Non Service Animals Attending Mass With Their Human Companion

[nikita92]

Im NOT talking about a SERVICE animal doing its job! Im talking about a wee little lap dog being held by it's owner while attending a weekday service. Is it acceptable to bring a animal inside a church???????? I looked over my shoulder a few pews behind and across from me...and she was holding a dog! I must admit, that my first reaction was somewhat dismay...not to mention a few questions that came to mind after my intial ones. I work in a service oriented field..I have to beware of state rules and regulations. I know about service animals. In this case..besides my own opinion...what is yours???? Obviously my church..allowed it. This is a first for me.

[CatherineM]

There may be non-visible disabilities at work here. There is a large project here to put a dog in the hands of every Afghan Vet with PTSD. Some literally can't leave their homes with their dogs. There are some people with mental illnesses so severe they can only attend mass during the week because Sundays are too crowded. My husband had to do that for several years.

My biggest concern would be if the priest gave the dog communion. Other than that, he may just know something about the woman that isn't apparent just by looking at her.

[homeschoolmom]

On the other hand, there *are* people who do think that their pets belong everywhere they go. :rolleyes:

 

 

[Selah]

Well, in many Russian Orthodox parishes, the only animal that is allowed in the sanctuary is the cat. They can come and go as they please. 

 

Also, no dogs.

 

Yay ^_^

[mysisterisalittlesister]

Some dogs detect an oncoming siezire in an epileptic person. Some dogs sniff out penuts for people who are allergic. Then again, as HSM said, some people just take their pets to Mass. Once, I sat in front of someone holding an extremely well behaved parrot at Mass. I've never heard of a "guide parrot" or anything, but there may be. You never know.

[i<3LSOP]

Some dogs detect an oncoming siezire in an epileptic person. Some dogs sniff out penuts for people who are allergic. Then again, as HSM said, some people just take their pets to Mass. Once, I sat in front of someone holding an extremely well behaved parrot at Mass. I've never heard of a "guide parrot" or anything, but there may be. You never know.

 

 

All very true. I sat in front of someone in Mass with a parrot too, no joke.

[homeschoolmom]

Some people are highly allergic to animals and don't like encountering them in places that should be animal-free.

[Starets]

If it isn't a service animal it doesn't belong in church during Mass. Period. Cats ccan count as service animals because they keep the place free of mice and rats. Or at least they did at Christ in the Desert!

[EmilyAnn]

Mass isn't really an appropriate place to bring a pet. I agree with homeschoolmom on the allergies thing especially.

 

But as others have pointed out service animals may not be obviously service animals. I saw a dog lying by the front pew once after Mass and was very confused. I only realised the next week that it's a guide dog for a blind lady, but there was no obvious sign it was a guide dog until I saw them putting the harness on it after Mass. 

[Nihil Obstat]

If they are not service animals, then there simply is no excuse. If they are service animals then I have no problem whatsoever, as long as they behave, do not make a mess, and do not enter the sanctuary.

And just to clarify, I have never seen a service animal that was not behaving.

Edited November 28, 2012 by Nihil Obstat

[Basilisa Marie]

As long as the animal was behaving, I would assume it was some kind of service animal unless I was told otherwise.  There's a lady at my home parish who always brings her little dog with her to Mass, because she has some kind of anxiety disorder.  The dog is always quiet and well-behaved, stays on her lap, you wouldn't even know it was there unless you saw it.  

[homeschoolmom]

As long as the animal was behaving, I would assume it was some kind of service animal unless I was told otherwise.  There's a lady at my home parish who always brings her little dog with her to Mass, because she has some kind of anxiety disorder.  The dog is always quiet and well-behaved, stays on her lap, you wouldn't even know it was there unless you saw it.  

 

Or unless you were allergic to it. :|

 

Fortunately, I am not allergic to many small lap dogs.

 

Unfortunately, I am very highly allergic to many breeds that work as service dogs-- labs, retrievers, shepherds, etc.

 

It's nice to see service dogs in their special harnesses-- it makes me aware that that dog is needed. And while I would prefer (for my health) that it not be there, I understand that for someone else's benefit, it must be. That's my cross to bear. Seeing a non-harnessed pet sitting in someone's lap (especially while that someone is *driving*) does not give me that same feeling.

[nikita92]

Thanks everyone for your input! ;)

[HisChildForever]

She might have been running errands and didn't think she'd have time for daily Mass but finished early - and was afraid to leave the dog in the car. Maybe she's left the dog in the car before for a short trip into the grocery store and it misbehaved or had serious anxiety. She probably assumed that for this one time it would be alright, especially since it's a tiny dog, not a mastiff.

