Happening Today: Free Pet Blessing and Animal Fair Brings Las Vegas Families Together

Las Vegas will be wagging, purring, and celebrating this afternoon as the 17th Annual Pet Blessing and Animal Fair returns to Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican’s San Martín Campus, uniting pet lovers from across the valley for one of the city’s most cherished community traditions.

The free, family-friendly event begins at 2:00 PM, with the group pet blessing taking place at 2:30 PM, honoring the deep bond between humans and their animals through a moment of reflection, gratitude, and faith.

The annual gathering, now in its 17th year, pays tribute to Saint Martin de Porres, the compassionate Dominican friar whose legacy of kindness toward both people and animals inspired the campus’s namesake.

His message of empathy and care resonates strongly in a city where animals are often treated as family — and where community events like this one highlight the importance of love, respect, and service to all living beings.

Companionship and Community

Visitors can expect an afternoon filled with laughter, lighthearted competition, and educational opportunities. Pet owners will enjoy exploring booths hosted by local animal organizations and vendors, offering everything from health advice and grooming tips to adoption resources and demonstrations.

Friendly contests will award prizes for Best Dressed, Best Trick, and Best Pet/Owner Look-Alike, while light refreshments will be served throughout the event to keep both guests and their furry companions refreshed under the Nevada sun.

The highlight of the day remains the collective pet blessing, a moving tradition that brings together dogs, cats, rabbits, and even the occasional bird or reptile to receive blessings side by side. The touching ceremony reflects the event’s central theme — that all creatures, great and small, deserve compassion and care.

Giving Back With Heart

Beyond the fun and fanfare, the Pet Blessing and Animal Fair also carries a deeper purpose. Organisers are encouraging attendees to bring new or gently used towels for donation to local shelters — a simple act of kindness that provides warmth and comfort to animals still waiting for their forever homes. It’s a small gesture that makes a big difference, echoing the compassion that inspired the event in the first place.