Blessings for furry COVID companions

Rambo the sheep, a goat named Sue and a chihuahua that helped finish a PhD have been formally blessed for helping their humans get through the pandemic.

Wednesday's annual Blessing of the Animals, at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane, didn't quite match Noah's Ark as far as biodiversity goes. But the array of creatures, great and small, was impressive nonetheless.

On the great end there was retired race horse Wirnpa. On the small, Juno the chihuahua and his guinea pig housemate Snowy.

In the middle were all things bright and beautiful: Rambo, Sue, a pig, lambs, chickens and ducks, heaps of dogs, a cat, a pig, and even an alpaca.

Unfortunately the camels that were due to attend were a late scratch.

Campus Chaplain, Father Harry Chan, led Wednesday's service in commemoration of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

He said it was a way to honour the role furry friends have played in helping Australians cope with the pandemic by dining with them, curling up for a cuddle at the end of a hard day, even hijacking Zoom meetings.

"The pandemic has given us uncertainty and isolation," he said.

"In that same time our pets have given us love and joy and asked for nothing in return."

Alison Peeler is a teaching nurse who lectures at the university. She got Juno the chihuahua not long before the pandemic hit and credits the tiny pooch with helping her finish her nursing-related PhD.

"She's been such an amazing little study buddy," she said.

"She loves being with you. It's just easy."

Ms Peeler jokingly refers to herself as "Saint Francis of Assisi reincarnated", such is her love for animals.

The menagerie she and her husband live with includes Juno, Snowy, another guinea pig named Bluebell, Juno's best friend Molly, a smallish cat, and Mordecai, an 8kg monster kitty that towers over Juno.

Mordecai was never a contender for Wednesday's service. He's too grumpy.

But Ms Peeler likes the fact that Juno and Snowy were there, and she was able to Facetime the service to cheer up her mum, who's been unwell of late.

Father Harry says the Franciscan tradition of blessing the animals is a way to give something back to "our companions on Earth ... and nurture a more interconnected community".