Soon Wiscasset's Town Common will be graced with wagging tails and paw prints from our beloved pets! In honor of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures and our natural environment, we'll gather outside to share blessings for our favorite pets on Sunday Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.

All are invited to bring your pets, whether they be dogs, cats, guinea pigs, bunnies, turtles, or bird, for a blessing. Please make sure your pet is leashed or in a safe place such as a crate, cage, or kennel. We will strive for a calm and friendly atmosphere in a natural setting, but close to home.

A special memory table with candles to light will be available to help us honor beloved pets who have left us, or need to be blessed from afar—if you wish, bring a favorite photograph with the pet's name.

Oct. 4 is the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and environment. People celebrate St. Francis by blessing animals, gardening, helping at an animal shelter, bird-watching, or even baking natural pet treats. This annual event is sponsored by the St. Philip's Episcopal and First Congregational churches in Wiscasset with Rev. Suzanne Colburn and Rev. John R. Hogue presiding.