When Fran Weil and Gail Arnold were dealing with the imminent death of their West Highland white terrier last March, the rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers mentioned them during a Sunday service.

“We particularly want to say a prayer for Preston, Fran, and Gail,’’ said the Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas.

“It was touching for me to have that acknowledged in such a lovely, warm, and public way,’’ said Weil, of Danvers. “So, I went up to Thea afterward and said, ‘We should think about having a pet ministry,’ and in her characteristic way, she said, ‘OK.’ ’’

After much research, the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry was launched at the church in May. “It’s been quite a ride,’’ Weil said.

The pet ministry service takes place the third Sunday of each month, from 5 to 5:30 p.m. It attracts 25 to 40 people, many of whom bring their dogs and a few who bring cats. Most are not regular church members.

The pet ministry also includes a pet bereavement support group, led by Weil. There is talk of forming a pet food pantry. Other churches have expressed interest in using the ministry — the only one of its kind in New England — as a model.

“I expected it to be interesting, challenging, and fun, and it has been all of those things,’’ said Keith-Lucas.

Not all of the attention it’s attracted has been welcome. One news service reported it “under ‘News of the Weird,’ which is not really what I wanted to see, ’’ the minister said.

“Some reports made it sound like we were trying to save the souls of dogs, which is not only unnecessary but not advisable,’’ Keith-Lucas said. “I don’t really think it makes a difference to the dogs whether they get brought to church. It’s a spiritual outreach to people through their animals.’’