Dateline>City of Angels

Swamped with pressing deadlines, I should’ve stayed locked indoors working like a dog today. Instead, I did what hundreds of other Angelenos decided to do on this glorious Holy Saturday and literally took a few hours to go to the dogs — and cats, and parrots and every other creature imaginable.

Yes, today was the annual Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street, an El Pueblo tradition that dates to 1930, although it is rooted in a Catholic custom thought to have originated with St. Francis of Assisi in the 12th Century.

This was my first year attending the event. Believing the ceremonies would start promptly at noon, I arrived an hour early to watch the menagerie take shape. The crowds were already trickling in with a variety of animals — mostly dogs — in tow. Mariachi music and the smell of grilling carne asada filled the plaza as kids visited a make-shift petting zoo containing a turkey, roosters, small livestock and a disinterested-looking camel near the old Pico House.

Over on nearby Sanchez Street, volunteers decorated carriages with crepe paper and flowers in obvious preparation for the coming procession. Across Los Angeles Street people and pets were already lining up in a shaded staging area to await their sprinkling with holy water.

Meanwhile a large white pig and his human companion drew a throng of gawkers as they meandered past the Plaza bandstand, which was surrounded by booths representing animal service organizations ranging from the L.A. Zoo to a “reptile-sitting” business.

Thinking my two Dobermans would become overly agitated by such a wild kingdom, I had left them home. I now regretted the decision. It was surprising how well all beasts great and small got along — as if intuitively respecting the religious nature of the occasion.

Alas, I never actually saw the procession for blessings, which I learned didn’t actually start until 2 p.m. As I said, I was pressed for time and unfortunately had to move on before then.

Nevertheless, the pre-celebration mingling was a lot of fun — and well worth even a quick visit. (For a better view of the photos I snapped, click on the thumbnails.)

Next year I’m making a full day of it and bringing my pooches. After all, they could use a good blessing.