And when the doting pet owners in the shaded garden of the St Michael and All Angels church in Hall were called upon to share why their pet was special, the affection was near overwhelming.

''She loves me,'' a tiny boy whispered into the microphone. ''They're wiser than I'll ever be,'' another owner confessed. ''She's my soul mate,'' said another. And the puppy licks flowed.

Reverend Helen Dean said the blessing of the animals generally coincided with the feast of known animal-lover and wolf-whisperer St Francis of Assisi, and it was a day to celebrate love.

''It's the love of God, the love of one another, and the love that we have with animals and the world around us,'' Reverend Dean said.

''I think pets help us to develop our own capacity to love and relate, not just to them but to one another.''

Lining up for blessings after the service was a collection of dogs, a shoebox of mice, and even a rescued eastern long-necked turtle brought along by 11-year-old Lillian Burless.

Lillian brought Mertle the turtle home from the RSPCA after the previously injured creature was deemed too shy to be released back into the wild.

''She's really interesting and I can take her out for walks,'' Lillian said.

Passionate about all animals, Lillian raised $400 with her friends on RSPCA Cupcake Day.

Another animal lover, 11-year-old Lara Troy-O'Leary, had originally wanted to ride her horse to the church from her family's home in Flynn, but was dissuaded by her parents.

Last year, Lara brought along her guinea pig to be blessed, but this year was with her two long-haired chihuahuas. Back at home, she has 15 guinea pigs, 14 horses, one more dog, two cats, two quails, two hermit crabs, lots of fish and four chickens.

''I like company because I'm an only child. I don't have a brother or sister to annoy me, so I have pets to annoy me instead,'' she said.

She said the pets were just like siblings ''except cuter''.