Javier Cantera, 47, and his iguana, Barrabas, receive a blessing from a spiritual leader during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
From bulldogs to cats and lizards, more than 100 locals brought their friendly critters to the Interfaith Blessing of the Animals on Sunday as part of the annual religious ceremony.
Sponsored by Community Action Team, with its founder Justin Rudd, and Haute Dogs, the ceremony took place at 5:45 p.m. by the sand near Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach where pastors and reverends performed blessings on animals and their owners.
“That’s why I love this city because we have so many wonderful events and people,” Sheila Lyon, 69, of Long Beach, who brought her dog, Momo. “I think it’s really important to affirm all of our blessings.”
A dog flaps its large ears during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Lizette Castro, 38, of Burbank, holds her pet lizard, Big Boss, during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.A reverend used feathers, crystals and other objects during blessing rituals during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.More than 100 people attend an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Rev. Ava Park leads an entrance ceremony as part of an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Onlookers watch reverends and pastors lead an entrance walk as part of an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.More than 100 people attend an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.A woman asked to have a spirtual leader bless her fish during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Barrabas, a 5-year-old iguana, perches itself on his owner, Javier Cantera, 47, during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Barrabas, a 5-year-old iguana, is one of many animals owned by Javier Cantera, 47, on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Long Beach resident Glenn Knott, 54, holds his dog, Isis, during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.A reverend used crystals and other objects during blessing rituals during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.A spiritual leader blesses a pet bird during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Rev. Ava Park chimes bells during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Val Ramirez, 54, dusts sand off of his dog, Duke, during an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Duke, a 10-year-old dog, attends with his owner an animal blessing event in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.A man sits with his small dogs during an annual Interfaith Blessing of Animals ceremony in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.Harmony, cat of 48-year-old Long Beach resident Katie Ackerman, gazes into the distance after receiving a blessing during a spiritual event for animals in Long Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
