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Thanking God for pets and pet owners

On a recent Sunday afternoon, a dozen congregants gathered with their animals at the Sulphur Springs picnic area in Solon for an annual "blessing of the pets" ceremony. The service, now in its seventh year, is a way for owners to publicly honor and show appreciation for their pets.

"There's a fair amount of material in the Torah about our responsibility to help animals and be kind to animals," says Rabbi Eddie Sukol, leader of the service, and himself a proud owner of a cat and dog. "They are regarded as living creatures - not with a soul - but with emotion."

The twenty-some animals gathered at the picnic seemed to prove this statement true. Each pet displayed its own distinct personality. The more outgoing dogs ran eagerly toward each new arrival, while the shyer, smaller dogs cowered behind their owners. Some animals preened for the camera, while others tried to knock the object out of guests' hands. More than a few sat patiently at their owner's side, adoringly nuzzling their legs.

In previous years, the blessing ceremony has been attended by hamsters, gerbils, tortoises, and iguanas. This year, however, the service featured mostly dogs - though a Latino Cockapoo named Barni made an appearance halfway through. ("We recently found out Barni's actually a girl," owner Cindy Berlas sighed.)

Attendees, many of whom had dressed their dogs in fancy, colorful neck scarves for the occasion, had various reasons for coming to the event. "My dog needs to know more about Judaism," explained Bev Shankman. "Eating challah isn't enough."
A blessing on your head. A Jewish pup takes part in the ceremony.

Others took a more philosophical view. As Beachwood mom Karen Schiffman stroked dog Jed's head, she told a reporter of her hope that one day we would all "become the people our dogs believe us to be." In the meantime, it was a really nice day, and Jed could use some sun.

Before the service began, Sukol, of The Shul, "Cleveland's only synagogue without walls," encouraged all the owners to introduce themselves and their pets. Among the crowd, there were two dogs named Bailey, a pug that thinks he's part pig, and a Bichon named Freckles, whose Hebrew name is Shmuel.

The service lasted only about ten minutes - "I purposely kept it short because it can get noisy with all the pets," Sukol explained. It featured a combination of biblical hymns, folk songs, and Sukol's own "creative writings." As the congregation stood in a circle holding a prayer packet, Sukol implored the owners to care for their animals with "compassion and tenderness" and to "always appreciate the blessings of (their) pets and all creatures."

Afterwards, everyone gathered around the picnic table for a snack of what else? - animal crackers.