Blessing of animals

Common card · No. 357308

Blessing of animals can be either of the animal or of the human-animal relationship, and can apply to pets and other companion animals, or to agricultural animals and working and other animals which humans depend on or interact with. Blessing of animals, or of the slaughtering process, before slaughter, is a key element of most religions. Ceremonial blessing of companion animals occurs throughout the world, for example, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Spain, and the United States. Blessing of animals is a religious activity, and occurs broadly across most religions in some form, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Unitarian Universalism. Secular respect for animals is also strong, for example though World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually. It is still held on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, a Christian patron saint of animals.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0