Spain: Pets receive divine blessing

Every year on the day of St. Anthony, people bring their pets to church to have them blessed. The streets are filled with barking dogs, hissing cats and all sorts of birds and reptiles who take part in the solemn custom together with their owners. According to legend, Saint Anthony was a real animal lover and was even considered to be the patron saint of animals.

These pooches have every reason to celebrate. Under a new law, animals are now legally part of the family in Spain. Pets are thus considered "living, sentient beings" after previously being considered just a "thing." If a divorce ends up in court, for example, a judge now has to decide who gets custody of the family pet.

The long lines in wintry Pamplona don’t seem to bother these pet owners because they’re in line to get their four-legged loved ones blessed. Many people already treat their pets like family members. And, the new law now states that pets cannot be pawned, abandoned, mistreated or separated from their owners.

The day of St. Anthony is celebrated throughout Spain. The traditional blessing is followed by a church service. Hundreds of people have come to Saint Anthony's Church in Madrid with their pets. On this special day, the animals are allowed to participate in the mass.

In a small store in Pamplona, an aquarium with fish in it is blessed by Father Cesar Magana. That's right. You don't have be be a dog or a cat to get a blessing. You can also be a goldfish. In fact, no distinctions are made among pets, who are all blessed on this traditional day of St. Anthony.

In Spain, especially in rural areas, the Roman Catholic Church still plays an important role in everyday life. For many elderly people, it is a significant day.

St. Anthony's Day is also celebrated on the other side of the continent. Like here in Mexico. However, there is still a lot to learn from Spanish law. Animal rights activists are currently campaigning to get a ban on tattoos and piercings for animals.