Portland, Oregon: Blessing of the Animals - Event and Statue

Take a gander at your calendar: if it happens to be the third Sunday in July, get your domestic animals ready for a road trip. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother [lovingly referred to as The Grotto] holds their Annual Blessing of the Animals at 2pm on this day.

Come yipping Pomeranian, come albino python, come cricket collection, all are welcome in this outdoor sanctuary presided by a Friar from the Order of Servants of Mary. You say your pet isn't Catholic? After the short Mass, religion doesn't seem to matter, as the procession of animals -- and their owners -- line up to be doused liberally with holy water. Birds seem to be the most amenable to this unexpected shower, skittish pit bulls less so, so be aware. [Melissa Nickles, 10/28/2006]

[RA: If you arrive on any other day of the year, you can visit a bronze statue of animals being blessed in the Grotto.]