Raindrops mixed with holy water blessed barking dogs, cowering cats, rabbits, birds and assorted feathered and furry friends at Wednesday's blessing of the animals at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

The annual St. Francis of Assisi rite brought out a veritable Noah's ark of man's best friends and relatives.

It might have rained cats and dogs but that didn't scare away this group of about 40 animal lovers.

Sara DeCrevel brought her matching shihtzus -- Bart, Buck and Bootsie to the church. "They need a blessing," she said, asking Bart to stop barking.

"Maybe he will settle down," she said with a laugh, as the three dogs wound their way around her ankles on three leashes.

Agi Smith brought her Doberman puppy Zeus, named after a Greek god, for a blessing from the Christian God.

"We can use all the prayers we can get," said Smith. "We think he might be getting hip dysplaysia," of the 60-pound and still growing pet.

Ellen Oberting, a seventh-grader at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, carried three rabbits and four white doves to the blessing.

The rabbits, named Duchess, E-2 and E-100 quietly sat in their cages, as school children took turns carrying them around. Oberting's four white doves were safely ensconced in a bird backpack the student wore.

Oberting said the doves and bunnies would have to represent the 30-odd animals they have at home, many of them birds in an outdoor aviary. The Oberting home is known as somewhat of a Dr. Doolittle sanctuary around town.

Jim Asbury didn't bring a pet to the blessing.

"What's going to happen with the dogs that start chasing the rabbits and the cats start chasing the birds?" he asked. "I'm sticking around to see what happens."

Marvin Paul escorted chocolate Lab Ollie to the church.

"The kids really wanted me to come down after school," he said. Paul stood to one side, avoiding a dog sniff-a-thon taking place near the fountain.

Jim Beasley brought granddaughter Alexis' two dogs, beagle Frodo and Lincoln, a black Great Dane puppy, with paws already the size of small plates.

"Dogs need blessings just like we do," said Beasley.

Juliana Franzino, a third-grader at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, carried her sister's turtle, Moe, in a box.

"We can't bring our cat," said Franzino, "she doesn't like to be in a cage."

When asked what she wanted for her turtle, Franzino consulted with friend Madison Paul and then said, "world peace."

Jose Hernandez wore his colorful cockatiel Pepita, on his shoulder. He wanted the blessing, "to keep the bird in good health," he said through a translator.

Hernandez seemed to be a bird lover, also bringing four Australian parakeets.

Guiding guests under the church eaves, out of the rain, Father Gordon Kalil began the blessing.

"We pray for the intercessions of St. Francis of Assisi," he said. "A blessing on the animals and their owners. Keep them safe. Be mindful of the beauty of creation."

Using a bundle of tied leaves gathered from a tree near the church bell tower, Kalil dipped the bunch into a bowl of holy water and liberally sprinkled the crowd and animals. The priest even added some holy water to a gold fish bowl.

At a previous blessing a pet mouse unfortunately expired. This year, there were no such tragedies. In fact, one hermit crab actually emerged from his shell during the event, as if drawn out by the holy spectacle, said Kalil.

After the pronouncement, Pat Martin held her Welsh terrier Jasper, who seemed a little anxious at all the other dogs around. Daughter Victoria, a fourth-grader at Shearer Elementary School watched carefully.

"Our family is blessed, and we want our animals to be blessed too," said Martin.

Narcisa Orihuela of Napa carried two of her five chihuahuas. The tiny tan colored puppies, just 2-months old, are named Chachi and Chiquita, she said.

"It's a Mexican tradition to get the blessing," she said, hoping for a long life for her pets.

"We're here to honor love," said Kalil afterward.

"So often we get lost with complicated lives. God reminds us about the beauty of creation and the love of animals. And hopefully that extends to the two-legged animals as well," he said. "Look at the faces around us. So often we disconnect, we need to be reminded of how to love so easily."

A cacophony of barking and shrieking dogs rose as the animals parted ways.

With a final sprinkling to a late arrival and a wave, the priest was off to his next appointment. A light rain fell on his shoulders, as if being blessed himself.