A day of pet blessings

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Jane Lee and JJ, the Golden Retriever, are balikbayans from Montreal, Canada who were among the 2,000 pets and owners who attended the grand Pet Blessing organized by The Philippine Animal Welfare Society ((PAWS) and Eastwood City. “We are so overwhelmed that there is an event such as this here and that we got to meet so many other animal lovers,” Lee said.

The sunglass-wearing canine, JJ, won the “Life of the Party” award chosen during the fun program before the Mass.  Lee mentioned that they are going to apply JJ as a therapy dog under PAWS’ Doctor Dog program within the month. 

Pet blessings were first organized by PAWS president Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco in 1995 to make people more aware of St. Francis of Assisi, the Catholic Church’s patron saint for the animals and the environment. Lichauco wanted Pinoys to emulate and follow the example of the humble saint who included the animals in his preachings of kindness and compassion. 

Now, the annual PAWS Pet Blessing, which falls on the first Sunday of October, has grown into a huge celebration by animal lovers and animal welfare advocates.

“It’s very timely that we are celebrating World Animal Day (WAD) just as President Noynoy Aquino recently signed the Amendment of the Animal Welfare Act - now, Republic Act or RA10631, “ said WAD Ambassador for the Philippines and PAWS executive director  Anna Cabrera.

As half of the attendees participated in the praying of the rosary and procession of the statue of St. Francis of Assisi around Eastwood City, those who stayed around at the Open Park had fun playing the animal trivia contest hosted by Patricia Hizon and listening to the music of Morisette from The Voice of the Philippines.

At 5:30 in the afternoon, Fr. Jose “Joey” Antonio Paras, SDB started the celebration of the Holy Mass for the Animals and was assisted by Fr. Eugene Lucerna. In his homily Fr. Joey urged all attendees to “widen their circle of compassion to include animals” as they are also “part of God’s creation.” The priest is an animal lover and a long-time supporter of PAWS and has been doing the pet blessings for the organization for the past four years.

Also during the Mass, former congresswoman Bernadette Herrera-Dy, author of the amendment of the AWA in Congress, read the First Reading while PAWS volunteers and shelter animals participated as Mass offerors.

Aside from the usual dogs and cats, among the pets blessed this year were several hamsters, a group of turtles, a hedgehog and a rabbit.

The 2013 PAWS Pet Blessing was made possible through the support of Eastwood Mall and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, in cooperation with Pet One. Special thanks to Frontline Plus, JMY Flower Experts, Dogs and the City and the Philippine STAR Pet Life Section.