AUBURN - Excited dogs, some of them dressed up in garland and sweaters, waited with wagging tails to have their pictures taken with Santa.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Denise Rhoads, of Skaneateles, fills out a check for her dog Kali, a six-month-old springer spaniel, to get her photo taken with Santa as Santa waits for his next visitor at Dickman Farms in Owasco on Sunday. Kali, though friendly with the staff was too scared of Santa to pose with him.
Denise Rhoads, of Skaneateles, fills out a check for her dog Kali, a six-month-old springer spaniel, to get her photo taken with Santa as Santa waits for his next visitor at Dickman Farms in Owasco on Sunday. Kali, though friendly with the staff was too scared of Santa to pose with him.
The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York and Dickman Farms, in Auburn, paired to put on a pet photo with Santa fundraiser Sunday at Dickman Farms Garden Center. About 82 proud owners and numerous dogs - and a few cats - showed up, registered and will receive their photos in the mail, said Sandy Yahn-Wise, volunteer treasurer and bookkeeper of the shelter's board of trustees.
“Everything the shelter does, and the cruelty investigators who donate their time - all of these things are important to me and to the community,” said Yahn-Wise. “People are really dedicated to their pets. Pets are part of the family.”
A $10 donation was required to receive a 4-by-6 photo in a festive paper frame. Last year, about 50 people came to the fundraiser and the event raised between $560 and $600 for the shelter, said Jody Muldoon, another board member. This year, $861 was the final total, said Yahn-Wise. Visitors can buy more prints beyond the 4-by-6 photo they receive by donating $10.
“Everything goes to the shelter,” said Muldoon. “Every dime of it.”
Muldoon and other shelter volunteers said that dogs are the type of pets primarily seen at the annual fundraiser, which has been going on for about 10 years. A few cats also make an appearance.
Many of the visitors who showed up Sunday have come year after year, and people who adopted their dogs from the shelter also came out, said Cheryl DeBois, board member.
“We have a lot of repeat customers, which is good,” DeBois said. “We get no funding from state or federal grants, so to meet the needs of the shelter for medicine, food and supplies, we rely on donations.”
All types of dogs and people of all ages showed their support at the event. The day's first customer was a 100-year-old shopper who sat down and had her photo taken with Santa, said Muldoon. One visitor dropped off a bag of dog food as an additional donation. All of the donations are desperately needed by the shelter, said Muldoon.
“We're completely non-profit,” she said. “This is how we keep our heads above water.”
Muldoon explained that the shelter's roof had to be replaced recently and the facility needed a new refrigerator. The number of unwanted cats at the shelter also makes for a challenge.
“We're always overwhelmed with the cat population,” said Muldoon. “There's always something (that requires funding).”
Lisa Everett, of Auburn, brought her foster dog Bruno to the event. She said Bruno is looking for a home for Christmas.
“The public needs to be more aware of (the shelter's) needs,” Everett said. “They don't get enough support from the community. There are so many unwanted animals in the county ... we live in a disposable society. People just dispose of their pets. It's just wrong.”
Another animal lover, Pat Marullo, of Auburn, brought her Maltese Molly in for pictures.
“I wanted a picture of my dog with Santa,” Marullo said. “And I'm a supporter of the SPCA. This way I can kill two birds with one stone.”
Marullo said it saddens her to see the many pets at the shelter who have been dropped off and need a home.
Santa, who is Peter Babic, of Camillus, said he's been dressing up and participating in the fundraiser for five years.
“The best thing about this is the pets, the SPCA and the things we're doing for them,” Babic said. “It makes the season have a reason. I know where (the donations) are going because I've been over there (to the shelter).”
Dickman Farms Garden Center general manager Kathy Bardwell said she's glad to host the event.
“It's very easy for people to get here and easy to get their pets in here because of the open space,” she said. “There have been so many cutbacks for the SPCA ... we'll continue to support them. We plan on it every year.”
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net
“Everything the shelter does, and the cruelty investigators who donate their time - all of these things are important to me and to the community,” said Yahn-Wise. “People are really dedicated to their pets. Pets are part of the family.”
A $10 donation was required to receive a 4-by-6 photo in a festive paper frame. Last year, about 50 people came to the fundraiser and the event raised between $560 and $600 for the shelter, said Jody Muldoon, another board member. This year, $861 was the final total, said Yahn-Wise. Visitors can buy more prints beyond the 4-by-6 photo they receive by donating $10.
“Everything goes to the shelter,” said Muldoon. “Every dime of it.”
Muldoon and other shelter volunteers said that dogs are the type of pets primarily seen at the annual fundraiser, which has been going on for about 10 years. A few cats also make an appearance.
Many of the visitors who showed up Sunday have come year after year, and people who adopted their dogs from the shelter also came out, said Cheryl DeBois, board member.
“We have a lot of repeat customers, which is good,” DeBois said. “We get no funding from state or federal grants, so to meet the needs of the shelter for medicine, food and supplies, we rely on donations.”
All types of dogs and people of all ages showed their support at the event. The day's first customer was a 100-year-old shopper who sat down and had her photo taken with Santa, said Muldoon. One visitor dropped off a bag of dog food as an additional donation. All of the donations are desperately needed by the shelter, said Muldoon.
“We're completely non-profit,” she said. “This is how we keep our heads above water.”
Muldoon explained that the shelter's roof had to be replaced recently and the facility needed a new refrigerator. The number of unwanted cats at the shelter also makes for a challenge.
“We're always overwhelmed with the cat population,” said Muldoon. “There's always something (that requires funding).”
Lisa Everett, of Auburn, brought her foster dog Bruno to the event. She said Bruno is looking for a home for Christmas.
“The public needs to be more aware of (the shelter's) needs,” Everett said. “They don't get enough support from the community. There are so many unwanted animals in the county ... we live in a disposable society. People just dispose of their pets. It's just wrong.”
Another animal lover, Pat Marullo, of Auburn, brought her Maltese Molly in for pictures.
“I wanted a picture of my dog with Santa,” Marullo said. “And I'm a supporter of the SPCA. This way I can kill two birds with one stone.”
Marullo said it saddens her to see the many pets at the shelter who have been dropped off and need a home.
Santa, who is Peter Babic, of Camillus, said he's been dressing up and participating in the fundraiser for five years.
“The best thing about this is the pets, the SPCA and the things we're doing for them,” Babic said. “It makes the season have a reason. I know where (the donations) are going because I've been over there (to the shelter).”
Dickman Farms Garden Center general manager Kathy Bardwell said she's glad to host the event.
“It's very easy for people to get here and easy to get their pets in here because of the open space,” she said. “There have been so many cutbacks for the SPCA ... we'll continue to support them. We plan on it every year.”
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net
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