It is the most blessed day on the calendar for furry friends and beloved pets all over the world.
For October 4 marks the Catholic feast day of the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day.
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.
Priests in the US, Chile, the Philippines have spent the day blessing pets at their churches.
At Malate Church in Manila, parishioners brought their precious pets including cats, dogs and even a pet snail
To provide well-rounded coverage and a breadth of insight across various events, we rely on contributions from several staff writers, each bringing their own area of expertise to our publication.