9/16/2015
Kathryn Bellis poses for a picture with her dog Leo at the Church of Our Saviour
Photo: Anthony Edwards / Rutland Herald
Church of Our Saviour, Killington was host to a thank-you gathering following the return of a dog named Leo who fled the scene of a tragic car accident in July.
A story about the gathering by Dan Colton appeared in the Rutland Herald: “It’s part of my journey that (Leo) brought me to the (Church of our Savior),” Bellis said. “It’s the power of prayer. My husband believed in the circle of life… The circle brought us here.”
Leo was found near church’s cemetery the Tuesday after the crash, Bellis said, about four days after his disappearance. He was covered in mud, she said, and was sore for about a week.
The dog’s spirits were high during Sunday’s gathering. A blue bandana was tied around his neck, and his golden fur was soft and smooth to pat. His nose was wet, his tail wagging, his brown eyes sharp and friendly.
The Rev. Lee Crawford of Church of Our Savior blessed Leo during the morning’s mass.
“May you be for your person a reminder of God’s unconditional and unending love,” Crawford said during the blessing. “And may you bring much happiness to your person.