THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610090140
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 33 lines
A Portsmouth K-9 dog recently hit by a car while chasing a burglary suspect will be one of dozens of animals expected to attend the 40th Annual Blessing of the Animals at Trinity Episcopal Church.
The event will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 20 inside the church at High and Court streets.
Though the police dog, named Morgi, has recovered from his injuries and is back at work, he could use a blessing to keep him safe on future assignments, said Portsmouth Police Sgt. Rick Humphries, who oversees the city's K-9 and Mounted Patrol units.
``He was just banged a little,'' Humphries said. ``Fortunately, it wasn't anything serious.''
The city's four Mounted Patrol horses - Chieftain, Commandant, Echo and Hawkeye - may attend.
The event has been held at Trinity since the Rev. C. Charles Vache held the first one in 1957. Vache, a former Trinity rector, is a retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.
The blessing usually is held on the Sunday closest to Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a popular saint of the Middle Ages, but the event is being held late this year because Trinity's rector, the Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman, has been out of town.
A cash offering and nonperishable pet food will be collected and donated to the Portsmouth Humane Society.
The hourlong event includes singing by the children's choir. All pets are welcome. For information, call the church at 393-0431. by CNB