Treats, toys make for happy visit with Santa for local pets

By Mary Johnson
Posted 12/13/16

By MARY JOHNSON Families came from as far as Woonsocket so their dogs could meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Jack's Snacks, the bakery for dogs, on Thursday. As with children who visit Santa, some pups confidently approached the jolly old soul, list in hand,

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Treats, toys make for happy visit with Santa for local pets

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Families came from as far as Woonsocket so their dogs could meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Jack’s Snacks, the bakery for dogs, on Thursday. As with children who visit Santa, some pups confidently approached the jolly old soul, list in hand, and others were clinging to their family and search for an exit.

According to certified professional dog trainer Pat Inman of Lazybones dog training, most family dogs have a limited range of experiences, and that can make special events like visiting Santa Claus (or the vet) a frightening experience.

“A dog’s day is predictable, and it spends most of the day in the same couple of rooms” she said. “Immersing a dog in a strange new environment sounds like great fun to people. However, dogs have much keener senses than we do, and entering a new environment that smells like food and other dogs can trigger stress.”

April and David Stavros drove to Warwick from Woonsocket with their three dogs, Coco, Oreo and Cola, because they’d heard that Marni MacLean Karrow, the owner of Jack’s Snacks, went out of her way to ensure the dogs were well treated.

“A friend suggested we come here because Oreo can be more of a difficult dog and they’d work with her, and they did.”

MacLean Karrow understands the challenge. Her late dog, Jack, for whom the store is named, suffered from fear aggression because he was abused before they adopted him.

“When Jack was alive, I would never dream of bringing him to an event like this, because I would be too nervous of his reaction” she said.

That led her to open Jack’s Snacks Bakery and to make it a place where dogs feel comfortable and secure.

In addition to making the pets feel at home, MacLean Karrow wanted to help the community. Those bringing their pets in for pictures were encouraged to bring dog or cat food for Wally’s Pantry, a non-profit that distributes it to food banks. And Santa and Mrs. Claus distributed the sitting fees collected at the event to families who face life circumstances, such as an illness or a loss of a job, that make the holidays a particularly difficult time.

While there was a line of friendly, leashed dogs waiting to greet Santa, MacLean Karrow kept a list and encouraged people to take their dogs outside until her staff texted them to say it was their turn to meet Santa. Being outdoors, rather than contained in a small room with other dogs, made it easier for the owners to keep their dogs calm and focused.

Santa and Mrs. Claus sat on a bench in a room behind the main retail area, and the store staff used a double gate system to ensure only one family at a time entered the enclosed area. MacLean Karrow said this “made sure that when the dog is with Santa, it has its own space.” Most of the dogs sat on the floor in front of Santa, choosing the level of contact they wished to have with the bearded man in the fuzzy red suit.

Faye Joyce, the photographer, had several squeaky toys to get the dog’s attention, and most of the owners brought treats and toys to help their dogs focus and talked to them throughout the process.

While there were over a half dozen people waiting their turn at any given time, the event never felt forced or rushed.

Ernie and Meghan Botelho, of Warwick, brought their Jack Russell terrier/corgi mix, Luci, and their baby, Patrick, in for photos. In the waiting area, Ernie held Luci and Meghan held Patrick, both of whom were happy to watch the other dogs from a safe distance.

Inman said people who want to take their dogs to events like photos with Santa should be alert to signs their dog is growing uncomfortable: drooling, excessive sniffing, avoiding eye contact or freezing in place. These behaviors can escalate to barking, growling or aggressive behaviors if the dog remains in an uncomfortable environment and it’s “fight or flight” instinct kicks in. She recommends bring “high value treats” like small cubes of chicken or cheese and treating the dog often for remaining calm and near the owner. If possible, check out the event in advance to make sure the dogs’ needs are a priority. Events like the one at Jack’s Snacks create a positive experience for the dog and will result in a happy memory for the owner, too. As MacLean Karrow said, “I just want people who have dogs like Jack to be able to comfortably have a picture with Santa.”

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