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The Pet Photo Night has become an annual Mall event
BOARDMAN
Dogs of every size and many breeds, and even a few brave cats, some in their Christmas vests and sweaters, brought their owners to Southern Park Mall for Pet Photo Night, a chance to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus and star in family Christmas cards.
The event Sunday, sponsored by The Art Cafe after the regular Mall closing, will be repeated from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 near the front entrance to the J.C. Penney store.
As the line grew, it got a little noisy as barking reverberated through the mall, but it seemed to be more friendly discussion than disagreements.
Maggie Spencer of Youngstown, who said she has always had cats, brought her 6-month-old toy fox terrier, Preston, for the photo shoot after seeing her friend’s picture from last year’s Pet Photo Night.
“It’s so cute,” Spencer said.
John Peterka of Boardman was carrying a large black cat, Princess Lilly, who he said loves playing in Christmas wrapping paper.
Peterka said Princess Lilly, seven, whose picture he plans to use on their Christmas cards, formerly belonged to their neighbor, but then “she adopted us.”
Two large, 4-year-old goldendoodles, a golden retriever/poodle mix, one male and one female, accompanied Karla and Ken Hoffman, and their daughter, Kymberly Hoffman, all of Boardman, to see Santa.
Jenna Cook’s morkie, a Maltese/Yorkie mix, rode comfortably with her head poked out of a shoulder bag.
Cook, of Canfield, said the morkie, who she got from the dog pound, is a trained service dog that helps ease her migraine headaches.
In line near Cook were Josh and Robin Smail of Boardman and their husky, Reptar, 11 months, who was going to get his first picture with Santa.
It’s a great event, a chance to get the whole family involved, said Lori Reda, director of marketing and business development for the mall.
“We understand that with lots of people, pets are part of the family,” she said.