Greyfriars Kirk welcomes dozens of pets to Edinburgh blessing

Dozens of pets attended Sunday's Greyfriars Kirk blessing in Edinburgh, where an interfaith service and kirkyard parade supported Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

Greyfriars Kirk welcomed dozens of pets to its annual animal blessing in Edinburgh on Sunday, 4 October. STV's report from the event says representatives of different faiths joined the gathering, which supported Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

Edinburgh Interfaith's event listing placed this year's service at the Old Town kirk from 3pm to 5pm. Its invitation included people of all faiths and none, with a service inside the church followed by a procession through the kirkyard.

The charity connection gives the occasion a practical purpose for pet owners. Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home helps families with pet food and essentials as well as caring for animals needing homes. Its published figures describe hundreds of thousands of meals supplied across East and Central Scotland last year.

A parade and a wreath for Bobby

STV reports that the blessing returned for its fourth year. Following the service, pets took part in a parade through Greyfriars Kirkyard and a wreath was laid at Greyfriars Bobby's grave. Those details match the procession and wreath-laying set out in the organiser's programme.

Edinburgh Interfaith's Joe Goldblatt described animals to STV as "our precious friends", saying they deserve love, care and compassion. The report confirms the gathering took place; neither it nor the organiser's listing gives a final fundraising total.

An invitation across beliefs

The organiser's invitation made the scope of the afternoon explicit: the blessing was for animals brought by people of all faiths and none. The programme paired the church service with the outdoor procession and a reception for pets and people afterwards.

A leaving collection for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home was part of the advertised programme. Attendees were also invited to bring tinned or dried goods for the food bank. Those are the organiser's stated plans, rather than a count of what was collected on Sunday.

The charity work behind the gathering

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home's current impact page says its food banks supplied 636,662 pet meals across East and Central Scotland in 2025. It also records 318 pets rehomed or reunited with families during that year.

These are the charity's own figures for its wider work, not proceeds or outcomes from the Greyfriars service. They show why food support sits alongside rehoming in its public mission: protecting an existing home can matter as much as finding a new one. Sunday's event brought attention to that work without yet establishing how much it raised.

Where owners can find practical support

The Home's pet food bank, launched in 2019, provides food and other essentials to owners struggling to afford what their animals need. Its current information lists items such as leads, bowls and bedding, with staff available for advice and support. The stated aim is to help pets stay with their families when finances become difficult.

Owners needing food directly from the Home should arrange a collection appointment in advance, according to the charity's pet food bank page. It also links to local food-bank locations across East and Central Scotland. Supplies vary: the Home says it cannot guarantee particular products, quantities or sizes.

For anyone drawn to Sunday's ceremony because of the bond with their own pet, that is the useful next detail to know. The same charity named at the service offers support beyond the kirk, with current collection arrangements and local contacts available through its website.

Illustration: a conceptual editorial scene, not a photograph of the service or any attending pet.

Sources and update record

Reporting checked on 4 October 2026. STV's event report and Edinburgh Interfaith's programme establish the ceremony and its advertised plans. The Home's impact figures refer to 2025; its pet food bank information provides current collection arrangements.

Edited by Scoop.