The dogs were decked out in sweaters and birthday hats. They had cold snouts, soft coats and the dispositions of Job. For more than an hour on a recent Saturday, they sat beneficently as dozens of children petted them.
They are members of the canine ministry at Irvine's Mariners Church, which organizers say may be one of a kind.
Its mission: to put people at ease and begin a process that could lead them to God.
"They are able to break down walls that we often can't," said Sheree King, a Mariners outreach director.
"The dogs facilitate relationships. They start a conversation" ultimately enabling church members to make their pitch.
The program began eight years ago when Paul Bogenrief, now 60, visited the church Sunday school with Sadie III, his golden retriever. Some of the small children found the dog's presence comforting, so he started taking her there every week.
The dog ministry expanded to other places. Today, program coordinator Janene Bankson says, it consists of eight dogs, most owned by church members.
Much of the dogs' work involves going to monthly birthday parties for poor residents at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.
They also help with foster kids, preside over learning programs in which children are more comfortable reading to the dogs than to adults and act as canine comfort counselors at church mountain camps.
"They show unconditional love and don't expect anything back," said Bankson, whose 2-year-old black Labrador retriever Reyna is a ministry dog. "They are always happy and don't see any difference between us. They bring people in."
That certainly seemed to be happening at the motel party where, despite multicolored balloons, face-painting, cupcakes and pizza, the dogs were the centers of attention.
Attended largely by the poor families comprising the bulk of the inn's clientele, the parties mark the birthdays of residents who can't celebrate on their own.
But they have another purpose as well, King said; they pave the way for a walk toward the Lord. "We try to meet the families where they are," she said.
For Jessica Eden, a 16-year-old who has lived at the motel for two years, that meant recalling a time when she had pets of her own.
"I love them," she said of the Mariner dogs. "The little kids need to show affection, they need to pet these dogs."
Amanda Santiago, whose 8-year-old daughter, Michelle, couldn't leave the dogs alone, said she too appreciated the distraction.
