Santa Goes to the Dogs for Photography Fundraiser

Even dogs and cats deserve a little lap time with Santa, and Henderson County Animal Services and a local photographer are making it happen.

Animal Services and Portraits at Noah’s Ark are holding their third annual Santa Paws event at the Stoney Mountain Road animal shelter. The event is a fundraiser for the shelter and invites people to receive professional pictures of their pets with Santa. Photographer Virginia Bennett operates Portraits at Noah’s Ark in an RV that she converted into a mobile photography studio.

One by one Friday afternoon, dogs, some in their holiday finest, were brought into the RV for their portraits. Bennett and two of Santa’s helpers, using squeak toys, whistles and any other sounds they could create, did their best to get the dogs' attention as Bennett fired away with her camera.

For the most part, the dogs were cooperative, which couldn’t have been easy considering some were sporting reindeer antlers, Santa hats, and other holiday-themed outfits.

Two dogs that were used to the fuss were Abby and Bentley who brought their owner, Greg Fouts, to the shelter to have their pictures made. Fouts said the happy West Highland Terriers got their pictures made last year at Santa Paws. Fouts was pleased with the pictures and wanted more. His dogs, he said, are family.

“We just think it’s a neat deal, plus the price is right. Fifteen bucks for a set of these is just a bargain,” he said after Abby and Bentley’s close-up.

Fouts said his pets are rescued dogs that he took in a year ago. Both dogs had been mistreated and were quite sick when Fouts received them. Looking at them today, it’s obvious Abby and Bentley are living the good life.

“Now they’re just lovable and they sleep with us and they’re family,” he said. “We just enjoy our dogs, and we really don’t take many pictures of our dogs, so to get pictures from a professional photographer is really great and they do a great job.”

If you want your pet’s picture with Santa, there’s one more opportunity to do so. You and your pets can head down to Henderson County Animal Services on Saturday, December 4, from 10am to 2pm. The cost is $15 for a CD with five images of one or two pets with Santa. The cost is $25 for three pets.

Dogs should be on a leash, while cats should be in a carrier.

Not only can you get pictures of your pet, but you can also walk into the animal shelter and take home a new family member. The shelter will be open for you to view and possibly adopt the animals.

For more information, call Animal Services at 828-697-4723.

 

 

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