Santa CAAWS Tips For Happy Holiday Photos

Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS) hosts its 20th Annual Santa CAAWS Pet Photo shoot Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For the first time, the event will be held in BREC’s Forest Community Dog Park at 13900 South Harrell’s Ferry Road. This year’s event also includes a family fair featuring face painting, pet supply vendors and refreshments.

Begun in 1979, CAAWS is the state’s first no-kill shelter, which has been 100% volunteer run since its inception. Besides hosting adoption events around town, CAAWS hosts regular adoption days at its South Baton Rouge animal shelter.

Santa CAAWS is the organization’s second largest fundraiser—eclipsed only the Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras parade. All proceeds are dedicated to providing shelter, food, vetting and low cost spay/neuters, TNR (trap-neuter-release) feral cat programs, disaster assistance and humane education.

Each year, photographer Mari Presedo and her volunteer krewe create more than 300 custom packages that feature an estimated 900 Capital City critters.

“What I love most about Santa CAAWS is I get to document families’ stories from year to year—the milestones and the losses,” Presedo says. “Couples come in one Christmas engaged, the next expecting and the next with a new baby and a new dog. And, when families email me to say one [of their pets] died, it breaks my heart, and I cry for them. They are all a part of my Christmas, and I am honored to be part of theirs.”

Besides a bevy of cats and dogs, Presedo has photographed goats, birds, rabbits, a serval (really big African wildcat), a baby squirrel, horses, donkeys and even a tarantula.

While one might think getting a dog to settle down for the picture is difficult, Presedo says it’s surprising how obedient the pets can be during the shoot.

“It’s amazing how many of the dogs know exactly what’s expected of them,” she says. “They walk in tail wagging, sniff Santa, sit, ‘smile’ and walk out all within three or four minutes. The humans aren’t nearly as well behaved.”

The various packages range in price from $20 to $30. The most popular package includes 25 4-x-8-inch holiday cards, which are ready for holiday mailing. Remarkably, no appointment is necessary. Over the years, volunteers have efficiently figured out how to ferry people and pets into position.

Whether you come to Santa CAAWS or DIY, here are Presedo’s tips to make holiday photos more fun for your furballs and family:

• Consider how many people and pets can fit in single sitting. The Santa CAAWS 10-foot square backdrop changes every year. “I have photographed 12 extremely well behaved dogs with two humans in one sitting,” Presedo says. “I would guesstimate six to eight humans each holding a pet is probably the comfortable limit the background allows.”

• Prepare for a successful shoot before leaving home. It’s best if owners water—but not feed—walk and potty their dogs immediately before the event. (In case of an accident,

CAAWS stocks products, so owners can pick up after their pets.) A good walk calms pets and tires them a little, which helps maintaining a calm submissive energy at the event.

• To costume? “Some of my repeat families have themes every year,” Presedo says. “LSU Tigers, Southern Jaguars and New Orleans Saints are always popular attire. Some families will all wear Santa hats or antlers along with winter clothes just for the pictures.” Generally speaking, people tolerate costumes—especially the uncomfortable ones that fall out position unpredictably—better than pets.

• …or not to costume? CAAWS actually has loaner dog holiday accessories for the pictures. However, “As tempting as they seem, most dogs hate wearing hats and antlers,” she says. “It’s hard to get them to ‘smile’ when they feel they are being ‘punished.’ So if this is your intent, have them wear [the costume] a little around the house first and reward them heavily for tolerating them before picture day.”

• Remember: To a pet, Santa appears to be a big furry, smelly stranger. Just like a human child who gets passed off to a huge stranger for the first time in an unfamiliar place, pet may be frightened, leery or super excited to see him. Some animals might not be as intimidated by the person as much as the suit. It doesn’t take long for the Santa suit to smell like really big dog pack with maybe a wisp of cat, rodent or lizard. “For some dogs, it’s like going to a virtual dog park and hearing all the gossip,” she says. Some sniff Santa and begin wagging out of control because Santa smells like a dog or human they know. Plus, they really enjoy the social outing. To others, it’s sensory overload. “Give your pets a few seconds to settle, and we will get a beautiful picture,” she says.

• Get in the spirit. “The best pictures are the ones where everyone is comfortable and happy to be there,” Presedo says. Although she aims to get everyone facing the camera, that may not always be the best shot. One year, a toddler and the family dog both “kissed” Santa at the same time. “Santa’s eyes were closed and he had a blissful, surprised smile on his face, as both lab and child showered him with affection,” she says. “You just can’t plan that.”

Among the pets who will benefit from this year’s Santa CAAWS are:

Creature Feature

Pilot is an 8-year-old Shih Tzu. This shy guy takes a little while to warm up to new people and places, but once he’s acclimated, he loves to cuddle. Pilot is best suited to a home without children (because they scare him). He needs a family with the patience to let him slowly come out of his shell as he becomes more comfortable in his surroundings.

Jane was found abandoned off of Burbank Drive in a busy subdivision, living in a hole in this large oak tree. Jane has one white whisker but otherwise is all black. This black beauty adapted quickly to her foster home by sleeping on her foster mom’s lap while watching TV and made friends with the other foster cats in the house. She has lots of personality. Now, Jane has become so brave, she’s nearly fearless.

Tippy is a 5-month-old Husky mix. When he was very young, this pup was left running loose in a junkyard full of sharp objects, which eventually resulted in wounds that became infected. He has now completely recovered. Despite his unhappy past, Tippy remains a happy carefree fellow. He loves other people and other dogs. Because he’s still a puppy, he needs a family with the time and patience to teach him how to be a good canine companion.

Fisher is 6-year-old orange tabby boy.

Milo (pronounced Mee-low) is an adorable combination of German shepherd and basset hound. This 1-year-old boy is already a star with his own video titled Milo’s Ready to Snuggle.

Heidi is a beautiful blue-eyed Siamese mix. This 4-year-old is little shy at first but warms up to new friends quickly. She likes to relax on the bed and be petted softly. She is fairly independent but gets along with other cats.

All these pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested and microchipped. Many other adoptable dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are available through Capital Area Animal Welfare Society. For more information, visit caaws.org.