Every dog has its holiday

[IceyBlueSibes]

Every dog has its holiday

By KARA MCGUIRE

McClatchy Newspapers

Tootsi, a brown cat decked out in a Santa hat and perched on owner Lindsay Gabrelcik's shoulder, patiently waited in line for at least half an hour to see Santa Sunday night at Ridgedale Center. Though 3-year-old Tootsi has been through the routine since a kitten, this year she wanted nothing to do with Santa and tried to escape over his shoulder.

At least Tootsi got to see Santa; the alligators behind her in line were asked to leave.

Tootsi is one of many pets who will pose for a photo with Santa Claws -- er, Claus, this Christmas season.

The number of places offering up Santa for Fido and Fifi is growing to meet demand.

Pet stores and fundraisers put on by animal-rescue groups are obvious locations for pet photos. Now malls have joined in. All are hoping to grab a chunk of the $38.4 billion Americans spend annually to feed, care for and spoil their companions.

In the five years that Cheri Moon has published the bi-monthly free publication TC Dog, she's watched the pets market explode, "whether it's Santa Paws photos or custom jewelry," she said. "Pets have definitely moved to the center of the family -- from the farm to the middle of our pillows."

Take Captain Guten Morgen, a chocolate lab who will visit Santa Sunday after a successful photo shoot last year. Morgen goes to a doggy hotel and gets pet spa treatments when his owner, Patty Kealy, is out of town on business. When she upgraded Morgen to the oatmeal bath on a recent visit she thought to herself, "I've never in my life been to a spa, but my dog has."

Tootsi, the cat, has five beds in Gabrelcik's home, but prefers to sleep in her owner's bed under the covers. She also has more than one collar, including a crystal number made by Swarovski.

And the holidays, when we tend to spoil ourselves and our children, has become a time to also spoil pets. More than half of dog owners plan to buy holiday gifts for their pets. Even 5 percent of pet fish receive gifts.

Southdale Center in Edina, Minn., will host its first Santa-pet photo night.
The move comes after a successful pet fashion show in May was executed with nary a bark or a bite, said Southdale's marketing director Anne-Marie Cookson. The show drew hundreds of people; "some literally decided not to shop and to simply pet dogs and hold kittens and puppies for hours," Cookson said.

Many families have kids that pose with their pets on Santa's lap, but by the next day Santa will have changed to a new suit: no dander, no stray hairs.
When Santa lands at the Mall of America for his pet gig, he poses with birds, snakes, even rats. Mall spokeswoman Anna Lewicki recalls a dog the size of a small horse in 2005. "Santa doesn't discriminate," Lewicki said. The MOA held its first pet photo night two years ago and has added an additional night each year.

More than 100 pets showed up one recent Sunday at Ridgedale Center. Mall spokeswoman Brooke Behrens said the center will expand it next year, possibly to one pet night a week during the holidays.

These events typically take place after hours and require pets to be leashed or caged and current with their vaccinations. But if your pet prefers a daytime visit, you can head to "Yappy Hour with Santa Paws" at Minneapolis' Millennium Hotel, an all-day event where pet owners can drink "Mutt-inis" in the luxury hotel's lobby with Spot at their feet. Small dogs can run with others of similar stature in the specialized "pint-sized" play area.

Whereas photographers at the malls keep 100 percent of the profits, all the money earned by Santa when he's at Yappy Hour goes to Animal Ark, the no-kill shelter's executive director Mike Fry said.

However, Fry isn't worried about mall events eating into his proceeds. "I think there's plenty of people out there with pets to go around who will get their pictures taken with Santa," he said.

This is the first year Yappy Hour, traditionally a dog event, is combined with the Santa photo-op for pets of all stripes.

"I'd be really afraid if somebody brought a cat," said TC Dog's Moon. Yet organizers say the animals nearly always get along and there are surprisingly few dogs that lift their legs on the North Pole.

But you won't find Moon's dogs sitting on St. Nick's lap. "Everyone expects me to have well-behaved dogs, but my animals will get too stressed," she explained. Which brings up the question: Do pets really like this activity?

Just like two-legged children, some "four-legged children" love Santa, others don't.

But Fry of Animal Ark said if Santa and his elves are animal lovers and are generous with the treats, most animals will tolerate the experience.