Olvera Street's Beastly, Barky Blessing

Pets of every stripe and tail head for the Blessing of the Animals.

If you've ever been to a pet parade, you know that the same costumes that might make a showing on Halloween also appear for Independence Day.

No one is quibbling; it is enough for most parade viewers that a person had enough gumption and whimsy to dress up their pet at all, even if a goblin or pumpkin doesn't quite fit in at the Fourth of July festivity.

But there is one beastly event each year where the outfits and accouterments -- yes, we just used the word "accouterments" in relation to our pets (and we're not sorry) -- fit the time. It's the Blessing of the Animals, an Eastertime celebration that happens across the globe and here at our own Olvera Street.

Superhero and Halloween costumes make way for spring themes. Corgis are apt to wear flowered collars and goldfish bowls might be festooned with colorful window clings that boast an egg theme. Speaking of eggs, we do like to see pet rabbits arrive for their blessings while sitting in wagons or baskets full of plastic eggs.

Even the occasional horse gets a few springtime decorations attached to its saddle.

If you're game to show with your favorite animal companion, the date is Saturday, March 30 and the time is noon to 5 p.m. If you want to be there for the blessing itself, be on the street around 2 p.m. This one is camera-worthy, we should note, because you'll see animals of every stripe and height and genus.

Just make sure your Pug has a few petals here and there, to keep to the Easter feel.

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