Mark World Animal Day with pet blessing

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KUCHING: The Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) will once again hold an inter-faith pet blessing to commemorate World Animal Day.

The event will be held during the World Animal Groove (WAG) Music Festival on Oct 12 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

“The animal blessing will start from 3.30pm and we have invited Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religious leaders to conduct the blessing,” said SSPCA president Dona Wee in a press statement yesterday.

Wee urged owners to bring their pets for the blessing, which is RM20 for each pet.

Pet owners who register for the Wiggle Waggle Walk will automatically be eligible for the pet blessing.

The walk will be held at 2pm on the same day.

The custom of animal blessing started in Florence, Italy in 1931, in remembrance of St Francis of Asisi.

It is now held worldwide to commemorate World Animal Day, celebrated every Oct 4, which is observed by animal lovers of all religious beliefs.

Besides the pet blessing and Wiggle Waggle Walk, other events at the WAG Music festival are the WAG Flea Market, the 10km Animazing Race and music concert.

The music concert will showcase The Bottle Boys from Denmark, Avijit and Friend (India), comedian Bibi KPoh (Kuala Lumpur), as well as Sarawak’s SMK Matang Gamelan band, Nading Rhapsody and Gabriel F Louis.

Music festival tickets are priced at RM60 each for adults and RM30 each for children between three and 12.

They are available online at www.ticketxpress.com.my.

Managed by UCSI Communications Sdn Bhd, the WAG Music Festival 2013 is supported by 360 Urban Resort and Hotel, Echo Sound, Lee Miing Press Sdn Bhd, Amansar Travel and Tours and BCCK.

Sarawak Energy Berhad and OurYouth.my are supporting event partners.

For more details go to www.wagmusicfestival.com.