Christian saints have loved dogs too. St Roch, nursing plague victims, fell ill himself and was fed by a dog that brought him bread every day. St Francis called all animals his brothers and sisters. These prayers are for the dogs we love.
Historical Context
Many parishes hold a Blessing of Animals around the feast of St Francis, when dogs, cats and the occasional horse line up outside church. If yours does, take your dog. If not, you can bless them at home with the prayers below.
A Blessing for Your Dog
Lord, you made every creature,
and you gave us this dog to love.
Thank you for their loyalty, their joy and their company.
Keep them healthy and safe,
and help us care for them well all their days.
St Francis, pray for them.
Amen.
A Prayer for a Sick Dog
Lord, our dog is sick and can’t tell us where it hurts.
Ease their pain and heal them if it’s your will.
Guide the vet to the right treatment,
and give us wisdom about what is kind.
St Roch, whose dog cared for you when you were sick, pray for them.
Amen.
A Prayer for a Dog Who Has Died
Lord, our dog is gone, and the house is too quiet.
Thank you for every walk, every welcome at the door,
every night they slept at our feet.
Comfort us in our grief, which is real.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- When you bring a new dog or puppy home.
- At a Blessing of Animals, around 4 October.
- Before surgery or a vet visit.
- When a dog is sick, old or dying.
- On 16 August, the feast of St Roch.
Scripture Connection
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.” — Proverbs 12:10
Proverbs makes the care of animals a sign of a good person. Loving a dog well, and grieving one honestly, is not sentimentality; it is part of the stewardship God gave us over creation.
Related prayers
For bedtime, see the Dog’s Bedtime Prayer, and for bully breeds, the Pit Bull Prayer. For St Roch, the Saint Rocco Prayer, and for cats, the Prayer for a Sick Cat.