Internationally admired chihuahua devotee Ada Nieves, with one of the members of her Team Chihuahua, Mojito by name, immediately before the 25th annual parade of exotic animals at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, 2009.

The parade, and the Blessing of the Animals, celebrates the Feast of Saint Francis. The parade featured not just dogs and cats and pet rodents, but also such blessed beasties as Moriah the golden eagle, Jessie the barn owl, Chuckles the macaw, Sally the camel, Tundra the reindeer, Laney the llama, and many such, because, damn, New York is cool. [Ada and Mojito were photographed by Daniella Zalcman.]