In the Bible, the story of Noah’s Ark wasn’t just about God saving Noah and his family, but about protecting the animals.

Thursday, November 11, 1999

In the Bible, the story of Noah’s Ark wasn’t just about God saving Noah and his family, but about protecting the animals.

In Ironton Saturday, the Rev. Robert L. Thomas will talk about that story and provide a blessing to all the creatures of the Earth, quadruped or otherwise.

The Lawrence County Humane Society will sponsor an animal blessing at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The Center is located on North Second Street just past the Buckeye Barn on the left.

The blessing, the second such event this year, will give local residents the opportunity to bring their favorite animal or pet and participate in a service that offers protection to all animals.

If the animal is too large or too difficult to transport, a photo of the pet may be brought to the service and blessed instead.

Giving thanks to God for pets, past and present, who have brought joy and love into homes is the theme of the service, and animals will be addressed by name and touched if appropriate.

If the animal is at all aggressive or afraid, Thomas will speak the blessing to the pet but will not touch it.

Although the service is free and open to the public, Humane Society officials will accept donations that will help keep the abuse center open through the remainder of the year.

The center, which is not yet a year old, houses domestic animals – mainly canines –  who have been taken into custody by the county humane agent or by members of the humane society because of abuse or neglect on the part of their previous owners.

Last week, the shelter adopted out Sunny, a golden retriever who was left chained up and neglected so long that the chain had partially embedded into the dog’s neck.

After emergency surgery and a safe place to recuperate allowed Sunny time enough to heal, her new owner, Jennifer, from Chicago, happily picked up the newest family member after learning of Sunny’s plight via the Internet.

The county humane society is operated by volunteers on donations from various individuals and companies. To volunteer time or make a donation, or to inquire about adopting one of the many dogs or cats waiting for a new home, call the shelter at 533-9050.