Santa Welcomes Furry Family Members

Four-legged family members got their Santa on Friday afternoon when Manhattan Village hosted pet photos with Mr. Claus.

Costumed as elves, dressed in Santa hats and other holiday wear, the patient canines and cats filled the mall with an air of anticipation and excitement.

An occasional friendly bark between friends kept everyone on their toes. Boxers mingled with Pomeranians as people and pets waited for their shot with Santa.

Photographers armed with squeaky toys and bells to get the attention of their subjects were mostly successful, yielding moments of fun and a photographic keepsake to take home.

Santa definitely deserves a pat on the back for offering his lap to such a variety of craziness for the four-hour fur time fun. When some of his guests got lost in his fur trimmed coat or didn't listen to instructions, Santa kept his cool, posing with more than 50 dogs, from Wellington, the Saint Bernard, to Lola, a 16-week old multi-poo. The children he usually works with on a normal day will probably be much easier after Friday's group of citizens.

The holiday happenings continue at Manhattan Village, 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, with photos with Santa available daily [exact times here], the Sandpipers Sugarplum Tree and the lighting of a large public Menorah on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m.