INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Dogs and cats hoping for one last chance to avoid a lump of coal – or worse – in their stockings this year pleaded their cases to Santa Paws at the Humane Society over the weekend while their humans got photographic evidence of their good behavior.
“We’re all family,” said Denise Childers, who brought Kobi, a yellow lab, and their human and furry friends.
Childers said they’ve come out to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County to see Santa Paws every year for the last six as a way to support the organization’s mission to help the county’s animals.
With Childers and Kobi were Stacey Bush and Daryl Harris with their almost-2-year-old Jayden, their pug, Sushi, Nevaeh, a lab-mix, and Savannah, a cat.
While the four-legged creatures sat well for Santa Paws, Bush said Jayden wasn’t too sure about the bearded man.
Jayden wasn’t the only one.
Cooper, a 2-year-old Shih Tzu, didn’t know what to make of Santa Paws, according to his human, Suzanne Smith.
“He didn’t want to sit with Santa,” Smith said of Cooper’s reaction to Santa Paws. “I think he was put off by the beard.”
Smith plans to use the photo of Cooper and Santa Paws as Christmas cards to send to friends and family this holiday season.
The photos with Santa Paws served as a fundraiser for the Humane Society.
“I wanted to support their cause,” Smith said of having the photo done. Cooper is a graduate of obedience training at the Humane Society.
