About 45 members of the public and about 15 pets, including a guinea pig and a dozen dogs, attended the 2pm gathering, during which The Cathedral Consort sang.
`This service is always really about giving thanks for what animals give us,' he said.
SPCA Otago education manager and inspector Stephanie Saunders said that four years ago, she had adopted Tui, a six-year-old American Staffordshire terrier.
Tui had earlier been seized from a gang house in the North Island, after attempts by gang members to make her aggressive had failed, and the dog had been locked up and left to starve to death.
Tui had since achieved ``wonderful things'' by helping Ms Saunders to communicate with some at risk young people in Dunedin.
'There's no barrier between the dog and the child. They establish a rapport very quickly. She's so gentle and calm, it has an effect on the children', she said.
Pets such as dogs provided their owners with endless and unconditional love, and she reminded owners of the responsibilities that went with that affection.
Retired city resident Clive McNeill, who attended the service, said his dog Poppy had provided him with 'wonderful'' companionship, over the past two years they had been together `we've just bonded so well'.
