This Just In ...

The Barking Lot (11/07/09)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 7, 2009

The Barking Lot

The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of this just in…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me.  It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it’s DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!


THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors. 

TODAY:  Morning clouds, afternoon sun. High of 67.   "A"

SUNDAY:  UPDATED. Mostly sunny. High of 65.  "A"


Here’s my lovely wife, Jennifer with this week’s main blog:

If you have read even ONE Barking Lot blog, you know of my love for all things canine.  You know that while I don’t place a dog’s life on the same level as a human’s, I believe I know some dogs that are smarter than their owners.

Growing up, we had a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in our back yard.  That stone likeness of St. Francis watched over Sugar, Skippy, Tommy, and Thumper as they found their “eternal resting place” in our former vegetable garden.  I also vividly recall when I was in fourth grade, taking Sugar to my grade school parish’s ceremony of the Blessing of The Animals on the feast of St. Francis.

I am not going to wax philosophic this entire blog about dogs, spirituality, etc.  I would end up offending someone on one side of the issue or the other.  Or, perhaps both sides of the issue.  I have my own feelings and opinions that everyone is entitled to.  In fact, I must admit that I find Friar Jack Wintz’s perspective on dogs in Heaven intriguing.

Having said all of that…  While I feel there is a place in the spiritual hierarchy for every four-legged friend, I also feel that there is a time and a place for them to join us during our regular worship. 

Kevin has blogged about our breathtaking St. Anthony’s many, many times.  It is a church to be proud of, and has everything that makes a church feel like a church.  From the beautiful and recently renovated stained glass windows to the stately and impressive pipe organ, when you attend mass at St. Anthony’s, you have attended mass.  I honestly can NOT imagine a Sunday where, per my usual routine: 

1. I get dropped off with Kyla at the front of the steps
2. I stop in the vestibule for a weekly missal and hymnal
3. I dip my fingers in the holy water just inside church, and
4. I stop to pet hello to a yellow lab?????

I understand that “numbers are down” for regular attendees of Sunday mass.  I find it sad and disturbing that our pews are not full every week.  There are many times when I think the homily is not truly directed at the group sitting in the seats, but something the priest feels he must say.  While I love tradition, I don’t necessarily have a problem with a modern interpretation on an old story if it gets a point across and reaches your heart and soul.

But there is a LIMIT to what I am willing to accept as means of growing a congregation.  What the …?  Are you kidding me… dogs in CHURCH????  As I mentioned, St. Anthony’s is extremely traditional.  The founding members of this beautiful house of worship would be turning over in their graves at the thought of this.  

I’m sorry, I’m not bringing Milk Bones and a water dish to Sunday mass.

---Jennifer Fischer

Thank you, Jennifer. Since my lovely wife mentions me and the only church I’ve belonged to since birth, the incredibly breathtaking St. Anthony’s, I must interject.

The last time I saw a dog in church was during Sunday Mass at St. Anthony’s about 40 years ago in the late 60’s. My father, God rest his soul and I were ushering as we always did at the 10:00 Mass.

Our pastor at the time was a decent enough chap, but a horrible administrator (and I suspect, crook), Father Frederick Schmidt.  Father Schmidt was short and stout with a basketball for a stomach. His pet black Labrador, “Puppy” resembled him in that he had a “Before ad for Weight Watchers” belly. It literally dragged along the ground. Puppy was literally a dog only it's mother loved.

Is it any wonder Father Schmidt fed “Puppy” steak and lobster (I saw it in his dog dish), then went out to the podium during the sermon and scolded parishioners that they needed to fork over more dough come collection time.

"Puppy" got loose from the rectory that Sunday morning and ran up the center aisle during Mass. Some in the pews laughed nervously. There were plenty of frowns.

Out popped Father Schmidt, invoking his pastoral powers by standing in the back of church in his suspenders yelling out, "Puppy, come here!" during the middle of the Eucharist.

It would be as if 10,000 cell phones went off during a Pavarotti concert.

When Father Schmidt left our beloved St. Anthony’s, the only people shedding tears were the local butchers and fish markets.

"Puppy" didn't belong in church that day, or any other day.

It is time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headliens the past week. And we have a lot to get to.


LOVE THIS STORY. Inmates are suing because a dog sent them to jail....MORE.


Twins to be charged as adults in burning of dog.


Graphic photo shows shelter let dog die.


CBS claims dogs are killing the planet.


The myth of the infallible police dog.


Tuddy will always be remembered for being a special dog.


A dog dragged behind its owner's truck is recuperating..


A Marine bends the rules to save a dog in Iraq.


This is amazing, a missing dog's strange saga.


Man rescues dog, and gets more than he bargained for.


What happens when Fido needs blood?


Inmates train abandoned dogs for familes.


Why do the Irish who love dogs hate cats?


Should owning a great dane make you as much of an eco-outcast as an SUV driver? Good grief.


Dogs may know more than we thought they did.


And finally, we end with our closing video: a dog and family reunite after 10 years. Enjoy, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you like our closing video.