Legend has it that Francis, while visiting the town of Gubbio, interceded in an ongoing conflict between a wolf and the townspeople. The ravenous wolf attacked not only other animals, but fed upon humans also. The people sought to kill the beast, but St. Francis, who saw all creatures as fellow children of God, faced the wolf. It charged at him, ready to bite, as he commanded "Brother Wolf", in the name of Christ, to hurt no one. As the story goes, he made the Sign of the Cross, and the wolf shut its jaws and laid at the saint's feet like a lamb. A truce was struck… the people were to feed the wolf, and he would no longer hunt them. He became, in essence, their pet. (from The Little Flowers of St. Francis)

Within nature, St. Francis of Assisi saw God reflected. And, like us, all of God's creatures need to hear of the blessings of Christ. The St. Francis Trail will be a series of paths and stations in and amongst the dog pens that will allow the visitor to find places of solitude, prayer, and contemplation. A back cabin with a cooking station even provides a nice place to shelter from the elements and even "break bread" with friends. Adorned with scripture, sculpture, and the beauty of nature, we hope clients can experience some of what St. Francis saw of the Lord through His Creation.