Approximately 100 pets — mostly dogs — were blessed by a Buddhist monk at last Saturday’s Second Annual Pet Blessing at Marymoor Park.

Geshe Phelgye, who works in the tradition of the Dalai Lama and is the founder of the Universal Compassion Movement for world peace, provided the blessings as a way to show compassion for animals.

The pets who were blessed were mostly dogs, but some people did bring pictures of their cats to be blessed. One person even brought a picture of her bird. Others brought ashes of beloved pets who have passed away.

Phelgye, a global scholar in residence at Gonzaga University, started the event with some traditional prayers and then went on to bless those pets on hand. Phelgye also gave away dog biscuits, which were blessed, to all of the dogs at the event.

In addition, he gave a short talk explaining that his focus on compassion toward animals came after a visit to a slaughterhouse.