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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Sadie the cat joined the Christmas party already packed with dogs twice her size by announcing her presence as soon as she came through the door, loudly meowing.
Welcome to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ feline and canine Christmas party. The SPCA volunteers’ annual holiday event, held Saturday at Petco, allowed people to bring their pets to get a picture taken with Santa Claus or the Grinch for only $10.
Since Petco has a partnership with the SPCA, making some of the society’s cats available for adoption at its retail outlets, the volunteers thought it would be a good idea to host the holiday photo shoot in Petco’s lobby. All of the event’s proceeds help the SPCA to rescue animals, take care of them, and find them loving homes.
“This is a normal tradition for us, going back many years,” said volunteer Kathi Pederson, of Forty Fort. “We usually raise around $1,000.”
Many dogs and cats waited in line, some patiently and others not so patiently, for their turn to pose with Santa Claus and the Grinch. Among the dogs were two that previously had been adopted through the SPCA and regularly return to visit the people who saved them.
“Our dogs just get so excited for events like this, and I definitely recommend saving a dog from SPCA,” said Vicky Wallace, of Duryea.
Another dog in attendance, Baby, outfitted in a blue sweater, could not participate in the event last Christmas due to an illness. “She got really sick with cancer, but she’s all better now, and so I took her here to get her picture taken to celebrate,” said owner Desiree Shaffer, of Avoca.
The SPCA has been saving animals in this area since 1957. Without the help of the volunteers, this holiday tradition and the continuing work of the SPCA would not be possible.
“I love animals, helping them and seeing the connection between an animal newly adopted and their new owner,” said volunteer Lisa Klein, of Drums. “It’s pure enjoyment.”
