PBS did a special on the Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Of St. John, the Divine. Wonderful! The church was filled with people with their dogs, cats, gerbils, etc. and a parade of exotic animals went down the aisle for a blessing - llamas, sheep, boa constrictors, frogs, worms, a cow, a pig, lichen, a parrot, an eagle, a hawk, an owl, etc. The group was followed by a priest and his assistant pushing a wheel barrow and picking up the animals' "sacred offerings". The prayers were for the safe keeping of animals throughout the world and a recognition of man's responsibility to preserve and protect them. A beautiful ceremony.