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Seniors, families, singles, and children, are encouraged to bring their horses, dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets.
THE HAUTE
DOG organization (pronounced "HOT") is a diverse and growing network of dog owners, lovers, educators, rescuers and supporters. Our common bond has resulted in a unique and lively community of folks who share some qualities of our favorite dogs: devotion, spirit and tenacity.
EDUCATE & INFLUENCE
Through educational outreach and events, we hope to help inspire a better understanding and appreciation of dogs, dispel damaging myths, encourage responsible ownership practices, and offer practical adoption and rescue opportunities.
DEDICATION
This Web site is dedicated to my late bulldog Rosie, my current bulldogs Riley and POTUS, and to all dogs who continue to be brave and loving.
With warm regards,
Justin Rudd!
Exec. Director
Community Action Team (C.A.T.) a 501c3 nonprofit
& Haute Dogs
Justin Rudd's nonprofit 501c3 C.A.T. IS AN UMBRELLA organization that includes:
4Halloween Kids' Costume Contest
4July 4 Kids' Bike Parade
4Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
4$1,000 National Kids Spelling Bee
4National Adult Spelling Bee
4Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
4Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade
4Operation Easter Basket
4Operation Santa Paws
45k/10k Long Beach Turkey Trot
4monthly 30-Minute Beach Cleanups
4Clothing giveaways to the underserved
4Bulldog Beauty Contest
I AM A FIRM believer in the collective power of individuals joined in a spirit of goodwill and generous giving to bring about the success of a community.
-Justin Rudd!
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NEW LOCATION: The 2025 blessing will be Sunday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. in front of Chase Bank, 5200 E. 2nd St., Belmont Shore. WHY: The city permit fees for the former beachfront location have become too much.
Se habla espanol. The event lasts about 30 minutes.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE PHOTOS:
ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERFAITH PET BLESSINGS
 Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, 5 P.M., 5200 E. 2nd St., in front of Chase Bank
2025 Leaders
- Kalpulli Mictlan Tezcatlipoca, Indigenous Aztec blessing ceremony with copal smoke
- Venerable Dr. Nicholas Thanissaro and Venerable Paween Piyavamso, Buddhist monks
- Fr. Mark A. Strader, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Long Beach, pastor
- Rabbi Scott Fox, Temple Israel
- Rev. Dr. David Clark, Bay Shore Church, senior pastor
- Matthew Anderson, Universal Life Church, minister
- Rev. Ava Park, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine, founder and presiding priestess
- Franz Manfredi, Buddhist
- Pastor Samuel Nieva, Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
- Minister Christa Galactica, Universal Life Church, Reiki Galactivations
LONG BEACH
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Bring your pets: Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
- More than 200 animals to be blessed
 BRING YOUR PETS!
Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) invites the public to bring their pets to the annual, free interfaith pet blessing. The event is sponsored by Justin Rudd's nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) and Haute Dogs. The event lasts about an hour.
 Seniors, families, singles, and children, are encouraged to bring their horses, dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets.
More than 200 animals are expected to attend (including a battalion of bulldogs) the annual "Interfaith Blessing of the Animals" on the concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave. in Belmont Shore (90803), next to Rosie's Dog Beach.
 It's one of the largest blessings of pets in the world, and the annual event began in Long Beach in 2002.
The Blessing is hosted by Justin Rudd's nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) which includes Haute Dogs.
The event is always free to the public and their pets. Seniors, families, singles, and children, are encouraged to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets.
 Past clergy have included a variety of faiths, including a Roman Catholic priest from St. Bart’s in Belmont Shore, a representative from the Baha’I Faith, the pastor from Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church in Compton, the pastor from Bixby Knolls Christian Church, a reverend from Centers for Spiritual Living, a pastor from Parkcrest Church, a Jewish rabbi from Temple Israel, and a reverend from the Universal Life Church.
 There will be a moment of blessing, silence and vigil at the beginning of the service for pets who are unfortunately involved with sport dog fighting and other inhumane, unethical treatment.
The religious leaders will talk and pray briefly on the interconnections among all living beings.
After brief words from each of the faith leaders, the menagerie of participants will have the opportunity to line up single-file to be blessed by the faith leaders who will be dressed in traditional garb. Olive branches and holy water are often available. Those with pets can choose to get “blessed” by one or all of the clergy.
IN REMEMBRANCE
The event welcomes participants to bring collars, photos, and/or ashes of deceased pets to get blessed.
And, collars/photos of sickly or immobile pets are very welcome!
