Blessed be the animals

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A dog is anointed outside the Saint Anton church in Madrid, Jan. 17, 2014.

It is the animal's patron saint day in which thousands of people all over Spain bring their pets to churches to be blessed.

Malaga, Spain

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A priest (R) blesses a puppy outside of San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, Jan. 17, 2014.

Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed every year on the day of San Anton, Spain's patron saint of animals.

Madrid

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A man has his Terrapins anointed by a priest outside the Saint Anton church in Madrid, Jan. 17, 2014.

Vatican City

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Cardinal Angelo Comastri gives a candy to Mambo, a horse from an Equestrian rehabilitation center, on the occasion of St. Anthony (the patron saint of animals) Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

The Vatican organized a mid-morning mass to give blessings to farm animals and the people who work with them.

Vatican City

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Bishop Guido Pozzo caresses a calf on the occasion of St. Anthony Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

Madrid

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Father Celestino, left, anoints a bird outside the Saint Anton church in Madrid, Jan. 17, 2014.

Pamplona, Spain

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A woman waits with her dog to be anointed outside the Saint Nicolas church, in Pamplona northern Spain, Jan. 17, 2014.

Vatican City

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Cardinal Angelo Comastri looks at wild geese on the occasion of St. Anthony Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

Malaga, Spain

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People pose for a photo with their dogs next to a statue of San Anton (rear), Spain's patron saint of animals, after a priest blessed their pets inside San Anton church in Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, Jan. 17, 2014.

Vatican City

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Farmer Gaetano Crucianelli shows Ventura, a 5-year-old ox on the occasion of St. Anthony (the patron saint of animals) Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

Madrid

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A dog sits in a bag while waiting in line to be anointed outside the Saint Anton church in Madrid, Jan. 17, 2014.

Vatican City

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Cardinal Angelo Comastri blesses horses on the occasion of St. Anthony Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

Madrid

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A cat hisses at a Great Dane dog while waiting to be anointed outside the Saint Anton church in Madrid, Jan. 17, 2014.

Vatican City

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Laika, a 2-year-old dog waits to be blessed on the occasion of St. Anthony Day, in front of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Jan. 17, 2014.

Churriana, Spain

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Pet dogs, Kitty (L-R), Toby, Luna and Ariel, are placed on a bench by their owners before they are blessed by a priest outside San Anton church in Churriana, Spain, Jan.17, 2014.