 

Why did you look over your shoulder a few pews behind and across? Was the dog making noise?

 

I know it was an odd sight but let's not judge this woman. She was probably embarrassed.

[Aloysius]

so aside from everyone's general cultural sense that animals don't belong at mass, is there anything to actually support this?  I've been in places where there have been dogs in the Church, I've been places where the priest had a dog and went around the Church with his dog, so I'm curious... this seems like a particular matter of etiquette, but I don't think there are any actual norms against it and I'm not so sure I have any problem at all with animals being at mass if they're behaved and quiet.

 

for those who are against it, do you find it rude or irreverent?  I'm curious as to people's reasoning, I can understand the former but I'm not so sure I'd go as far as to say the latter, I don't think it's necessarily irreverent to bring animals into a Church.  it might be rude in particular cultural contexts, and that'd be reason enough to discourage it because people should be considerate at mass according to people's social expectations, but I don't see it as irreverent (unless it was noisy)

Edited December 1, 2012 by Aloysius

[Ice_nine]

I agree with L_D.

 

I mean Al, yes I agree with him.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

While I recognize that it is not common practice, and for that reason may be distracting for some to a degree, I do not think I am opposed to this idea. There is the somewhat common practice for those who are familiar with Franciscan spirituality, and to a smaller degree St Anthony of Padua of giving the blessing of animals during Mass. Obviously the sacraments are reserved for HUMANS as I know there have been cases of that abuse happening, if the animals are a disruption the yes they should be gone, but otherwise...hey I ain't got no problem, we bring trees and other plants into the Church, they can add beauty and respect for the work of God in creation.

Psalm 148: 7-14

Praise The Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deep waters; You lightning and hail, snow and clouds, storm winds that fulfill his command; You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; you animal wild and tame, you creatures that crawl and fly; You kings of the earth and all people's, princes and all who govern on earth; Young men and women too, old and young alike. let them all praise the Lord's name, for his name alone is exalted. The Lord has lifted high the hour of his people, to the glory of all the faithful, of Isreal, the people near to their God. Hallelujah!

[Ed Normile]

I go to Mary Queen of the Universe Basilica in Orlando Fl. for mass during the winter. This asian looking man always brings his chihuahua with him to mass. My first reaction was, what is he thinking? He would carry him up to receive communion and the the EMHC's never said anything. It did not look like a service animal, and it really bothered me for a while as it seemed so irreverent. Then I thought maybe this is all this man has in life. I wonder if God would mind? Thinking about it, God created animals, they have the breath of life in them, or a temporal soul, not an immortal soul as humans possess. God would not have created something He could not love, St. Francis surely loved animals. Humans possess a heart and we are supposed to love, we do this as part of what God gave us by making us in His image. Just maybe, God would be happy. I do not think He would take it as an offence.

 

ed

 

[homeschoolmom]

so aside from everyone's general cultural sense that animals don't belong at mass, is there anything to actually support this?  I've been in places where there have been dogs in the Church, I've been places where the priest had a dog and went around the Church with his dog, so I'm curious... this seems like a particular matter of etiquette, but I don't think there are any actual norms against it and I'm not so sure I have any problem at all with animals being at mass if they're behaved and quiet.

 

for those who are against it, do you find it rude or irreverent?  I'm curious as to people's reasoning, I can understand the former but I'm not so sure I'd go as far as to say the latter, I don't think it's necessarily irreverent to bring animals into a Church.  it might be rude in particular cultural contexts, and that'd be reason enough to discourage it because people should be considerate at mass according to people's social expectations, but I don't see it as irreverent (unless it was noisy)

Why would you consider it okay to expose people to an allergen in a place that they wouldn't anticipate exposure as long as said allergen is quiet and well-behaved?

 

Is the Mass for people or for animals?

[Aloysius]

obviously the mass is for people, but I don't see a religious problem (ie "irreverence") in animals being present.  I suppose there is a cultural problem in many places, a matter of etiquette, et cetera.  I don't think the existence of allergies should necessarily dictate these things, there are people allergic to flowers and there are often flowers brought into churches, for instance.  some people are allergic to incense as well.  I understand the concern, and I'm not necessarily advocating that it be done I'm just asking for the basis.  I don't think there's a religious basis for it, I don't think it's necessarily irreverent or anything like that.  It might be bad manners in a specific cultural context, and I think the argument from allergens basically amounts to that: since we don't expect animals to be at Mass, it can be seen as bad manners to people who suffer from allergies to bring them in.  there are many cultural contexts in which people don't have an expectation that there won't be animals inside stores and public buildings and such, I suppose those places are not as nice to live for people who suffer from allergies.