AR-News: (US NH) Ceremony acknowledges pets? role in families, biblical times

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

PORTSMOUTH - Last week, Mike Potter-Schwartz brought his 3-month-old 
daughter, Lilia, to Temple Israel in Portsmouth to be blessed in a naming ceremony. He 
returned on Sunday with his "firstborn," a 6-year-old Wheaton terrier named 
Chloe. 
"Chloe is a part of our family, too," said Potter-Schwartz, who brought his 
dog to the synagogue?s first blessing of the animals ceremony. 
About 15 animals, mostly canine and some stuffed, gathered on the outdoor 
steps of the State Street sanctuary on the seventh day of Passover to receive a 
blessing from Rabbi David Mark in commemoration of the Hebrew people?s journey 
from Egypt 3,000 years ago. 
"All of our ancestors had dogs, cats, sheep and cattle when they left Egypt," 
said 9-year-old Ben Stock, whose gerbil, Freddy, was blessed. 
"They brought all of our pets with them. So pets are important." 



full story:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/04122004/news/10271.htm 
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