The events founder/organizer Justin Rudd says, “It's important to recognize and honor the great bond and relationship between pets and their people.”
Please bring your pets.
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2024 Leaders
- Franz Manfredi, Buddhist
- Fr. Hieu Nguyen, St. Cornelius Catholic Church
- Rev. Dr. David Clark, Bay Shore Church, senior pastor
- Rev. Ava Park, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine, founder and presiding priestess
- Pastor Maria Paiva, First Lutheran Church, Inglewood
- Rabbi Leah Julian, Temple Israel
- Matthew Anderson, Universal Life Church, minister
2023 Leaders
- Fr. Henry Hernando, St. Anthony Catholic Church
- Rabbi Scott Fox, Temple Israel
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Pastor Kevin Johnson, Strength Church, Long Beach, lead pastor
- Lissa Gundlach, Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, settled minister
- Rev. Dr. David Clark, Bay Shore Church, senior pastor
- Pastor Samuel Nieva, Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
- Rev. Ava Park, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine, founder and presiding priestess
- Minister Christa Galactica, Universal Life Church, Reiki Galactivations
2022 Faith Leaders
- Pastor Kevin Johnson, Strength Church, Long Beach, lead pastor
- Rev. Ava Park, Goddess Temple of Orange County, Irvine, founder and presiding priestess
- Rev. Dr. David Clark, Bay Shore Church, Long Beach,
senior pastor
- Rabbi Michal
Loving, Long Beach
- Fr. Mark A. Strader, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Long Beach, pastor
- Pastor Samuel Nieva, Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
2021 Faith Leaders
- Pastor Samuel Nieva, Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
- Rev. Ava Park, Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and presiding priestess, Irvine
- Rev. Dr. David Clark, Bay Shore Church, Long Beach
senior pastor
- Rabbi Scott Fox, Temple Israel, Long Beach
2020
No event because of COVID
2019 Faith Leaders
- Barbara Sunofsky
Long Beach Christian Fellowship, pastor
- Msgr. Bill O’Keeffe
Our Lady of Refuge Church, pastor emeritus
- Wayne Chaney, Jr.
Antioch Church, pastor
- Rev. Dr. David Clark
Bay Shore Church, senior pastor
- Rev. Ava Park
Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and presiding priestess, Irvine
- Rabbi Michal Loving
Temple Israel, Long Beach
- Pastor Samuel Nieva
Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
2018 Faith Leaders
- Rev. Dr. David Clark
Senior Pastor, Bay Shore Church
- Pastor Samuel Nieva
Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
- Rev. Ava Park
Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and presiding priestess, Irvine
- Deacon Miguel Torrado
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Long Beach
- Pastors Daniel & Autumn Katz
Anthem Church, Long Beach
- Rabbi Steven Moskowitz
Temple Israel, Long Beach
2017 Faith Leaders
- Geshe Phuntsho
Tibetan Monk
- Pastor Ellen Williams
Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
- Rabbi Steven Moskowitz
Temple Israel, Long Beach
- Rev. Dr. David Clark
Senior Pastor, Bay Shore Church
- Rev. Ava Park
Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and presiding priestess, Irvine
- Bishop Chris Carpenter
Reformed Catholic Church Community of the Resurrection, Long Beach
- Bishop Brian Delvaux
Good Shepherd American Catholic Church, Lakewood
- Deacon Miguel Torrado
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Long Beach
- Imam Tarek Mohamed
Long Beach Islamic Center
2016 Faith Leaders
Bishop Chris Carpenter
Reformed Catholic Church Community of the Resurrection, Long Beach
Rev. Mark Sturgess
Los Altos United Methodist Church, Long Beach
Rev. Ava Park
Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and presiding priestess, Irvine
Pastor Ellen Williams
Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, Compton
Rev. Misi Tagaloa
Second Samoan Church, Long Beach
Bishop Bonnie Radden
Refiner's Fire Fellowship, Long Beach
Deacon Roger Faubert
Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, Long Beach
Pastors Daniel & Autumn Katz
The Anthem Church, Long Beach
(launching Sept. 2017)
2015 Faith Leaders
Fr. Michael Reardon
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church
Rev. Dr. David Clark
Senior Pastor, Bay Shore Church
Bishop Chris Carpenter
Bishop of the Reformed Catholic Church Community of the Resurrection
Rev. Ava Park
The Goddess Temple of Orange County, founder and Presiding Priestess
Rabbi Steven Moskowitz
Temple Israel
Jesse Oakes
Parkcrest Christian Church, family ministries pastor
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