Take a Pet Pic With Santa
November 24, 2009 by Laura Weisskopf Bleill
Filed under Activities, Blog, Events
Bear with Santa. Credit: auburnxc on flickr
by Laura Weisskopf Bleill
It’s an annual Christmas rite-of-passage: the obligatory photo on Santa’s lap. Only, there is one member of the family that’s always missing: a beloved pet.
Well, it doesn’t have to be that way this year. There are several local options for including your canine or feline in this celebrated holiday tradition.
In addition to getting a great pic, you can also help advocate for pets in our community by supporting various local animal advocacy organizations. And then there is another opportunity to educate people on where their pets come from.
Best Friends Animal Society is sponsoring a pet-Santa photo event at Marketplace Mall the next four Monday nights. Best Friends is perhaps best known for rescuing pets in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and taking on the rehabilitation of dogs seized from Michael Vick’s fighting operation. It also has an active campaign right now called “Puppies Aren’t Products,” which encourages people to adopt rather than buy puppies.
There have long been concerns in the community about the source of the dogs at the mall’s current puppy store as well as the one that preceded it. Chambanamoms.com contacted Best Friends to understand why they decided to sponsor this particular event at a venue where there is a store selling puppies.
“Best Friends is reaching out to communities to educate the public on animal welfare issues, and the St. Nick’s Pet Pics event is a great opportunity to do that,” wrote media relations manager Barbara Williamson in an e-mail. “If a shopper, who is unaware of what Best Friends does, finds out about the organization and becomes engaged in the issues, then this promotion and Best Friends have accomplished a great deal for the animals.”
Here’s hoping the message comes across loud and clear.
A rundown of Santa pet photo events this holiday season:
*At Champaign’s Marketplace Mall, St. Nick’s Pet Pics will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 21 (all Monday nights). Dogs and cats only. Click here for more information and a coupon. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is sponsoring this event and will have treats for the pets; there will costumes and props available to use in the photos. Photo packages range from $17 to $50 (no proceeds go to Best Friends).
* The Champaign PetSmart (2017 N. Prospect Ave.) will be hosting its annual Santa Claws event the first three Saturday and Sundays in December from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. PetSmart gives part of the proceeds to local animal rescue organizations. It will be Champaign County Humane Society’s turn on Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. Cost is $8.99.
*Hands for Paws, an animal advocacy not-for-profit in Douglas County, will offer pet photos with Santa on Dec. 5 and 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 pm for a $5 donation. Children are also welcome. Santa will be at Tuscola East, the downtown elevator office near the community building.
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Thanks so much for sharing these great photo opportunities! People love to have their companions included in Christmas photographs and there are certainly a good number of choices this year. And, yes, let the message come across loud and clear regarding selling puppies at the mall. Dogs are for life … not for Christmas.