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| SPCA Malta |
| The community gathers to honor animals in Malta. |
Across cultures, religions and languages, one thing many of us have in common is our love of animals. We do our best to protect and care for them, and they in turn give us comfort, assist us in our daily work, and provide us with constant, faithful companionship.
Traditionally a Catholic holiday, the Blessing of the Animals—held every year on or around October 4 to commemorate Saint Francis of Assisi—has become a worldwide festival, celebrated by a variety of religions in recognition of our animal friends. It also coincides with World Animal Day in early October. St. Francis of Assisi was a Roman Catholic friar and is the patron of animals and the environment. He believed that humans had the ability and moral responsibility to protect animals, a simple and compassionate edict that we should all do our best to live by.
This year, Humane Society International asked many of the groups we work with all over the world to share with us their celebrations of this event. From Peru to Saipan to Cameroon, churches and communities came together to honor all animals.
"For 30 years, we have celebrated World Animal Day with a Blessing of the Animals in the Church of San Francisco de Asis," says Rosario Quintanilla de Zellweger of Lima-based Asociación Amigos de los Animales. "Thousands of people come early in the morning, with every type of animal, and a mass of much love shared between humans and animals celebrates the brotherhood that should exist among species."
Even the smallest of animals was attended to.
"We had a great turnout for our first Blessing of the Animals," relates Katie Busenkell, President of Pet Assistance and Welfare Services of Saipan. "My favorite attendee? The boy who loved animals, but didn't own anything but a fish. So, he brought his fish to receive a blessing!" Busenkell says that Father Ryan Jimenez of Mt. Carmel Cathedral, where the blessing took place, is already planning for greater participation and more activities next year.
The Foundation for Animal Welfare Cameroon (FAWCAM) took part in World Animal Day by holding public discussions about animal welfare for the community and at schools. For the Blessing of the Animals, people brought their dogs to the local church to receive a blessing from Reverend Father Sergio and a free vaccination from FAWCAM volunteers.
"The event was publicized by radio and TV talks and press releases in our local newspapers," explains FAWCAM's Ben Wara. "We also organized a Tea Time party with students and schoolchildren, and a Gala Night to pay tribute to the animal kingdom."
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| ASOGUAU |
| Poster advertising the Blessing. |
The Lithuanian Society for the Protection of Animals also organized events to coincide with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi by declaring October 4 "Compassion Day," where Lithuanians were asked not to hunt or fish and farm animals were to be given a reprieve from slaughter.
In Venezuela, ASOGUAU combined a parade with the registration of almost 400 cats and dogs. The crowd then walked to the church to receive their blessings. "This year, we saw the participation of private businesses," says Nathalie Castillo of ASOGUAU. "We also had the important advertising support of the daily El Carabobeño newspaper and of radio station La Mega 95.7 in Valencia."
SPCA Malta also takes part in the Blessing of the Animals celebrations each year at their shelter in Floriana. Staff member Lara Refalo says her group loves to organize these events, and that it's very positive to see the community support them.
Other groups taking part in Blessing of the Animals events included ANIMAL in Portugal, Asociación Humanitaria San Franacisco de Asis in Peru, and AMEDEA in Mexico.
View our Blessing of the Animals 2007 Photo Gallery
