Dietary and Other Miracles Keep Animals on a Holy Path

Iggy Moses survived a severe calcium deficiency after being doused with holy water three years ago, and the green iguana hasn’t missed the annual Blessing of the Animals since.

He and his equally scaly brother, Pugly Anthony, were among about 2,500 barking, grunting, mooing and hissing creatures who visited Olvera Street on Saturday to be blessed by Bishop John J. Ward, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The ceremony, held for 50 years in Los Angeles, dates back to the 13th Century and is meant to acknowledge the service and loyalty of the animal kingdom.

But many of the pet owners who lugged their animals downtown professed a faith in the special power of the blessing--over everything from disease to misbehavior.

Tears smeared the makeup of Iggy’s owner, Theresa Flores, 20, of Wilmington, as she described Iggy’s bout three years ago with the life-threatening vitamin deficiency. Flores said that although Iggy will never grow to six feet, the usual size of a South American iguana, she expects the pet to continue to thrive with the help of cheese, whipped cream and the bishop’s blessing.

“I brought my baby Iggy here when he couldn’t eat or drink and the doctor said he had six months to live,” Flores said. “And to give thanks for letting him live, I bring him here every year.”

Macario Zavala, a 23-year-old security guard with the Olvera Street Merchants Assn., the event’s sponsor, said his dog, Petie, used to chase cats and “just be crazy” until he brought him to receive the benediction. On Saturday, the part pit bull, part Great Dane seemed cool enough as he paraded past the prelate’s stand wearing a green sun visor and a red, white and green bandanna around his neck, in honor of Mexico’s flag.

Many of the people attending the ceremony were Catholic, but that was not a requirement for participation. Bruce Mahler, a Jewish comedian living in Hollywood, brought his green parrot, Shana, who is also a performer. Shana can belch and sing arias from famous operas, Mahler said, but sometimes clams up on him.

“I understand there’s no rabbi here,” Mahler said. “But I’ll take any help I can get to get Shana to not stiff me on stage.”