AN EPISCOPAL church in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, has opened a respite space for shelter, rescue, and foster dogs, as part of a ministry recognising animals’ stress in shelters, as well as the needs of the people who look after them.
The diocese of Pennsylvania launched the ministry in 2023. It includes providing access to vaccines, pet food, medical supplies, and veterinary treatment. The diocese works with local animal-adoption services to offer assistance with fostering.
‘You ain’t nothing but a hound dog, and you keep crying all the time. So I’m recommending a stay at the Animal Cabin’
The Animal Cabin, on the church’s 42-acre campus, is free to book exclusively, for one dog and a carer, eight hours a day. It has a fenced-in yard, dog treats, a desk, Wi-Fi, a mini-fridge, pet-safe plants, and a TV (set to the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet programme). There is also a prayer space. The dog can be walked and exercised on the campus, and volunteers clean the cabin between bookings.
Being confined in noisy, crowded conditions is acknowledged to be a stressful experience for dogs which can trigger behavioural issues. The Animal Cabin offers “a reprieve from the hectic life of a shelter, or for foster dogs looking for a fun day outing”.
The diocese says: “God calls us to care for all of creation — including animals. Our diocese has a unique opportunity to live into this call and meet the need in a new and innovative way, by incorporating companion animals into our church communities and supporting the people who take care of them.”
About 20,000 stray animals a year pass through the shelter in Whitemarsh.
Figures suggest that about 6.5 million dogs and cats in the US ended up in shelters in 2023. The Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt Revd Daniel Gutiérrez, is a founder and keen advocate of animal ministry, including the Clare Project, in the diocese. The project helps homeless people and their pets.
The chaplain to veterinarians in the diocese, the Revd Jennifer Tucker, told the Episcopal News Service (ENS): “The power of being around animals and the love they bring, is a gift I can’t even put into words.”