Harvest Thanksgiving and Pet Blessing!

These are the “Best practices for dogs in church” adopted by the Parish Council in 2022. The best practices recognize two things: 1) the growing number of people in our neighbourhood for whom having a companion animal with them enables them to come to church and to worship (this is a very good thing); and 2) how welcoming companion animals into our worship space might affect the whole of the community, particularly those who are afraid or uneasy around animals. 

Our best practices at St Clement’s include: 

1. Keeping your companion animal on a leash at all times when on the St. Clement’s premises (indoors and outdoors) 

2. Keeping your companion animal out of the aisles once inside the church

3. Meeting the rector to ensure the companion animal interacts well with people (children in particular)

4. A willingness to remove your companion animal from the church if and when they’re giving you those signals that they’re becoming distressed (e.g. barking, whining) 

5. When your companion animal is interacting with someone, checking first to make sure that person is okay with dogs

Finally, please consider the size of your dog when discerning whether they’re a good fit for church. If the pews are fuller than usual, please opt to leave your dog at home or in your vehicle (windows cracked for air) so there is adequate seating for people in the pews. 

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!