I was recently in Buffalo, New York for my semi-annual pilgrimage to its renowned sacred sites (Target, Walden Galleria, Kentucky Greg’s), and happened to meet Oliver, the local Greyhound Rescue ambassador. Associate minister Keltie and I borrowed him for the afternoon and took him to Macy’s where he ruthlessly critiqued our dress selections. Thanks to his tough-love advice, there will be no more muffin tops coming out of this bakery.

On a serious note: Greyhounds are loving, gentle creatures who get a bad rep. If you’re looking for an even-tempered and quiet family dog, you could do a lot worse. Contact your local Greyhound Rescue the next time you’re on the lookout for a new pet. You won’t regret it.

Little Spunky here is maybe one of the friendliest dogs I’ve ever met. If I had ten more like him, what a spiritual force we would be – I can see us now, wagging and licking our way into the hearts and minds of grumps the world over. More pics after the jump. (more…)

Woodland hikes bring the careful evangelist many opportunities for making new friends. This Midland Chorus Frog promised he would spread the word to flies and mosquitoes on his daily rounds. Then he winked at me.

No, I don’t get it.

Reader submission! Dearly Beloved, the HTA assembly has clearly been blessed by the attentions of travelling minister Caitlin, who’s just back from a mission to the wilds of Cuba. She was instrumental in the successful conversion of a baby goat, seen here taking his first ever communion. As our illustrious founder was often fond of saying, “Get ‘em while they’re young.”

Reader submission! Here we see Ashley from Toronto reaching out to the canine community of Madrid, Spain. He roused himself from a sidewalk siesta long enough to grasp the message and go back to sleep. Catholics.

Reader submission! Keltie from Toronto met this handsome mixed-breed named Bowie during a recent trip to Los Angeles. He now runs an all-night bone kitchen for the homeless dogs of Venice Beach. The power of conversion acknowledges no national boundaries.

Reader submission! I am very encouraged to see guest pastor Caitlin from Toronto reaching out to our underwater bretheren. She says:

I was in Montreal for a week and wound up visiting the botanical gardens, where they have a koi fish pond. I have a small pond at home with 2 goldfish, but my girls aren’t this friendly! This monster came almost out of the water to have a scritch.

This is some top notch ministering, Caitlin. Let the zeal of this convert stand as a reminder to us all that sucessful outreach goes beyond the things that creepeth upon the earth.

Our roving ministerial team discovered this at-risk Staffordshire Terrier on Chelsea Pier all the way in New York City. Mere moments after this picture, he was leading all those guys behind him in hymns of praise.

If Parliament Hill is Lourdes, then the All About Pets Show must be the next best thing to the Pearly Gates. Here, a fellow evangelist is seen curing a stubborn case of The Mondays in this pure bred Burmese.

Tascha here works in a kayak lifestyle shop in Haliburton. HTA strongly advocates on behalf of exhausted salesdogs.