Sit! Heel! Stay! Pray!
Pray? Okay, so it's not an actual command, but it might as well be at St. Giles the Abbot Parish Church in England, one of a few churches where you'll find a set of paws in the pews.
One of the regular congregants there is Zack, a sweet-natured, 7-year-old Alsatian-Collie mix who attends services every Sunday and Thursday, and doesn't make a peep as he sits happily among other worshippers for the full hour. "He really is a beautiful animal, and the congregation adore him," the rector, Father Ian Thurston, told the Sentinel. "He loves the church and attending services. He will sit among the congregation and is always quiet and knows what is going on."
Zack has had a tough life–he was abused as a puppy before being rescued by Edwina Griffiths, who gave him a wonderful home for four years. But then, three years ago, Griffiths died of cancer, leaving Zack to be looked after by her relatives–and by Father Thurston, who remembered Griffiths bringing Zack to Mass.
Thurston kept up the practice, and now parishioners don't merely tolerate Zack's attendance, they seem to be comforted by it. More than one has said it appears Zack follows along with the service–and gives off an almost spiritual vibe. "He is such a presence," congregant Joy Lunn told the Sentinel. "He really respects what is going on and is accepted as part of our worship."
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