Holy meow! Owners from all over the world get their beloved pets blessed at local churches

For October 4 marks the Catholic feast day of the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day. asserted

Parishes across the globe hold animal blessings on the first Sunday of October to remember the saint who was known for his compassion and love for all living things. asserted

Priests in the US, Chile, the Philippines have spent the day blessing pets at their churches. asserted

At Malate Church in Manila, parishioners brought their precious pets including cats, dogs and even a pet snail for a sacred blessing. asserted

Father Leonito Distor, parish priest of Malate Church, said: 'We are blessing the animals and plants and this is so much in relation to the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi... so the Malate parish has been advocating this one.' asserted

Churchgoers formed orderly queues as they waited patiently for a priest to bless their faithful companions with holy water. asserted

For 32-year-old nurse Gaudine Supnet, who owns four Shih Tzu dogs, October 4 is a very special day. asserted

It is a day for owners to show unconditional love to their pets while honoring St Francis of Assisi. asserted

A dog is blessed at The Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York on October 4 asserted

A Catholic priest blesses pets with holy water during the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals asserted

A member of the clergy blesses a dog during a St Francis Day as the owner watches on smiling Pet asserted

owners stand in a queue to receive holy water sprinkled by a priest at Malate Church in Manila A woman holds the leash of a dog as pet owners bring their animals to Saint Francis of Assisi celebrations in Valparaiso, Chile Owners pictured alongside their pets arriving outside the church in the Philippines A member of the clergy blesses two dogs as a man kneels and prays behind them A grumpy cat in a bubble bags doesn't know how lucky it is ahead of getting a blessing A woman carries her dog while receiving communion prior to the blessing of the animals at a ceremony in Santiago, Chile Owners smile while holding up their very large dogs as a Catholic priest blesses their pooches A priest blesses a dog with holy water at San Francisco Church in Panama City's Old Quarte on October 4 Four very stylish dogs pose, some with their tongues out for a picture outside the church Spectators gather to watch pet owners wait in a very long queue to have their beloved animals blessed A Catholic priest sprinkles holy water on people's pets as he blesses them outside of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sitting pawfectly: asserted

Nine dogs sit on a bench inside the church before the start of a holy mass Holy meow! asserted

One very adorable cat rests on its owners shoulders while it awaits a sacred blessing ' asserted

Not exactly like us in the sense that they can't speak, but they do have emotions asserted

,' she said. asserted

'I want them to feel, in some way, that we are grateful for their presence in our lives; that's why we have them blessed.' A blessing for pets was not the only offering available at Malate Church on the patron saint's feast day. asserted

The church even organised free pet vaccinations for dogs and cats in the parking lot. asserted