PONIES, donkeys and dogs were blessed yesterday as part of an annual blessing of pets at a church near Abergavenny.

Pets and their owners filled St Michael’s Church, Llanvihangel Crucorney, for the fifth year running to be blessed by The Rev Derek Lee in the 45-minute service.

There were 16 animals in attendance, including two donkeys, two ponies and a variety of dogs such as a Swiss mountain dog, labradors and King Charles spaniels.

Sebastian, a 13-year-old miniature Shetland pony from the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies Horse Hospital in Monmouth was also blessed at the service and has been attending since its origin.

All the animals were blessed individually by the reverend and the congregation of 60 people sang hymns including For the Fruits of His Creation.

They also remembered working dogs who go to war and said a prayer for the work of animal welfare charities including Nowzad, which rescues stray and abandoned dogs in Afghanistan, which was formed by Pen Farthing, a Royal Marine.

Sian Lloyd, a parishioner and trustee of Monmouth’s SWHP who organised the event, said: “It was a beautiful service.

“All the animals were well behaved and a couple of dogs were even howling along to the hymns.

“It was really lovely to see more children here than last year and great to see lots of new faces. It was our first service with donkeys who were owned by a boy from the village.”

The service attracted people from Abergavenny, Govilon and Ebbw Vale.