Nov 29 Written by:cindy_alvey
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Who needs Santa Claus when Santa Paws is here?!! Yep, Santa even remembers our furry friends during the holiday season! Just search the web and you'll find lots of places around the area offering "Photos with Santa" for dogs, and some even for cats! PetMAC's Santa photo sessions were so popular last year that we decided to add a special time for kitties to come visit Santa, away from the barking dogs!
Is your pet right to visit Santa? Maybe, maybe not. Most cats will not want to go out t
|
.jpg)
|
|
Sue Bell, Executive Director of Homeward Trails and her dog, Tabby, loved meeting Santa at PetMAC last year!
|
o a strange place and be held by a strange person and have bright lights flashing in their face, but there are some who are confident enough to be able to handle it. If your dog is easily spooked or nervous, meeting a big man in a red suit and beard might not be the best thing for them. If he/she is not good with strangers or doesn't like other dogs, ditto. Make sure the experience will be fun and exciting for your pooch, not scarey and terrifying! Ideally, go to a small location where there aren't a lot of distractions and where people know and love dogs and will help them feel comfortable.
How to make a photo with Santa one that you want to make cards out of and send to all your friends? Get the dog NICE AND TIRED first! Get as much of the energy and excitement out as you can, so they will sit nice and still for the photo. Take a potty break right beforehand...no Santa wants his leg peed on! If your dog loves new outfits, try a Santa suit for Mrs. Claus dress.... antlers and bandanas are great for dogs who don't like to be dressed up but will tolerate a little something around the top. Bring some of your dog's favorite treats and a squeaky toy to help him focus on the camera, and to reward him/her for being so good with Santa. Lastly, make sure your pooch tells Santa what he/she wants for Christmas - every dog (and cat!) deserves a special surprise under the tree come Christmas morning!
For more information on PetMAC's Santa Paws photos, please visit www.petmac.org and click on our Events link. PetMAC is located in Arlington, VA. All proceeds from the Santa Paws photos will benefit Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, www.homewardtrails.org.
Tags: