Saint Anthony's day pet blessings - in pictures

Sunday best: hundreds of pet owners bring their animals to church on the day of St Anthony, Spain's patron saint of animals Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

Father Juan Manuel Villar blesses a visiting dog with holy water at San Anton church in the centre of Madrid Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Another dog, wrapped up warmly, receives the holy water at San Anton church
Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Meanwhile, a third dog rests his head on a pew before mass inside the church Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

Another dog at San Anton plays up for the camera while waiting his turn at the altar Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

All creatures great and small: a woman kisses her bird as they wait for mass in Madrid Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

A young girl cradles her turtle after getting it blessed at the church of San Anton Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

The blessings take place all over Spain. A rabbit waits its turn in Churriana, near Malaga Photograph: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

A Chihuahua dog licks his owner's face outside a chapel in Valencia Photograph: Juan Carlos Cardenas/EPA

People queue up with pots to receive free stew - vegetarian, of course - after the blessing ceremony in Burgos Photograph: I.Lopez/AP