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Pets receive blessings in drive-through ceremony on World Animal Day

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Adrian Portugal, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A priest sprinkles holy water as dogs look out from the car window at a drive-through pet blessing, a day before World Animal Day, at Eastwood Mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 3, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/10/03/20211003-philippines-animal-day.jpg"/><figcaption>A priest sprinkles holy water as dogs look out from the car window at a drive-through pet blessing, a day before World Animal Day, at Eastwood Mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 3, 2021. <em>Lisa Marie David, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Hundreds of animal lovers in the Philippines had their pets blessed via a drive-through ceremony on Sunday to mark World Animal Day and the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, forgoing the usual fanfare due to COVID-19.</p><p>This was the second straight year that organizers had to hold a drive-through ceremony to mark World Animal day - celebrated worldwide to recognize animal rights and welfare - to ensure the safety of the animals and owners.</p><p>The Philippines has recorded more than 2.5 million COVID-19 cases and more than 38,000 deaths and is one of Asia&#x27;s worst-affected countries in terms of casualties and economic losses.</p><p>Among those who patiently waited in the long queue of vehicles was Maxine Mariano, who brought Cookie, her seven-year old Shih Tzu, to receive a blessing from the priest who sprayed and sprinkled holy water on her beloved pet.</p><p>&quot;We believe that it&#x27;s for the long life also of our dog, and then also as Catholics it&#x27;s important to have them blessed as well just like us,&quot; Mariano said through the window of her car.</p><p>More than 500 animals of different shapes and sizes were blessed during the ceremony.</p><div><em>(Reporting by Adrian Portugal, Writing by Karen Lema; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)</em></div>

Animal lovers had their pets blessed via a drive-through ceremony on Sunday to mark World Animal Day and the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pets receive blessings in drive-through ceremony on World Animal Day

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Pets receive blessings in drive-through ceremony on World Animal Day

Adrian Portugal,

Reuters

Published Oct 03, 2021 10:07 PM PHT

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World Animal Day

Feast of St Francis

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