I know my wife the vet would love this, but to me it reeks of copying a Catholic tradition because it seems like a nice thing to do. Can anyone explain the halacha behind pet blessings? And can non-kosher animals be blessed?

Have your pet blessed by Rabbi Solomon B. Acrish of Temple Beth Elohim



Moishe, a 14-year-old tabby cat from Pawling, tries to escape from his owner, Ian Tsukroff, after being blessed at the nondenominational Pet Blessing of the Animals held on the Green Chimneys campus in Patterson, N.Y., on July 18, 2004. Moishe was the only cat attending. Temple Beth Elohim in Brewster, N.Y., sponsored the event, and Rabbi Solomon B. Acrish blessed the animals. Temple soloist Robin Sills played the guitar and sang before the service led by the rabbi.