Marbella will celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony with an animal blessing at the Divina Pastora church.

The City Council will celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony tomorrow, Saturday the 17th, with an animal blessing at the Divina Pastora church, starting at ... 6:00 PM. The Health Councilor, Alejandro González, presented the initiative today alongside the parish priest David Morales and the president of Marbella Canina, Sergio Moya, and pointed out that "for us, it is a pride to participate in such a special day, joining for the first time an event that highlights the role that pets have today as another member of the family." The councilor emphasized that "the City Council had to be present in some way in such a beautiful initiative, open to people of all ages, that goes beyond the religious scope and reflects the affection and respect that the town has towards animals."

González highlighted the municipal commitment to the welfare of pets and assured that "we will continue to support their care with new awareness campaigns, distribution of materials, and the promotion of 'pet friendly' businesses, in addition to continuing to collaborate with groups and associations that perform a fundamental role." In this regard, he specifically thanked organizations like Marbella Canina, Triple A, and the feline colony feeders "for their altruistic and constant dedication."

The event will be held in the church square, will feature music, and a joint blessing, where holy water will be sprinkled on the attending pets

Morales, for his part, explained that the proposal "is framed within the celebration of Saint Anthony the Abbot, who lived in the 4th century and was closely linked to the land and animals, which have been protected on this date since the Middle Ages" and added that "today they continue to be great allies, not only in the countryside but also in homes." He stated that "the goal is to open this celebration to all the neighbors who want to participate, as they can bring dogs, cats, birds, or small rodents," and detailed that the event will be held in the church square, will feature music, and a joint blessing, in which holy water will be sprinkled on the attending pets.

Lastly, Moya indicated that "we hope this is the beginning of a collaboration that will continue in the coming years" and encouraged the public to participate "in a very significant day, which gives visibility to animals in the city and reinforces the importance of responsible coexistence, where the educated dog has a place in urban life."