultant, brought Celica Blue to the Green where she was given a special blessing by the Rev. Sharon Gracen, rector of the Trinity Episcopal Church.
Dog Kissing at Booth a Big Hit
Branford resident Carol Stewart ran a dog kissing booth where all of the proceeds go to the BCC. Stewart and her two dogs Dougie and Rosie were at the stand toward the end of the event.
“People can come and pay $1 to either kiss the dogs or have the dogs kiss them,” said Stewart.
Vivian Englund Photo
Pam Halloran from Branford took her Great Dane, Bleu to be blessed simply because she loves him, she said. (Bleu’s dad is Police Chief Kevin Halloran.) Later Bleu could not resist stealing a kiss from little Rosie the dog at the kissing booth.
Mary Johnson Photo
Barb and Firefighter Mike Mullen (Indian Neck firehouse) took their Cocker Spaniels Max, (black one) and Buck to be blessed.
Vivian Englund Photo
Branford resident Susan Zevola had her two silky terriers Charlie and Minnie blessed by the Rev. Gracen.
Zevola also said she adopts rescue dogs and currently is caring for a total of five. She shared why she had her terriers blessed.
“I consider myself to be spiritual, I have always had a big connection with animals and it kind of just seems like a nice thing to do,” said Zevola. “Hedge my bets she’s 13, I just got her two months ago and Charlie is 13. I lost two in the last year — two seniors that I adopted.”
BCC Life
Founded in 1997, BCC is a non-profit volunteer run organization, which aims to help control the population of homeless cats. When the cats are rescued the BCC tests them for feline diseases, neuters or spays them, and vaccinates them.
“Almost 20 years ago when the Compassion Club was founded, Animal Awareness Day started as a bake sale under a tent with some music,” said Cotton, “and we had the blessing of the animals — it’s always been the blessing of the animals. We’ve always had help from priests to do that.”
Cotton said the event and BCC is completely funded by donations and limited grants. She said the upkeep of the shelter relies on the same funding as well. She later told the Eagle the event brought in about $10,000.
“We try to keep about 40 [cats] in the shelter itself,” said Cotton. “Right now we have more like 60 — it’s kitten season. We have about 30 cats in foster care right now — kittens that will be growing up. And we have about 50 feral cats we feed everyday in colonies.”
Local business vendors donated raffles and other products for the event. Pet Shield Veterinary Hospital donated all of the proceeds from their raffle and Stony Creek Quarry donated marble chips with hand-stenciled paw prints.
Cotton said the event was a major achievement for BCC.
“It’s a big event for us — much bigger than we normally pull off,” Cotton said laughing. “But it worked out great today, the rain held out.”
Marcia Chambers Photo
The Blessing began at 1:30 p.m. Not everyone arrived in time. When we came upon the Rev. Bill Keane, senior minister of the First Baptist Church, he was en route home. We met on a sidewalk near the Green. He told us the event was over. We were so disappointed. He could see that.
“Let’s do it here,” he said. Then he bent over on the sidewalk and gave a special Border Terrier a special blessing on this day.
###
