Holy meow! Owners from all over the world get their beloved pets blessed at local churches

Published: 01:52 BST, 5 October 2026 | Updated: 01:53 BST, 5 October 2026

It is the most blessed day on the calendar for furry friends and beloved pets all over the world.

For October 4 marks the Catholic feast day of the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day.

Parishes across the globe hold animal blessings on the first Sunday of October to remember the saint who was known for his compassion and love for all living things.

Priests in the US, Chile, the Philippines have spent the day blessing pets at their churches.

At Malate Church in Manila, parishioners brought their precious pets including cats, dogs and even a pet snail for a sacred blessing.

Father Leonito Distor, parish priest of Malate Church, said: 'We are blessing the animals and plants and this is so much in relation to the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi... so the Malate parish has been advocating this one.'

Churchgoers formed orderly queues as they waited patiently for a priest to bless their faithful companions with holy water. 

For 32-year-old nurse Gaudine Supnet, who owns four Shih Tzu dogs, October 4 is a very special day.

It is a day for owners to show unconditional love to their pets while honoring St Francis of Assisi.

A dog is blessed at The Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York on October 4

A Catholic priest blesses pets with holy water during the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals

A member of the clergy blesses a dog during a St Francis Day as the owner watches on smiling

Pet owners stand in a queue to receive holy water sprinkled by a priest at Malate Church in Manila

A woman holds the leash of a dog as pet owners bring their animals to Saint Francis of Assisi celebrations in Valparaiso, Chile

Owners pictured alongside their pets arriving outside the church in the Philippines 

A member of the clergy blesses two dogs as a man kneels and prays behind them 

A grumpy cat in a bubble bags doesn't know how lucky it is ahead of getting a blessing

A woman carries her dog while receiving communion prior to the blessing of the animals at a ceremony in Santiago, Chile

Owners smile while holding up their very large dogs as a Catholic priest blesses their pooches

A priest blesses a dog with holy water at San Francisco Church in Panama City's Old Quarte on October 4

Four very stylish dogs pose, some with their tongues out for a picture outside the church

Spectators gather to watch pet owners wait in a very long queue to have their beloved animals blessed

A Catholic priest sprinkles holy water on people's pets as he blesses them outside of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Sitting pawfectly: Nine dogs sit on a bench inside the church before the start of a holy mass

Holy meow! One very adorable cat rests on its owners shoulders while it awaits a sacred blessing

'They are part of our family... Not exactly like us in the sense that they can't speak, but they do have emotions,' she said.

'I want them to feel, in some way, that we are grateful for their presence in our lives; that's why we have them blessed.'

A blessing for pets was not the only offering available at Malate Church on the patron saint's feast day. 

The church even organised free pet vaccinations for dogs and cats in the parking lot.