Santa Clause (Claws?) posed for pictures with pups in support of the Prince Albert Food Bank. (submitted photo/Facebook/Ashley's Pet Spa)

By Rob Mahon

Dogs and Santa

Dog photos with Santa bring in dozens of donations for Food Bank

Dec 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Every dog belongs on the nice list, and Santa himself came to Prince Albert to confirm it over the weekend.

Club Canine Doggy Daycare and Ashley’s Pet Spa hosted dog photos with Santa over the weekend, with pet owners able to get their photo by making a donation to the Prince Albert Food Bank.

“We thought that with the food bank giving out, I think it’s like 3,500 baskets a week this year, it would be a good idea if they just donated and then we could offer them great memories with Santa with their pets,” Ashley Atterbury, owner of Ashley’s Pet Spa, said. “The response was overwhelming. We probably did over 100 sittings over the weekend and we got huge donations for the food bank.”

Over the course of three days, there were all sorts of pet owners bringing their furry friends by and Atterbury said it felt great to see such support from the community (and have some laughs as their pets got used to a picture with Santa). The pet owners thoroughly enjoyed themselves as well.

“There were happy tears we got when we had families with four kids and two dogs who got their Christmas photos done,” Atterbury said. “We had senior dogs on their last Christmas, and they wanted to make sure there were photos, or puppies that were having their first time seeing the man in red.”

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Santa is a big dog lover according to Atterbury, and once they were sufficiently coaxed with treats, the dogs were big fans of his as well. So with all involved having had such a good time, it sounds like there’s a good chance Santa will be spending time with dogs again next year.

“We only have a little spot here but we’re still going to open it up and make it better and bigger,” Atterbury said. “We love Christmas, we love the whole spirit of Christmas and to have everybody sharing it with us was just amazing.”

Atterbury added they don’t know what the final total of food gathered was (the food bank could weigh it once they get it) but they know every bit will help. It’s part of why they decided to support the food bank in the first place.

“I couldn’t think of anything more important. There are so many people that are down on their luck and Christmas is the time of year that all of us can give a little bit and reach out. There are so many good people in Prince Albert,” she said.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP