Dog Day Afternoon

Al Pacino was not here but “Scooter” Bastian and “Joaquin” Kostelnik were and they hosted an afternoon party for 385 of their canine friends including Daisy, Fido, Cleopatra, Macho, Spot and many others.

The afternoon doggie bash was the third annual party for the public and their dogs at the Los Angeles Cathedral. The attendance has been increasing each year which is indicative of the dog and pet population in downtown Los Angeles.

Amid all the controversy surrounding the Catholic Church over the past several years, the Los Angeles Cathedral has opened its doors for pets and their human companions.

Pets have displaced and replaced human companionship for many singles and childless couples as well as the elderly and disabled. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles held a special day for the dogs and their human companions. The Church has realized that animals play an important part in our lives and also that downtown Los Angeles needs an identity, The Church is trying to assist Los Angeles in making the downtown a community rather than nine to five workplace.

The event was hosted by Monsignor Reverend Kevin Kostelnik and his black Lab, Joaquin. Joaquin was a wonderful host personally greeting all the dogs as they arrived.

Pictured above are Monsignor Reverend Kevin Kostelnik and Joaquin from the Los Angeles Cathedral and Christina Becker founder of Cats and Dogs Foundation.

The event was co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and CIDM

The public is well aware of service dogs but few realize that dogs such as Daisy are therapy dogs. Daisy, a pit bull, goes to hospitals to visit adults, the elderly and children who appreciate the companionship and loving of a dog. Daisy was gentle and sleepy-eyed and appeared rather exhausted at the conclusion of a long day. Daisy has just been cleared to visit children in the Children’s Hospital which is the most difficult to receive clearance papers. Tony, Daisy’s adult companion stated that the patients adore Daisy and other therapy dogs. Tony stated that Daisy was a homeless dog that she saved several years ago and felt that her easy going and quiet disposition was conducive to becoming a therapy dog. Daisy is the first therapy dog to become part of the Cats and Dogs Foundation.

Daisy is equally at home with the elderly and children, she is a dog whose disposition allows patients the opportunity to hold, pet and cuddle, an opportunity to feel wanted which is sometimes difficult in a hospital environment. Although Daisy naturally had her quiet and soothing disposition, she still had to go to classes and pass various tests before being certified as a therapy dog.

Another therapy dog, Jones, is a little more advanced in the therapy business than Daisy. Jones has the clearance and documentation to travel on airlines to go to destinations where therapy dogs are needed. Jones was requested to help Katrina victims.

Jones packed his bags, jumped on the plane and provided the caring and loving to Katrina victims who lost their dogs or were unable to bring their dogs to the various shelters during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ann, Jones’ human companion has agreed to

work with Christina and her Cats and Dogs Foundation.

Another beautiful dog in attendance was a Great Pyrenees who we discovered was also a therapy dog. She looked more like a show dog and we were informed that when she attends some of the dog shows as a spectator she often steals the show; however her owner felt that she served a greater purpose by becoming a therapy dog. The Great Pyrenees are used in the mountains between Spain and France to protect the sheep.

The Cathedral holds a blessing of the animal’s service in the fall and these Dogs at the Cathedral day should not be confused with the blessing of the animal’s service. The congregation and city dwellers were allowed and invited to bring their dogs, asking only that the dogs be well behaved and social. Fortunately for all, the dogs were on their best behavior and after a short and mandatory speech by a local politician appeared happy to bark in gratitude.

The Church has shown that a place regarded as reverent can accommodate dogs in their presence, hopefully more public places will follow their lead and dogs(at least socially responsible dogs) will be accepted and people who love the companionship of their pets can be allowed to bring their pets to appropriate gatherings.

Therapy dogs were used after Katrina to the homeless victims combats their loneliness. Many therapy dogs were flown to the shelter to relieve the adults and children of there hours and hours of distress and loneliness, these people needed a companion for a few minutes or hours just to pet and feel needed. Jones and dogs such as Daisy provided this need and certainly helped many people through that crisis.

I am sure that Daisy and her fellow dog congregation will somehow know that they were in a special place that night and I know that their guardians were very appreciative for the opportunity to bring their pets to a place that normally would not be considered acceptable for animals. Although it is highly unlikely that dogs believe in God and much of the reverence to God went over their heads, we can be assured that these animals have a spiritual being and their spirits remain with us after they are gone.

These dogs are the fortunate ones in California as well as the nation. California alone euthanizes an estimated 160,305 dogs annually which is 22.4% of the total of dog deaths yearly, so the state of California (shelters) accounts for nearly one quarter of the dog deaths yearly, California spends approximately $250,000,000 yearly to euthanize homeless pets.

These dogs are usually homeless or abused and have been taken to shelters where they are treated and then they are permitted to stay so that they can be adopted, if they are not adopted in short time they are euthanized. How can a state rationalize a $250,000,000 expense to kill animals? The money could be better spent to build or fund animal sanctuaries so that these animals can lead a long and healthy life. There are sanctuaries but they are funded by donations and not the state, California is bankrupt but is able to spend $250,000,000 for death squads.

Dogs in barrel

People like Christina have dedicated themselves for the welfare of animals but as explained by Christina the need for sanctuaries is paramount to the well being of the animals that are rescued and treated because our current system fails in its attempt to truly save these animals.

Fortunately the Catholic Church realizes that animals play an important role in our lives and hopefully in a small way, will help the public recognize the importance of our pets.

To learn more about animal welfare go to: www.catsandogsfoundation.org