By the Rotary Club of Dubbo
For the past two years, the Rotary Club of Dubbo has hosted Santa photos with a difference. Drawing on what had been an unusual and often unsettling time for people, the club came up with Santa Paws – photos of pets with Santa.
With pets often being the only certainty in people’s lives throughout the pandemic, it was logical for the club to provide an opportunity for people to do something special with their four-legged friends.
“Pets are therapy and give so much comfort to people during times of stress and uncertainty, so hosting Santa Paws was just one way we could help those in our community celebrate their special bond with their often most loved family member,” club President Carla Pittman said. “And who wouldn’t want to capture such a great memory by having a photo of your dog or dogs with Santa Claus.”
“With pets often being the only certainty in people’s lives throughout the pandemic, it was logical for the club to provide an opportunity for people to do something special with their four-legged friends.”
With the first round of Santa Paws held in 2020, from the amount of positive feedback and gratitude from the public it was a given that the project continued in 2021.
Held over two weekends initially, the club extended the event to three weekends last year, with bad weather not dampening the spirits of pawticipants or members.
Fortunately, Santa Paws was one event that could easily be conducted in a COVID safe way, allowing community members to still participate. With the giant Santa seat and hay bales staged in the shelter at an oval, pets and their handlers had ample room in a relaxed outdoor setting to socially distance and mitigate any potential risks.
“And the event wasn’t just for doggie participants,” Carla said.
“This year an eight-year-old rabbit joined Santa with its Christmas list, as well as a family of ferrets coming along to squirm with Santa and see what all the fuss was about.”
Every person and paw received both printed and digital versions of their photos to enable them to print or create something that little bit different at Christmas time.
The support from not only the Dubbo community was certainly worth every effort, with some people even travelling over an hour and a half to have their few minutes of fame.
Dubbo Regional Council has been very supportive of the event and the club looks forward to hosting its most fun event of the year again come festive season.
