INNISFAIL – Pet owners and their beloved pets pitched in to do their part to share the Christmas spirit and give to those in need during the holidays.
Scores of Innisfail and area residents and their pets lined up at Poplar Grove Veterinary Services in Innisfail for the annual Pet Pictures with Santa on Dec. 7.
The annual event was a fundraiser for the Innisfail and District Food Bank.
“It’s the busiest year we’ve ever had,” said Kelsey Strabel, registered veterinary technician. “It hasn’t stopped since 10 a.m.”
Poplar Grove Veterinary Services has been holding Pet Pictures with Santa for more than a decade, said Strabel, adding she has continued to see it grow bigger and bigger each year.
“I think it’s been 11 or 12 years. I’ve been working here 12 years and it started when I started working here,” said Strabel, noting the event collects non-perishable food items or a $5 cash donation for a photo with Santa.
“We raised between $300 and $400 (in cash) last year and we had three or four big boxes of food (donations),” she added, noting the increasing community support for Pet Pictures with Santa every year. “It’s a very popular community event, it’s lots of fun, everybody enjoys it. It’s the best time of year,” said Strabel.
Dozens of Innisfail and area residents, both clients and non-clients of Poplar Grove Veterinary Services, took in the fun, festive fundraiser.
First-time attendee Jonathan McCormick and his girlfriend Lucy brought their two dogs, a beagle named Chloe and a German shepherd-Lab mix named Jax, to have their picture taken with Santa.
“We heard they were doing the pictures for donations and thought we’d stop by,” said McCormick.
Other citizens have been supporting the annual fundraiser for several years and return for photos every December.
Leanne Neufeld brought her orange-coloured cat Ging to have his picture with Santa.
“We’ve been coming here for four years. It’s his (Ging’s) second time here but I’ve had other pets here as well,” said Neufeld. “I just love the photos, the cause, donating and giving back. The pictures are so cute.”
