Santaland Pet Pictures
By: Brian Shoenfelt
Updated: December 25, 2012
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - You're probably used to seeing children getting their picture taken with Santa. WTAJ News Photojournalist Brian Shoenfelt found that this holiday season, area animals are making Santa check his list for chew toys too.
On Modays in November and December Santaland at the Logan Valley Mall looked more like a dog park as folks and their pets stood in line to get a snap shot with Santa. Andy Walter brought his Dane's Athena and Apollo, who's 220 pounds. Walker said if Santa sleigh broke down Athena and Apollo could take over for the reindeer.
Big, little, and everything in between. Hundreds of pets waited patiently, some for hours, just to get a chance to ask Santa for bones, balls, or maybe a big fat T-bone steak.
Paige McReary's dog, Presley, was a big hit with Santa, and Dozer, a pit-bull, was there to get some good PR for his breed. McReary says despite some negative perceptions about the breed, Dozer is on Santa's "Nice List".
As for Apollo and Athena's tryouts to pull Santa's sleigh? They haven't heard back yet but Walter says it went well.
Santa-land officials say on average they had around fifty animals come out to get their picture taken with Santa.
On Modays in November and December Santaland at the Logan Valley Mall looked more like a dog park as folks and their pets stood in line to get a snap shot with Santa. Andy Walter brought his Dane's Athena and Apollo, who's 220 pounds. Walker said if Santa sleigh broke down Athena and Apollo could take over for the reindeer.
Big, little, and everything in between. Hundreds of pets waited patiently, some for hours, just to get a chance to ask Santa for bones, balls, or maybe a big fat T-bone steak.
Paige McReary's dog, Presley, was a big hit with Santa, and Dozer, a pit-bull, was there to get some good PR for his breed. McReary says despite some negative perceptions about the breed, Dozer is on Santa's "Nice List".
As for Apollo and Athena's tryouts to pull Santa's sleigh? They haven't heard back yet but Walter says it went well.
Santa-land officials say on average they had around fifty animals come out to get their picture taken with Santa.
