OWASCO - Clooney Michael, a Santa suit on his furry back, was misbehaving. Perched precariously beside Santa Claus, he nuzzled Santa's beard and then leapt down to nip at his boots.
“He's going to eat my suit!” laughed Santa, a.k.a. Peter Babic.
Clooney's owner, Besty Graney, laughed too.
“Clooney is a monster,” she said, after her 90-pound, 9-month-old Lab finished getting his picture taken with Santa at Dickman Farms on Sunday afternoon.
Organizers were expecting as many as 50 dogs and cats at the fourth annual event to benefit the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York. Owners paid $10 for their pet's picture with Santa on a red velvet-covered bench, with pine trees and poinsettias in the background.
Babic, an avid volunteer for the SPCA, saw cats, two Great Danes, a German shepherd, a pug, a Boston terrier, a springer spaniel and a sheep dog, among others.
“I've been licked to death,” he said. “I love doing this.”
Babic, who works in the Welch Allyn customer care department, is known as “Santa Paws.” He lives in a place that does not allow pets, so his volunteer job fulfills his need to be around animals. This was the fourth year he played Santa.
“I've been marked. I've been bitten. One dog even ate my glasses,” he said nonchalantly. “It happens, especially a big guy in a Santa suit. If I were them, I'd probably bite, too.”
Amy Schiek, a board member of the SPCA, said the group hoped to raise $500. The money will pay for supplies for the animals and operating costs at the SPCA shelter.
The pets benefited from the photo sessions as well, according to Davia Jordan, who brought Millie, her 7-month-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
“This is good for her to be out among people,” said Jordan, who's had Millie for only a few weeks. “She needs to get out and about.”
Most of the pets seemed to take their photo sessions in stride, with help from their owners. Graney repeatedly fed Cooney treats to help keep in him line.
While so full of energy he shook, wiggled and wagged when trying diligently to sit still at Graney's command, Cooney is a well-behaved, loving dog.
“He's just a puppy,” Graney said. “He's going to have to be trained. He'll do anything for a treat.”
Sandy Yahn-Wise, the photographer for the event and treasurer for the SPCA board, found the animals almost soothing. She photographs animals in the wild, including bobcats, elk and grizzly bears.
“It's not as dangerous,” Yahn-Wise said. “I don't need to watch every movement of a dog to see if it's going to attack.”
Dickman's hosts the event because it's good work, said Sally Coughlin, customer service representative. “It's for a good cause, and we like to help the community,” she said.
Clooney's owner, Besty Graney, laughed too.
“Clooney is a monster,” she said, after her 90-pound, 9-month-old Lab finished getting his picture taken with Santa at Dickman Farms on Sunday afternoon.
Organizers were expecting as many as 50 dogs and cats at the fourth annual event to benefit the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York. Owners paid $10 for their pet's picture with Santa on a red velvet-covered bench, with pine trees and poinsettias in the background.
Babic, an avid volunteer for the SPCA, saw cats, two Great Danes, a German shepherd, a pug, a Boston terrier, a springer spaniel and a sheep dog, among others.
“I've been licked to death,” he said. “I love doing this.”
Babic, who works in the Welch Allyn customer care department, is known as “Santa Paws.” He lives in a place that does not allow pets, so his volunteer job fulfills his need to be around animals. This was the fourth year he played Santa.
“I've been marked. I've been bitten. One dog even ate my glasses,” he said nonchalantly. “It happens, especially a big guy in a Santa suit. If I were them, I'd probably bite, too.”
Amy Schiek, a board member of the SPCA, said the group hoped to raise $500. The money will pay for supplies for the animals and operating costs at the SPCA shelter.
The pets benefited from the photo sessions as well, according to Davia Jordan, who brought Millie, her 7-month-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
“This is good for her to be out among people,” said Jordan, who's had Millie for only a few weeks. “She needs to get out and about.”
Most of the pets seemed to take their photo sessions in stride, with help from their owners. Graney repeatedly fed Cooney treats to help keep in him line.
While so full of energy he shook, wiggled and wagged when trying diligently to sit still at Graney's command, Cooney is a well-behaved, loving dog.
“He's just a puppy,” Graney said. “He's going to have to be trained. He'll do anything for a treat.”
Sandy Yahn-Wise, the photographer for the event and treasurer for the SPCA board, found the animals almost soothing. She photographs animals in the wild, including bobcats, elk and grizzly bears.
“It's not as dangerous,” Yahn-Wise said. “I don't need to watch every movement of a dog to see if it's going to attack.”
Dickman's hosts the event because it's good work, said Sally Coughlin, customer service representative. “It's for a good cause, and we like to help the community,” she said.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.