Pets, owners flock to Madrid church for blessing of animals

[January 18, 2019]  MADRID (Reuters) - Dogs, cats and birds were blessed at a church in Madrid on Thursday on the feast day of St. Anthony, the patron saint of animals, with many of the owners making an annual pilgrimage for their pets.

St Anthony the Abbot's church priest Angel Garcia expected up to 15,000 pets to be brought in for this year's ceremony.

"St. Anthony cared a great deal about dogs and abandoned animals, healing and feeding them. That's where the tradition comes from," said the priest, who blesses each animal.

"We come here every year since I have her and we come together, right Rita?" Madrid resident Maria Diaz said to her dog as she was hugging it. "St. Anthony is going to bless you. Do not tremble!"

Diana Castillo, another dog owner, said she was keeping up a family tradition, started by her grandparents who would bring their pets to the ceremony, first celebrated 35 years ago.

A dog licks her owner after being blessed by a priest as pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of Spain's patron saint of animals, Saint Anthony, outside San Anton Church in Madrid, Spain, January 17, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

"We are from Madrid for several generations and St. Anthony has always been a very important church for our family ... I come here since we adopted her seven years ago and we come every year."

(Reporting by Sabela Ojea Guix, editing by Andrei Khalip)

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