People would have their cars and house blessed, so why not their companion animals? This was exactly what PAWS President Ms. Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco had in mind 2 decades ago when she started the pet blessing to commemorate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

This year, on October 1,  thousands of pet owners brought their pet to SM North Edsa Skydome not just to celebrate the feast of Saint Francis but also to celebrate World Animal Day. The event started with a procession around the SM Sky Garden headed by the Members of the MMDA K9 Corps and PAWS volunteers with adoptable dogs Chessie, Renz, Choco and Dorothy.

It was the best party ever, for me, at least. I got to take Puppy, my eight-week-old Bichon pup, with me to the event, which was filled with dog lovers and foodies — who are also staunch supporters of The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
I have been attending PAWS events for almost 15 years now and when I started covering these pet events, I remember I would be the only media guest around. At the latest PAWS event last Sunday, July 23, there were over 300 guests and 150 dogs — and lots of other media folks, too.

That the event was held at Viking Venue at SM by the Bay was another welcome development for the pet lover in me.
“This is the first time pets were allowed to dine together with their owners inside a buffet restaurant,” said Rich Ilustre, PAWS director.  “Pet Express and PAWS collaborated to provide pet lovers and their dogs with the ultimate food adventure experience, and it was a roaring success.”

By Kathy Moran (The Philippine Star) | Updated November 1, 2015 - 12:00am

600 pets were blessed by Father Joey Paras and Father Bob Zarate at this year's PAWS Pet Blessing held  in partnership with PET EXPRESS, at the Skydome of SM North Edsa last Sunday, October 4th 2015. 

Pets were blessed right after a special  Mass for the Animals in celebration of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the ecology. October 4 also marked the celebration of World Animal Day. 

The  unique Mass had cats and dogs, and their owners participate in the Offertory and in the Liturgical  Readings.  

“I had just adopted Clifford from PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society), and I wanted something unique and would have a cause and [allow me] to give back,” explained Alyanna Martinez during the second anniversary of Alyanna’s Fitness Party at the PAWS shelter in Quezon City last March 7.

The anniversary also coincided with Clifford’s third month as Alyanna’s adopted fur baby.  Even if she initially thought the idea of having one of her fitness parties at PAWS was “crazy,” her friends at the shelter agreed to it.

“I only had five days to put this whole thing together, by myself, and my goals were to get awareness [for animal welfare], to get people to volunteer, to get people to donate, and to raise funds for PAWS.”

Canines of all shapes, sizes, and breeds ran their hearts out with their humans at the fifth Pet Express Doggie Run 2015 early morning last March 14, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Aside from the new stroller category this year, the spotlight on aspins or asong Pinoy was also one of the highlights of the run.

“PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society), is again the beneficiary of the run this year, and were asked to cheer for the aspins, and to highlight them, that they can be as talented [as the purebreds],” explained PAWS Executive Director, Anna Cabrera.  “They can be trained.”

In celebration of World Animal Day 2014 and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, PAWS and Tiendesitas will hold a grand Pet Blessing at the Tiendesitas Activity Center on October 5 (Sunday) at 5pm.

PAWS invites all pet owners and animal lovers to celebrate this special day by having their companion animals individually blessed by Father Jose Antonio Paras, SDB.

Registration starts at 3:00 PM. Special awards for best dressed pet will given during the 4:00 PM program before the mass. 

Native pet owners are encouraged to bring their pets because the first 50 aspin and first 50 puspin registrants who will purchase an "I AM BLESSED!" pet bandanas at the venue will receive vouchers for a FREE spay-neuter procedure at the PAWS clinic.

Vouchers are transferrable to fellow aspins or puspins which means the animals at the venue need not be the ones in need of the spay-neuter procedure but candidates must also be native dogs and native cats.

See you there!