Dogs were excited Sunday to pose for photos with Santa Claus as part of a Lexington fund-raiser for the Bluegrass Animal Welfare League.

They were so excited that volunteers kept handy a spray bottle of cleaner and some paper towels.

"Don't worry, he's just doing what comes naturally," one volunteer assured Donna Brown of Nicholasville and her 4-year-old Yorkie, Mr. Mack, as she wiped a small puddle off the floor.
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Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley - Ben Brown, dressed up as Santa, tried to coax Shawn Leonard's Chihuahua, Cayenne, to visit with him Sunday during the Bluegrass Animal Welfare League's photo shoot at Hunter Presbyterian Church in Lexington. Two more pet sessions with Santa are scheduled (see box below).
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Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley - Bluegrass Animal Welfare League volunteers Sally Chase, left, Phyllis Bieber and Marsha Cassity, all of Lexington, helped get a dog's attention as Leslye Leonard photographed the pet sitting on Santa's lap on Sunday.
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IF YOU GO

'Photo with Santa'

What: A fund-raiser by Bluegrass Animal Welfare League in which pets may have their pictures taken with Santa Claus.

When: 1-5 p.m. Dec. 5, Hunter Presbyterian Church, 109 Rosemont Garden; 1-4 p.m. Dec. 12, Incredipet, 3080 Richmond Rd.

Cost: Photos are $6 each or two for $10.

Learn more: Kybawl.org

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A nose for wild things

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Squatting next to his quarry, the dog's eyes locked onto an athletic blond woman who was approaching cautiously.

Her hand reached into her backpack and the Belgian Malinois rose slowly to his feet, his butterscotch eyes burning with intensity. As the woman brought out a strand of knotted rope and leather, he lunged and snapped his powerful jaws around the tanned hide.

He bared his teeth and began to pull, peddling backward. She set her heels and the two whirled around the Western Montana grassland on this crisp autumn morning in a ferocious game of tug of war.

The non-profit Bluegrass Animal Welfare League assists pet owners with the cost of spaying and neutering and teaches schoolchildren how to care for animals responsibly.

"We know there's a definite need for spay and neuter because there are too many homeless pets, too many unwanted dogs and cats," said Phyllis Bieber, the group's treasurer.

Only a handful of customers came Sunday. Santa — also known as Ben Brown, a Versailles music teacher and musician — said he mostly had had small dogs in his lap. Nobody has soiled his outfit yet, but the pups were anxious, he said.

"They take it badly," he said. "New environment. Big guy in a strange costume. They're not into the whole Santa legend, apparently."

Donna Brown, no relation to Ben, smiled as she accepted her freshly developed photos of Mr. Mack with Santa. Mr. Mack ran around her legs, wrapping them in his leash.

"This will go up on my Facebook page," she said. "I'll probably also send it to my friends so they can make fun of me for doing this."