Bringing pets into mass

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franklin

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Are parishioners/guests allowed to bring pets (namely dogs) into mass? Growing up Catholic and even during the past several years when I returned to the faith, I don’t ever recall seeing pets allowed into church during mass. However, I don’t think there is anything explicitly written about this (unless I missed something, which could most likely be the case).

The reason I’m bring this up is that there was one lady who brought a puppy into mass today, and though it was well behaved, the priest told her sternly that she was not allowed to bring pets in when she went up to get the Eucharist. What bothered me more was that this lady and either her friend or relative came in during the middle of the profession of faith and still decided to take the Eucharist despite missing the Gospel reading and homily, but that’s just me. Once this lady went back to her seat, she began throwing a fit and told her friend “How dare he tell me not to bring him here.” Outside of service dogs, I don’t see how one can be arguing with the priest in this case. Any thoughts?
 
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I’ve never seen something like this at Mass. I have a hard time believing a grown woman can feel this entitled.
 
When the priest told her not to bring her dog to Mass, did he say that out loud, in public, so that other people could hear it? Or did he tell her privately and politely, which is obviously what he ought to have done?
 
I think I’ve heard of a priest bringing his dog in for Mass, but I think that is crazy. Just the liability alone would rule it out, don’t you think? That lady must simply have been confrontational. Where were the ushers?

What’s next, somebody’s pet snake?
 
Whenever my parish does a pet blessing, it is not at Mass and outside the Church.
 
Still not as bad as the girl who claimed she had to flush her “emotional support hamster” down a toilet because the mean airline would not let her take it aboard a plane.
 
She was next in line after me, so I could definitely hear it as could the next few people. But it definitely wasn’t out loud in public. It was stern, yet polite in my opinion.
 
I’m surprised that the Onion is still in business when we’ve got news like this.
 
There is a woman who attends our diocesan TLM who brings her little dog every week. He has his own little purse. Never makes a sound, but it’s still weird.
 
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franklin said:
Are parishioners/guests allowed to bring pets (namely dogs) into mass? Growing up Catholic and even during the past several years when I returned to the faith, I don’t ever recall seeing pets allowed into church during mass.
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You are right about “pets”., they don’t belong in church and neither do livestock animals or beasts of burden. But what’s really happening a lot nowadays are people with helper animals. Seeing eye dogs were the first, but now a lot of people have dogs and other animals as helpers, squirrels, monkeys, peacocks, etc.

I don’t know if anyone has any rules on this, a lot of the general public assume they can go anywhere if they are helpers.
 
If there was a pet mass I would immediately take my dog outside if she was disruptive, because I’m a good pet owner.
 
I have two cats I love dearly. But this pet culture has gotten our of hand in my opinion and it’s especially bad with dog owners in my experience. There’s nothing wrong with leaving your dog in the car so long as you crack the window and it’s not dangerously hot. Otherwise, leave the dog at home, it will survive. I guess the thing that really gets me the most is how often I’m asked to donate to a rescue organization. I’m not against such organizations, but it seems I’m rarely asked about a human charity.
 
I imagine that there is probably not a universal rule about this and it is up to the pastor who should be allowed to bring animals, if anyone. I think it’s a horrible idea, other than the case of certified support animals.
 
Allegra said:
I think it’s a horrible idea, other than the case of certified support animals.
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…and I don’t think that includes emotional support animals (shouldn’t the church service be providing this in the first place?). Seeing eye dogs are essential to the daily life of a blind person. They are also impeccably trained and know when they are on duty.
 
There’s a difference between service animals and emotional support animals.

All seeing eye dogs are service animals, but not all service animals are seeing eye dogs. People can have service animals for a variety of reasons, including other physical disabilities and even seizure disorders. I agree that we must allow those animals in Mass. They are specially trained and certified to perform a specific service for the owner.

Emotional support animals are more to support the owner emotionally and provide emotional stability. There’s no official recognized training or certification for ESAs. I agree completely that you shouldn’t be bringing an ESA to Mass. That’s not appropriate. Not to mention that because there’s no official training or recognition, people could claim ANY animal is an ESA.
 
I’ve seen a whole family straight from McDonalds bring their complete order, chips and all, to the front pews to a Bishop presided (NO) mass at a small Cathedral.

I was also an Hour custodian at a Blessed Sacrament for one summer. One day on my shift an elderly lady came in with a very quiet Chi-zou in arms. She never let it down the 1/2 hr there and the animal was quiet. I toyed with insisting the animal be placed outside, but I fumed the whole 1/2 hr, worried that he would need a “pottie”. All the while she spent more time looking around to see the reactions, rather than focus on prayer and the Blessed Sacrament, which states the intent.

The priest was right, good for him. This “dogs and cats are people” phenomena is trying to work it’s way into the mass. (Please, please bring back traditional. 😟 )

Somewhat related. I had the choice of 3 privately owned companies in town that catered to special occasions(family birthday party for an elder). I went to one that was recommend that had the best pastries,salades and sandwiches. The lady wearing an apron let me in the kitchen which looked spotless. The whole kitchen wreaked kitty litter. No. I picked one of the others.
 
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