Blessings, vaccinations, and adoptions mark San Roque celebrations

Celebrations honoring San Roque, the patron saint of dogs, brought together families and their pets in various Bolivian cities this past Sunday. The festivities featured traditional blessings, veterinary care campaigns, adoption events, and activities promoting responsible pet ownership. In La Paz, numerous families and their animals attended a traditional blessing ceremony at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Murillo Square, coinciding with religious services and messages emphasizing the responsibilities that come with owning a companion animal.

Other parts of La Paz also hosted related events, including ceremonies at the San Pedro and Nuestra Señora de Fátima parishes, and an open-air mass in Abaroa Square. In El Alto, the "San Roque 2026" event at Ciudad Satélite's Tinku Square offered free services for pets, such as rabies vaccinations, deworming, and veterinary consultations. An adoption fair and a costume contest for dogs and cats were also part of the day's activities.

During the El Alto celebration, Mayor Elieser Roca encouraged pet owners to sterilize their animals to control population growth. He also announced a deworming campaign and confirmed that funds are available for the initial sterilization of 100 dogs. Roca further pledged to build a veterinary hospital during his term and provided homes and clothing to seven dogs housed at the Mayor's office, with plans to extend this to sub-mayoral offices.

Sucre also participated in the San Roque festivities, with the San Roque parish holding two masses. The Universidad Católica Boliviana organized the "Patitas Fest," which saw over 45 pets compete in photography, eating, and talent contests. Across the country, the San Roque celebrations blended religious tradition with initiatives focused on animal welfare, protection, and responsible ownership.

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As part of the jornada, the mayor of El Alto, Elieser Roca, announced the construction of a veterinary hospital during his management.