Pets in Madrid receive blessings marking Feast of Saint Anthony

(17 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Madrid, Spain - 17 January 2026
1. Exterior of Saint Anthony Church
2. Various of pets getting blessed
3. Sign of the oratory reading (Spanish) "Oratorio"
4. Teddy the dog getting blessed
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Manuel Ruiz, estate agent, Teddy's owner:
"It's supposed to (protect the animals) yes. Yes, we have faith in it and at least for the animals, it's a pleasure the way they are treated and everything. And for them, it's, well, the maximum."
6. Various of pets getting blessed
7. Kia after being blessed
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rosa Gomez, Kia's owner:
"She is a little dog that was given to us six years ago by a family that couldn't take care of her, so we adopted her, and since then she has kept us great company. She does us all a lot of good at home, and well, I have faith. I always come to this church, and I wanted to bring her here. It's the first year we've come, and I'm happy to be able to do it."
9. Various of animal blessings
10. Pablo getting blessed
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Anita Iglesias, telephone operator, Pablo's owner:
"And I think it's wonderful. It's such a beautiful tradition because they don't do it in France, and I come every year."
12. Various of interior of church with animals
STORYLINE:
Dozens of pet owners took their animals to church on a damp Saturday morning where Catholic priests blessed them on the Day of St Anthony, the patron saint of animals.

The ceremony took place on the steps outside the Saint Anthony Church in central Madrid where dogs and cats waited patiently to be sprinkled with holy water.

Church leader's of the lively central church believe it was normal for animals to be blessed, houses, gardens and even roads are asked to be blessed nowadays.

The Catholic tradition is meant to bring the animals health and protection for the coming year.

A crowded annual mass also takes place on the day, where the pets are welcome inside the church.

The Municipal Police band played traditional festive music whilst many dogs looked on.

Believers are also meant to buy bread rolls for Saint Anthony, in a festival that has been part of the Madrid calendar since the 1980s.

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