Article written & submitted by the North Fort Myers Neighbor 
By JENNIFER MOSSCROP

nfmneighbor@breezenewspapers.com
There were a few more tails than usual at the Shell Factory’s Nature Park on Oct. 4 during the St. Francis of Assisi Blessing of the Animals procession and ceremony.

Pet owners brought along their furry four-legged companions to be blessed by Deacon Thomas Zalewski from Saint Francis Xavier Holy Catholic Church, Fort Myers and the had a chance to visit the residents of the nature park during a blessing of the animals procession.

With holy water and a small prayer, Zalewski blessed each pet individually then walked through the whole nature park and blessed all of the animals which includes an array of animals like emus, praire dogs, goats, rodents, hedgehogs, turkeys and even Princess the baby zebra.

He also went into the serval cat and camel cages and sprinkled holy water into the koi pond.

“It is important to bless the animals, they are our friends,” Zalewski said. “Jesus loved all creatures and God created all things.”

Zalewski will be ordained as a priest in a few weeks so this blessing of the animals was the first blessing of any kind for him.

The dogs who were blessed - Zippy, Wally, Lilly and Buster -  had the chance to walk through the park with their owners for free and discover a multitude of animal species - surprisingly, none of them let out one “Woof.”

North Fort Myers resident, Natalie Fischer, brought her five-month-old rat terrier Zippy to be blessed.

“He’s a puppy and we just got him,” said Fischer. “It’s a good way to start him off.”

During the procession, Zalewski stopped by the statue of St. Francis to say a prayer and to bless it with holy water.

“St. Francis was a special person he loved animals and people very much,” Zalewski told the crowd. “He is a good example to follow.”

St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology. He wrote the religious song, Canticle of Brother Sun - which thanks God for the sun, moon, earth and animals - and founded the Franciscan order. He died Oct. 3, 1226. Christians all around the world have their animals blessed during the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. This is the nature park’s first time holding a blessing of the animals.

“It is an animal-friendly property so it is a good idea,” said Nancy Mitchell, Shell Factory CEO. “It feels special to have them blessed.”

“Animals can’t speak for themselves and they certainly deserve blessings because they give us blessings,” said Alene Greto, animal care manager at the nature park.

After the procession, Zalewski said that his first time blessing animals was very exciting.

“It was very nice going into the cages. I’m glad people showed up and joined us,” he said.