Pets populated the pews at Grace Church, at Broadway and 10th St., Sunday at the Blessing of the Animals, in honor of the Feast of St. Francis Assisi. Reverends Ted Pardoe and Linda Bartholomew officiated at the ceremony, which featured mostly dogs, plus two cats. “This was a celebration of our special relationship with our pets and the unconditional love they give us,” remarked one parishioner. At the Church of the Nativity, at Second Ave. and Second St., the turnout was a bit smaller, just four pet parishioners. “There was a Yorkie named Tiger and a dog named Princess — I don’t know the breed,” reported congregant Teresea Abreu. “Tiger was chasing around Princess.” The rain might have dampened the numbers this year, she said.
