The sound of barks and prayers carried on the coastal breeze as over 300 animals congregated at Rosie’s Dog Beach during the 20th annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals organized by Justin Rudd on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 2.
“I want to be part of the Interfaith Blessing of the Animals so that we can acknowledge how much animals can mean to us,” said Rabbi Michal Loving of Long Beach. “It’s just as important as blessing people for so many of us.”
The blessing of animals traditionally takes place on the Sunday closest to the feast day of Saint Francis on Oct. 4. Francis is believed to have started the tradition of blessing animals around 800 years ago.
Zore, clad in a matching tie-dye sweater with his owners, Aurelio and Bobbie (holding phone) Alba, while Zore receives a blessing from Father Mark A. Strader of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Long Beach during the Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
A woman smiles toward her two elderly dogs that she is carrying in a line for a blessing from a faith leader at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Big Boss the bearded dragon opens his mouth towards his caretaker Lizette Castro after receiving his blessing at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
A couple sits on the floor with her dog as they close their eyes in the light of the sun during the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
A cat peaks its head out of a green bag with a pink leash attached away from all of the dogs while it waits for a blessing from faith leaders during the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Interfaith animal blessings allow people of different spiritual paths to partake in the tradition. Animals of all kinds were invited, and people lined up with dogs of all sizes, cats and reptiles to receive blessings from a clergy of six different religious denominations.
“We come every year,” said pitbull-mix owner Tealeye Cornejo. “It’s been a blessing to have our dogs blessed, to have this avenue to do that since Long Beach has such a great dog community. My puppy, I figure she needs all the blessings that she can get.”
Rosie’s Dog Beach is named after Rudd’s late English Bulldog Rosie, and he organizes multiple events for pets on the beach—including the annual Blessing of the Animals and Bulldog Beauty Contest—through his organization Haute Dogs.
“Anytime animal lovers can come together and celebrate the animals that we have in our lives I think it’s a great event, and that’s exactly what this was tonight,” Rudd said.
To keep up with news about next year’s Interfaith Blessing of the Animal and other pet events, visit justinrudd.com or hautedogs.org.
A woman holds her young dog in her arms while waiting in line at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Groups of people wait with their dogs in line to see faith leaders from various denominations bless their pets at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Dani Carter attempts to take a picture of her year-old-rescue English Bulldog, Benjamin, while waiting in line to receive a blessing from Rabbi Mikal Loving at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
A young dog looks back toward the camera as its caretakers wait in line to have the pooch blessed by a faith leader at the Long Beach Blessing of the Animals at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Lorenmarie Manning holds her 6-year-old foster dog, Berry, before walking with him up to the group of faith leaders from the Long Beach area at the Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 2, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)