A guide dog puppy from Caerphilly has been blessed at a church service in Newport.
Julius, a four-month-old Labrador retriever cross, was blessed and sprinkled with holy water at St Julian’s Parish Church during a Harvest Mass.
The dog was accompanied by volunteer puppy walker Beryl Handford, who is teaching him basic good behaviour before he embarks on formal guide dog training. Mrs Handford brought him to meet church members after they raised £1,500 for the privilege of choosing his name.
The blessing coincided with the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, which commemorates the patron saint of animals.
Father David Matthews said: “It’s the first time I have blessed a guide dog, although I have blessed other animals.”
He added: “All over the parish, people come up to us with their loose change, and we collect it for Guide Dogs. It’s a lovely way of doing something for people who need us.”