"And who is this?" asked Rev. Dr. Alan Baughcum to the black flat-coat Retriever.

"Kaos," said the Retriever's owner, - pronounced like "chaos" – which appeared quite appropriate for the young, eager and slightly hyper pet as Baughcum attempted to greet him. 

The minister's meeting with the 6-month-old dog was part of the first Blessing of the Pets at Plymouth Congregational Church on Pleasant Street held on Sunday, Oct. 3, a day before the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of pets and animals.

Under an autumnal afternoon sky, Baughcum and his Pastoral Associate Ellen Rohan Ball greeted a small, but enthusiastic congregation of a four- and two-legged members in the front of the Church for a short ceremony to celebrate the bond owners have with their pets.

Kaos, Bella, Chesa, Bailey and two treasured stuffed-animals were blessed by Baughcum and Ball as the human participates sang and prayed.

"All dwellers of the sea or plain,

Of desert, mountain, jungle, farm;

Pray for the creatures of the earth 

To keep them safe from harm."