Birds of pray

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 2

Birds of pray

PA Tauranga A church service for pets will be held at Otumoetai, near Tauranga, on September 26.

The service will be held In the open at St John's Anglican church, and will be conducted by the Rev. A. W. Arrowsmith.

A spokesman for the Church said that because the service would be held outdoors there would be ample space to cope with the large number of pets and their owners expected. If the weather was wet, the service would be transferred io the church hall. Pets would have to be kept under control during the service, he said. Dogs must have collars and leads, birds must be in cages, and cats in boxes.

Some parents and members of the S.P.C.A. would help with arrangements for the service, he said.

Miss R. Pateshall-Jones, the S.P.C.A. vice-president, said the purpose of the service was to encourage kindness and sympathy for pets, and to encourage regard for animals by people.

It was hoped that adults as well as children would bring their pets.

The service would be preliminary to “World Animal Week,” in October, she said.

“Services for animals are held in most parts of the world, and they have been conducted in Auckland and Hamilton. As far as I know, this will be the first in Tauranga," she said.