Blessing of pets marks Sin’s birthday celebration

More than 130 dogs were blessed and received anti-rabies shots yesterday at a Manila parish in commemoration of the late Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin’s 78th birth anniversary.

Dog owners trooped to the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church located inside Cardinal Sin Village in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, the first time animals were blessed in the two-year-old parish.

The dogs also received vaccination from a pro-animal rights group Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA).

Parish priest Fr. Mark Munda said the blessing of animals was part of the commemoration of Cardinal Sin’s birthday last Aug. 31. Sin died on June 21 last year from multiple organ failure as a result of a blood infection.

Activities during the three-day commemoration included the consecration of the church and the staging of a play depicting the life of the late Cardinal.

Yesterday’s events were dedicated to animal welfare.

Munda admitted that while the Cardinal had preferred parrots over dogs and cats, he generally loved animals.

The priest said he owns two dogs — a seven-year-old male Boxer named Rocky and 18-month-old female Belgian Malinois named Cucay.

Nancy Cu Unjieng, CARA president, said their organization was formed in year 2000 to offer anti-rabies shots to pets in depressed areas in Metro Manila.

"We want pet owners to feel good and realize that it is not only humans who need to be blessed," she said. "A lot of pets in depressed areas have owners who do not have the time and financial ability for anti-rabies shots so we are concentrating on depressed areas."

Veterinarians led by Dr. Rey del Napoles performed the vaccination. They also distributed dog food, pamphlets on rabies, and CARA brochures.

They are planning to return to Punta Sta. Ana as soon as they are able to refill their vaccine stock.