PARKERSBURG - The Humane Society of Parkersburg is gearing up for its annual holiday fundraiser of Santa Paws, pet photos with Santa Claus.
"We will again be welcoming pets and their people to have photos taken with Santa to benefit the humane society," said Maryann Hollis, executive director for the Humane Society of Parkersburg.
The event will be held in the floodwall building next door to the shelter from noon to 6 p.m. on Nov. 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 27 and Nov. 29.
The cost is $10 for two prints and $15 for two prints and a CD with all of the photos taken of their pet(s) during the session. There will also be holiday card packages available.
All proceeds from the photos will go to the humane society for supplies and programs.
"Last year we had about 200 pets," Hollis said. "This fundraiser is pretty good size with a lot of pets coming through."
Last year's pet photos with Santa raised more than $3,500 with this year's goal being about $4,000, Hollis added.
The event has been an annual fundraiser for the humane society for more than a decade with people from around the Mid-Ohio Valley bringing their cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits and other pets to have holiday photos taken, Hollis said.
"Once Halloween hits we start getting phone calls asking when the Santa photos will be," she said. "I'm sure we've had some people come every year."
Not only does the event allow for photos with small and traditional pets, but any pet people want to bring.
"We'll even take horses," Hollis said. "If people want to bring it and we have room, photos will be taken."
During the event, pets that are able to be will be placed on Santa's lap and their photos will be taken to be used as holiday cards by their humans.
"Some people show off the photos all year long," Hollis said. "They are just so cute and a great way to kick off the holiday season."
This year's photos will be taken by Amanda Buckley Imaging of Parkersburg, which will be donating its services to the event.
