Blessing of the Animals in California

At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. As the prayer is offered, the pet is gently sprinkled with holy water.  The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

NOTE: The dates, times and details of these events are subject to change by the individual planners.

BELMONT SHORE -LONG BEACH: Blessing of the Animals October 22, 2023, 3 p.m.
1 Granada Ave.
Belmont Shore, CA
hautedogs.org
Blessing of the Animals. Rain or shine, more than 300 animals were blessed at last year's event on the concrete boat launch ramp at Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore.  The Interfaith Blessing of the Animals presented by Haute Dogs, Justin Rudd, is free to the public and their pets. Seniors, families, singles, and children, are encouraged to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets. All pets are welcome to this event.

MENDOCINO: Blessing of the Animals October 1, 2023, 2-2:30 p.m.  at Mendocino's Rotary Park.  P To celebrate World Animal Day, join Blessing of the Animals service day. This event is open to pets and people of all faiths. Hosted by St. Anthony's of Mendocino Catholic Church, the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, and Youth With A Mission. Profits  donated to Mendocino Coast Humane Society. Pets to be well-behaved and on leash or in carriers. Location: Little Lake Street, Mendocino, CA. mendocinohumane.org

NEWPORT BEACH: Blessing of the Animals October 8,  2023, 10 a.m.
St. James Episcopal Church
3209 Via Lido
Newport Beach, CA
stjamesnewport.org/events
in St. James Episcopal Church courtyard. Bring your pets for a doggy day out and a blessing to support Barks of Love Animal Rescue of Newport Beach.  Every dog has its day!

OCEANSIDE: St. Francis Festival - Blessing of the Animals Blessing of Animals Saturday, October 7, 2023, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at historic Mission San Luis Rey, 4050 Mission Dr., Oceanside, CA 
sanluisreyparish.org 
Held at the Old Mission San Luis Rey the community hosts the St. Francis Festival - Blessing of the Animals at the Parish. The Franciscan friars and staff of Mission San Luis Rey invite you to celebrate the feast of St. Francis with our annual Blessing of the Animals. Join a day of fun, food and fabulous furry friends! The Blessing of Animals will take place throughout the event. There will be food vendors, pet adoptions, animal demonstrations and much more! So bring your family and pets and join us for a fun day at the Mission. Please bring non-perishable food items as well as pet food to be donated to the Social Outreach Food Pantry. This is a free event.

SAN FRANCISCO: Blessing of the Animals October 1, 2023, 8:30-9:15 p.m.
 Grace Cathedral
1100 California St.
San Francisco, CA
Registration: gracecathedral.org  calendar-events/ holy-eucharist-feast-of-st-francis/
The Feast of St. Francis & Blessing of the Animals. Celebrate the patron saint of our city, animals, and the environment, with the blessings of individual pets to follow each service on the plaza. Special pet tags will be available for all friends that are blessed. Bring your finned, feathered, and fluffy friends for a special blessing as a token of the love St. Francis showed for all beings. Pets must be on a leash or in a secure carrier and are welcome at all Sunday services at 8:30 am, 11 am, and 6 pm.

Remember St. Francis of Assisi (feast day October 4) the patron and namesake of our San Francisco. With his associate, Clare, Francis lived a life of simplicity, active care for the poorest of the poor, and appreciation for the divine imprint in all creatures. Franciscan ideals continue to enliven and challenge us today. 

SANTA MONICA: Blessing of the Animals First Sunday in October 1, 2023, 10:30 a.m. service
Saint Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
1227 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
saint-augustine.org /blog/ blessing-of-the-animals-sun-oct-1/
Blessing of the Animals is usually at 10:30 a.m. service in the Sanctuary. 8am service in church will not include the animal blessings.

SANTA ROSA: Blessing of the Animals October 1, 2023, 2-5 p.m.
stfranciswinery.com /blessing-of-the-animals
St. Francis Winery Visitors Center
100 Pythian Road
Santa Rosa, CA
FREE but donations are encouraged. See stfranciswinery.com
Take part in the annual Blessing of the Animals event by bringing your best furry friend to be blessed here at the winery. If you have a dog, plan to show it off by participating in our "Winery Dog of the Year" contest. Wine, nibbles, special guests and fabulous raffle prizes donated by local pet-friendly businesses. Funds from event support the Humane Society of Sonoma County. Admission is free.

THOUSAND OAKS: 17th Annual Blessing of the Animals October 1, 2023, 6-6:30 p.m.
held First Sunday in October in Ascension Lutheran Church parking lot
1600 E. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA
alcto.org
Meet at the upper barking lot at Ascension Lutheran Church. The community is invited! In Judeo-Christian faith God calls on us to take care of all of creation, including the animals. Our pets, we know, become very important parts of our families. This outdoor worship service gives thanks to God for our pets and asks God's blessings on all of us, pets and people alike! Come early and stay longer to meet and greet pets and their people. At this time each year we remember Francis of Assisi. We bless pets and animals, creatures Francis called his brothers and sisters. The worship service will take place in the middle of the large upper parking lot. You may park in the lower parking lots or around the edge of the upper parking lot. 

LOS ANGELES: Blessing of the Animals October 14, 2023 after 5 p.m. Mass. 6:45 p.m. approx.
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
olachurch.org/ event-details/ st-francis-day-celebration-and-blessing-of-the-animals-1
 St. Francis Day Celebration and Blessing of the Animals | Saturday, October 14th after the 5pm Mass Join us for OLA's St. Francis Day Celebration and Blessing of the Animals after 5pm Mass on Saturday, October 14th. Sponsored by OLA's Care for Creation Ministry, come celebrate our Patron Saint of the Environment and Animals with dinner, face and pumpkin painting and gently worn tennis shoe collection. The Animal Blessing will begin at 6:45 p.m. (Dogs must be leashed.) Start collecting shoes to bring for donation to EcoSneakers who send gently worn tennis shoes to those who have none and others are recycled. For more information email careforcreation@olachurch.org.

PACIFIC GROVE: Pacific Grove Blessing of the Animals October 4, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
 Pacific Grove, CA 93950
A community blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron Saint of animals. Bring your pet to Blessing of the Animals in St. Mary’s Front Yard at 5:30pm on October 4th. This annual tradition is held in partnership with St Angela Merici Parish, First Methodist Church of Pacific Grove and The Christian Church of Pacific Grove. pacificgrovechurch.org

SARATOGA: Blessing of the Animals October 8, 2023, 10 a.m.
Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church
13601 Saratoga Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
st-andrews-saratoga.org
Enjoy the parade of parish pets and blessing of the animals. Don't miss one of the most fun services of the year in honor of St. Francis Day. Enjoy the parade of parish pets and animals in all their barking, meowing, squawking, braying, splashing glory. Bring your dogs on leashes, fish in water, cats and other small animals in carriers please. Stuffed animals welcome, too!

LOS ANGELES: Blessing of the Animals held the Saturday before Easter Sunday. All pets welcome. Live Entertainment. Petting zoo and free pony rides. - 12-5 p.m.
This centuries-old tradition of blessing the animals, for the benefits they provide mankind, is celebrated with a procession on Olvera Street led by the Archbishop of Los Angeles. All pets welcome.