Dozens of animals accompanied their owners to a Sunday church service dedicated to pets. One dog barked along as the 130-strong congregation at Northampton's Park Avenue Methodist Church sang hymns, said church steward Tony Bayes.
A tortoise and tadpoles were among the pets which were each blessed by the minister, the Rev Dave Tomlin.
The service, part of the church's 80th anniversary celebration, focused on the need to live in harmony with animals.
"I did ask the congregation to leave horses, elephants and alligators in the foyer," Mr Tomlin said.
He added the only puddle left behind after the hour-long All Creature Great and Small service was down to him knocking a cockatiel's cage and spilling its water.
The service featured stories told from the viewpoint of animals and challenged parishioners to consider the effects of everyday human consumerism on other creatures, he said.
The church borrowed the pet service idea from other churches and the BBC comedy series The Vicar of Dibley, starring Dawn French.
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