Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412210089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Charlotte and Michael Pantall were tired of being outdone during their friends' endless baby-boasting sessions. So the Roanoke couple packed their clamoring kiddies into the family car Monday and headed over to Santa's for a special Christmas photography session.
"We're going to show them off to all our friends with babies," Charlotte said excitedly. "Yeah, your little girl is cute, but look at ours."
Their girls, 2-year-old Sophie and 4-year-old Reska, were less enthusiastic, but they dutifully posed with Santa for two photos. After all, it isn't a good time of year to be naughty, and Sophie and Reska were amply rewarded for their troubles.
They each got a Meaty Bone dog biscuit.
Sophie and Reska aren't your run-of-the-mill tykes. They're Dalmatians. And this wasn't a typical Santa photo shoot.
The Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is holding Christmas photo sessions this week to raise money for its Injured Animal and Spay and Neuter Fund. For a $5 donation, the jolliest of red-suited men will pose with your pet, and an elf will capture the moment on film.
"Many of the animals came from here to begin with," Santa's elf, Robin Smith, said. "So it's a nice tradition for them to come back and have their photo taken."
Anneliese Richards brought her dog, Lady Bear, in for a Santa snapshot Tuesday. "I adopted her from here two years ago today," Richards said. "Some of the people recognized her. I was happy about that."
The SPCA has spread holiday cheer with its Christmas fund-raising drive for four years, and Denny Muir has suited up as Santa since the beginning.
"I love it," he said. "I'm hoping this will help out a little bit. The animals tell me what they want and if they've been good or bad. Then I give them treats - bones."
Muir, who said he also has portrayed Santa at Towers Shopping Center and Veterans of Foreign Wars functions, has plenty of experience, but he admitted that this job comes with special challenges - and hazards.
Despite the efforts of SPCA employees who try to get the dog's attention with a squeaky toy, "it isn't always easy to get a dog to look at the camera," Muir said, "and the red suit makes some of them nervous."
And there's the occasional bladder-control problem. Anxious pets have been known to lift their legs in Santa's presence.
"Santa got it real good last year," Smith said.
At least one pet enjoyed the experience. Seven-month-old Sheba, a black cat sporting a big, red bow, cuddled up to Santa, hiding its head in Santa's substantial belly. Sheba was brought to the SPCA by Debbie Stutler of Roanoke.
The modeling sessions started Monday morning and will continue until noon on Christmas Eve. Seventy-four pets - dogs and cats - participated during the first two days, and the SPCA staff is expecting the demand to pick up as the week continues.
Jeff Ostrander of Roanoke was one of the first eager customers.
"I heard Santa Claus was here," he said as he walked in with Frank, his mother's dog.
Frank, a mixed breed, was a real trouper. He even donned a red-and-white stocking cap for the occasion.
"My mom asked me to bring him down. He's been a real good dog," Ostrander said.
Santa will be at SPCA headquarters, 1313 Eastern Ave., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. No appointment is necessary.
by CNB