Catholic Priest Justino Limachi blesses dogs by sprinkling them with holy water after a Mass at the parish of Villa Adela to celebrate the feast of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs, in El Alto, Bolivia, on Thursday. Photo: AP
Many Bolivians brought their dogs, often freshly groomed and dressed in costumes, to the parish of Villa Adela near the capital Thursday for a Mass honouring the patron saint of dogs.
Every August 16, the church holds the feast of San Roque, or Saint Roch, who legend has it was a 14th-century French noble who travelled to Italy to care for plague victims and became the patron of dogs. He appears in images accompanied by a dog, which is said to have saved his life by bringing him bread and licking his wounds, after he contracted plague and became lost.
A dog in costume is held still by children during a Catholic Mass to celebrate the feast of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs, in El Alto, Bolivia, on Thursday. Photo: AP
In the city of El Alto, which neighbours La Paz, people walked their dogs to the parish church while other sent greetings and messages to dogs on social media.
“Dogs are creatures of God and must be cared for,” said Villa Adela’s priest, Justino Limachi. “First we vaccinate them and then we give blessings starting with the owners for them to take care of the dogs because we see so many street dogs suffering hunger and cold.”
Saint Roch in a typical depiction, a canine companion by his side. Artwork: Supplied
A dog owner and her pet, in matching costumes, attend Catholic Mass that celebrates the feast of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs, in El Alto, Bolivia, on Thursday. Photo: AP
While owners brought their groomed pooches for the Mass, nearby street dogs fought over scraps in garbage dumps.
There is no census of dogs in Bolivia, but the Ministry of Health estimates there is an overpopulation of 3 million dogs, with about a half million living on the streets.
