Dogs, turtle and snail receive blessings in churches

Dogs, a turtle and even a pet snail were among the animals blessed with holy water in Manila and Santiago on Sunday, as owners brought them to church to mark the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Priests prayed over the animals while families waited with their pets inside and outside the churches. In Manila, dogs sat beside their owners in church pews as priests blessed them one by one. One owner said the ceremony offered a chance to show gratitude for animals regarded as part of the family. Malate Church also provided free vaccinations for dogs and cats. In Santiago, a disabled dog travelled through the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in a wheelchair, while a turtle received a blessing in its aquarium.