Earlier today, at the cafe where I work, a group of people came in. Most were blind, students at the nearby state school for the blind. One, their supervisor, is a woman I am acquainted with, as I do summer reading of textbooks for the students. Ann had her guide dog with her, as service dogs are allowed into places most animals are’nt. And its presence reminded me of a question I have often thought of, but never asked anyone. Since many handicapped people use service dogs,and the dogs can go anywhere, how come I have never seen a dog in church? I can’t imagine anyone objecting. And these animals are certainly better behaved than many children one sees in church. So, does anyone have an answer? Or have you actually seen a dog in church?
I have, both at a wedding ceremony and as a regular at a Sunday service. Though I seem to remember that the woman who had the dog and regularly attended church usually left her dog sleeping under the pew when she went for communion, and she walked up with a friend. But I think that was convenience rather than some prohibition about the dog approaching the altar. When I was with my friend at the wedding, he had his dog with him when he went to communion (the dog was agnostic, so didn’t take communion).
Guide dogs in church?!?! Talk about blind faith!
[sub]im sooo going to hell for that one[/sub]
I’ve seen it.
Also, guide dogs on trains, aircraft, in gov’t buildings, in my home, at hospital, etc.
But I did grow up in a town where there is a residential school for blind and deaf students, so I’m sure I’d have greater opportunity.
I’ve seen a guide dog in church. I also know a priest who brings one of his dogs to Sunday services every week. She lies on a pillow behind the pulpit.
Sort of ditto to all the above. We have a blind gentleman at our church - guide dog every Sunday. Usually sleep under the pew.
We used to puppy walk for guide dogs for the Blind in England (train them from 6 weeks to approx 12 months of age, then they go back for advanced training) & we used to take them everywhere - shops, trains, buses, etc. This included church, but we’d usually sit at the back with the dog. One piece of advice - if taking the dog in for Christmas Day service, don’t feed them sprouts before hand…
One English MP (David Blunkett) is blind & takes his guide dog into the houses of parliament with him and on all his official engagements. That’s probably one of the more unusual places that they’ve been.
Thanks for the answers so far. Maybe I just wasn’t looking hard enough. fierram that info about the English MP is fascinating.
My parents do puppy walking for the Guide Dogs Association, and they take the dogs to church. One of the previous ministers was blind, and his dog would lie at the front of the church and fart throughout the service…