The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Originally written by both my lovely wife, Jennifer and me, this blog brings you the latest news about our furry friends including articles, columns, photos and videos. Enjoy!

THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.

TODAY:  Some clouds this morning, mainly sunny this afternoon. High near 35.  “D”

SUNDAY:  Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. High around 35. “D”

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.

Does It Matter Whether Dog Training Is Positive or Aversive?

We Tried It: A Dog DNA Test that Helps Determine a Canine’s Real Age.

Why Does My Dog Sleep So Much?

VIDEO: ‘He’s touched so many lives’: Why this dog was honored with a portrait.

Alaska: 4 dogs boarded a bus in Skagway. The internet rejoiced.

Great American Dog Show coming to Schaumburg this weekend.

Naughty dog: It’s an open and shut case.

ANOTHER naughty dog.

Time to dig into The Barking Lot vault for this oldie by my wife from November 2009:

If you have read even ONE Barking Lot blog, you know of my love for all things canine.  You know that while I don’t place a dog’s life on the same level as a human’s, I believe I know some dogs that are smarter than their owners.

Growing up, we had a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in our back yard.  That stone likeness of St. Francis watched over Sugar, Skippy, Tommy, and Thumper as they found their “eternal resting place” in our former vegetable garden.  I also vividly recall when I was in fourth grade, taking Sugar to my grade school parish’s ceremony of the Blessing of The Animals on the feast of St. Francis.

I am not going to wax philosophic this entire blog about dogs, spirituality, etc.  I would end up offending someone on one side of the issue or the other.  Or, perhaps both sides of the issue.  I have my own feelings and opinions that everyone is entitled to.  In fact, I must admit that I find Friar Jack Wintz’s perspective on dogs in Heaven intriguing.

Having said all of that…  While I feel there is a place in the spiritual hierarchy for every four-legged friend, I also feel that there is a time and a place for them to join us during our regular worship. 

Kevin has blogged about our breathtaking St. Anthony’s many, many times.  It is a church to be proud of, and has everything that makes a church feel like a church.  From the beautiful and recently renovated stained glass windows to the stately and impressive pipe organ, when you attend mass at St. Anthony’s, you have attended mass.  I honestly can NOT imagine a Sunday where, per my usual routine: 

1. I get dropped off with Kyla at the front of the steps
2. I stop in the vestibule for a weekly missal and hymnal
3. I dip my fingers in the holy water just inside church, and
4. I stop to pet hello to a yellow lab?????

I understand that “numbers are down” for regular attendees of Sunday mass.  I find it sad and disturbing that our pews are not full every week.  There are many times when I think the homily is not truly directed at the group sitting in the seats, but something the priest feels he must say.  While I love tradition, I don’t necessarily have a problem with a modern interpretation on an old story if it gets a point across and reaches your heart and soul.

But there is a LIMIT to what I am willing to accept as means of growing a congregation.  What the …?  Are you kidding me… dogs in CHURCH????  As I mentioned, St. Anthony’s is extremely traditional.  The founding members of this beautiful house of worship would be turning over in their graves at the thought of this. 

I’m sorry, I’m not bringing Milk Bones and a water dish to Sunday mass.

—Jennifer Fischer, November 6, 2009

Finally in late November of last year, somewhere in South America, a dog entered a Catholic Church and slept next to an image of Jesus. Some of the parishioners noticed it and told the priest, and the priest said: “Let him be and don’t bother him, he has every right to be with his Lord and Master.”

That’s it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

We’d really appreciate it if you forward this on to other dog lovers you know. Let them have some fun!

See ya, BARK, next Saturday!

ICYMI, last week’s year-end edition.