In honour of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, the church held a special blessing of the animals ceremony.

Dogs of all sizes and personalities, and a few rabbits, attended the Wendouree church where Fr Constantine Osuchukwu individually blessed each animal and owner.

“We celebrate St Francis who spoke about the interconnectedness that we have with animals and nature and that we miss when we are too busy,” he said.

Fr Osuchukwu reminded the congregation, both four-footed and bipedal, that we need to remember our own place in nature.

“There are environmental and ecological challenges in our time with climate change and we have a responsibility to care for and look after not just our pets but all of nature,” he said.

The animals present were mostly well behaved.