From designer clothing to fancy meals, household pets are treated as royalty at the most, and on any given day, they are just plain part of the family.

Just like adults, pets need protection, too. And Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School gave its students the assurance of protection for pets and a lesson in blessings.

Telegram photo / Jason Ivester (ENLARGE)

Father Phil Tighe blesses pre-kindergartners and their stuffed animals Thursday morning in the parking lot at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

In remembrance of St. Francis, who had a love for all creatures, the school had a blessing of pets Thursday to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

In the parking lot, the Rev. Phil Tighe – priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church – who also favors animals, stood waiting with holy water and doggie biscuits. And after opening the ceremony with the Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, each student brought a pet or stuffed animal to be prayed over and sprinkled with holy water.

"We had everything from teddy bears and bunny rabbits to cats, dogs and goldfish," said William Pettus, principal of the school. "Most of the kids brought stuffed animals, and (Tighe) blessed them as well."

Pettus said although they did not have a blessing of pets last school year, it has been done in the past. The saint, he said, is one of the children's favorite because of the way he treated animals.

"We talk about blessings and what they mean a lot," Pettus said. "They get the knowledge that the animals they sleep with at night – that give them comfort – are blessed."

The blessing, much like a mini-prayer, asked for protection, health and peace, Pettus said.

"Lots of people, especially children, are concerned about their animals," he said. "So it provides the parents and the children – and the pet – peace of mind."