Catholic Prayers for Pets: Sick, Dying and Lost Pets

Our pets are gifts from God, and it is good and natural to pray for them when they are sick, lost or dying, and to thank God for them when they die. The Catechism teaches that “animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care” (CCC 2416). Below are Catholic prayers for a sick pet, a dying pet, a lost pet and the death of a pet, a blessing for a new pet, the patron saints of animals, Scripture and what the Church teaches about animals and heaven.

A prayer for a sick pet

Written for this page:

Loving Father, you care for every creature you have made,
and not one sparrow falls without your knowledge.
I bring before you (name), our dog (cat), who is sick.
Ease his (her) pain, guide the hands of the veterinarian,
and, if it is your will, restore him (her) to health.
Thank you for the joy and companionship you give us through him (her).
St. Francis and St. Roch, pray for us. Amen.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows.

A prayer for a dying pet

Lord, (name) is near the end of his (her) life.
Thank you for every year, every walk, every greeting at the door.
Keep him (her) free from pain and fear,
help us to make wise and loving decisions for his (her) care,
and give us the strength to say goodbye. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page.

A prayer when a pet dies

Creator of all things, we thank you for (name),
for the love and loyalty he (she) gave us
and for the happiness of the years we shared.
Comfort us in our grief, which is real because our love was real.
We entrust him (her) to your goodness,
knowing that nothing you have made is forgotten by you. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page.

A prayer for a lost pet

St. Anthony, finder of what is lost, and St. Francis, friend of animals,
pray that (name) may be found safe and soon.
Lord, protect him (her) from danger, hunger and cold,
and guide him (her) home or to someone who will help. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page. See the St. Anthony prayer.

A blessing for a new pet

Blessed are you, Lord God, who made the animals of the earth.
Bless (name), who has come to share our home.
Keep him (her) healthy and safe,
and help us to care for him (her) with patience and kindness. Amen.

This blessing was written for this page. Many parishes also bless animals on or near the Feast of St. Francis on October 4, and in Spain and Italy on the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot, January 17.

Patron saints of animals and pets

St. Francis of Assisi (October 4): patron of animals and of ecology.
St. Anthony the Abbot (January 17): patron of domestic animals and farm animals.
St. Roch (August 16): patron of dogs, fed by a dog when he was sick. See the prayer to St. Roch.
St. Gertrude of Nivelles (March 17): popularly invoked as a patron of cats.
St. Martin de Porres (November 3): known for his gentleness with animals. See the St. Martin de Porres prayer.

See all the patron saints of animals.

What the Church teaches about animals

Animals give glory to God. “By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness” (CCC 2416).
We must not make them suffer needlessly. “It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly” (CCC 2418).
Love them rightly. The same paragraph adds that “one can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.”

The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Do pets go to heaven?

The Church has not defined an answer. Catholic teaching is that human beings have immortal souls in a unique way, and animals do not share in that kind of soul. At the same time, Scripture speaks of a “new heaven and a new earth” in which all creation will be renewed, and we can trust that God, who made our pets and gave us the love we have for them, will not disappoint us. It is right to grieve a pet and to thank God for its life.

Frequently asked questions

Can Catholics pray for their pets?

Yes. It is good to pray for any need, including the health and safety of animals in our care, and to thank God for them.

Who is the patron saint of pets?

St. Francis of Assisi is the best-known patron of animals and pets; St. Anthony the Abbot is the patron of domestic animals, and St. Roch of dogs.

Is it okay to grieve the death of a pet?

Yes. Grief is a sign of real love and companionship. Bring your sorrow to God in prayer and thank him for the gift your pet was.

Can a priest bless my pet?

Yes. Priests often bless animals on the feast of St. Francis or St. Anthony the Abbot, and many will bless a pet at another time if asked.

More prayers

Texts and sources

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2416, 2418.
Scripture: Matthew 10:29–31; Psalm 144:9 (145:9 in modern Bibles), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayers and blessings were written for this page.