Gazelles and geckos, bees and bears, whelks and elks, cats who skip and dogs who read stories to children, stags and stag beetles, neon tetras and harlequin rasboras, mice and rats and other critters – The Blessing of Animals teems with God’s amazing creation. You can hear the voice of God on every page:
 
‘Woof!’ ‘Miaow!’
 
Along with many beautiful prayers and poems to dip into, this book also includes:
 
~ Reflections on feline and canine theology
~ An all-age communion service for the Feast of Saint Francis
~ A litany for the blessing of animals
~ A service for the blessing of animals
~ Thoughts on losing an animal friend
~ A lamentation and prayer to the whole of creation
 
For every Border collie and sheepdog,
for every golden retriever and Great Dane,
we give you thanks.
 
For every squawk and tweet,
for every flitter and flutter,
we give you thanks.
 
For every tortoiseshell, marmalade and Russian Blue,
for every loquacious Siamese,
we give you thanks.
 
(From a litany by Thom M. Shuman)

Neil Paynter is an editor, writer and late-night piano player.