Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, turtles and even macaws are some of the pets that participated this Wednesday in Valencia in the blessing of animals on the occasion of the festival of San Antonio Abad, considered the patron saint of animals.
The Archbishop of Valencia, Enrique Benavent, was in charge of blessing the animals, who usually ask through their owners for health for the entire year, in an event that was also attended by the mayor, María José Catalá.
Dogs of all sizes and breeds have taken in the blessing, although cats, rabbits and turtles have also been seen, and even a couple of macaws, whose owners the animal protection agents of the Local Police have asked for their papers to verify that everything was in order because they are exotic animals.
While traditional Valencian music was playing in the background, a child came up to have his two turtles blessed and Nina, a chihuahua who came to the blessing in disguise every year, did so on this occasion with a scarf around her neck and a hat. jean and sunglasses.
They have also gone through the long line of animals to bless the horses of the Local Police, the National Police and the Civil Guard, as well as the dogs of the special units and those of pulling and dragging.
They say that this blessing before the saint, better known in Valencia as Sant Antoni del Porquet, keeps them safe from diseases the rest of the year and every January 17 it brings together numerous curious people who come to see the hundreds of pets that parade with their "best clothes" on Sagunto Street in the Valencian capital.
One participant told EFE that he came because his dog "is going to be ten years old and older, his hind legs don't work well" and he hopes "that this year he will be better", while another has admitted that it was the first time. who is coming, unlike Nina's owner, who assures that she has not missed the dog's seven years because "it is her day and it is tradition."
The mayor has highlighted that this festival represents both "the enhancement of agriculture and farm animals, which people have cared for for decades", and "the affection for domestic animals", which demonstrates "the animalistic vocation of València and for animal welfare.
She has assured that she is "happy" to attend as mayor a party that she has "never missed" and that "brings together the largest number of animals that can occur in Spain", in addition to stating that it is "impressive" to see the entire Sagunto street. full when the blessing begins.
Catalá has valued the joint work they do with the brotherhood not only for this event, but for actions that promote adoption, and has indicated that last year almost 700 pet animals were adopted, while highlighting that for the first time The City Council has created an Animal Welfare Office.
