Haney Builders Supplies will once be the site of pet photos with Santa Claus this holiday season.
The shoots have produced fun photos of Saint Nick with armloads of pups, trios of chickens, nervous-looking cats, Santa sitting on horseback, and even with livestock like goats.
Photographer Natalie Zuke says she will take any animal willing to come for a photo session, for a suggested donation of $20.
“I love it. The Santa photoshoot has got to be the highlight of my year,” she said.
The best is when she sees something unusual coming in, like a pair of llamas.
“My happy meter goes sky high.”
It’s a family affair. Her husband Chad Grant sits in for Santa, one son Xavier takes information like where the photos can be sent, and her other son Lucan works the squeaky toys as a photographer assistant.
And the pics are produced for good causes, including the SAINTS Animal Rescue. That Mission-based society (Senior Animals in Need Today Society) takes aged animals, and those with special needs, into an end-of-life sanctuary to live out their final days. Zuke volunteers there.
“We take the old, the broken, the unadoptable,” she said. “Most of our animals will live out the rest of their lives there.”
Last year the pet photos with Santa raised $4,500 for the organization, and that bought a lot of medicines for SAINTS.
Part of the donation will also go to PEACE, which is a charity that transports animals free of charge to any animal sanctuary in B.C. and parts of Alberta.
The photo sessions will take place in the front, covered area, at the home improvement store in Maple Ridge (22740 Dewdney Trunk Rd.), and will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, as well as Saturdays Dec. 9 and 16. The photographer takes a break for lunch at 11:30 a.m.
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Walk-ins are welcome, but pet owners can also call the store to book an appointment. Anyone bringing farm animals is asked to call the store at 604-463-6206 and give an estimated arrival time.
“I look forward to this event every year, and it has never disappointed me, only brought me more Christmas joy than can ever be imaginable,” said Zuke.
She said the shoots have seen horses, pigs, bunnies, ferrets, bearded dragons, chickens, roosters, goats, llamas, donkeys, cats, and hundreds of dogs.
This will be their fourth year offering these unique Santa photos.
“I cannot express in words how amazing that is, and can’t wait to see what happens this year,” she said. “All your pets are little Christmas miracles to us.”
“Tell your family, friends, neighbours, and your lovely animals that Santa is coming to town!” said Zuke.
Photographer Zuke is also a dog walker who runs Dirty Dog Adventures.
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