Santa Pays Visit to PVM’s Canine Educators

Canine Educators, some wearing fun holiday trim, stole the show, posing with Santa. The holiday setting for the photos, complete with festive décor, was created courtesy of the Canine Educator team, led by Sarah Schroeder, teaching animal protocol technologist.

Since a dog is “Man’s Best Friend,” it’s no surprise that Santa would be sure to include time for a visit with some friendly pups in his crowded schedule during this special time of year! And so sure enough, Santa showed-up at the festive display that features a variety of holiday decorations on the ground floor by the main east entrance to Lynn Hall last Friday, December 6, to be met by an enthusiastic troupe of Canine Educators who seemed all too anxious to share their wish lists!

But Santa was unfazed and patiently and kindly let the pups sit on his lap while photos were taken. Interestingly, Santa bore a very striking resemblance to Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s new dean, Dr. Bret Marsh. Surely that was just a coincidence, however!

The photo shoot was arranged by the Canine Educators team as a means of infusing holiday spirit into the typically stressful time that precedes finals week. The strategy worked perfectly – or should we say, purrrr-fectly, as cats got in on the act as well!

Canine Educators set the example for how to behave when having your photo taken with Santa! (Children take note!)

The special photo opportunity was timed so that the first half hour was restricted to just the Canine Educators. After that, students, staff and faculty were welcome to bring their personal pets to get their photos with Santa. Veterinary nursing student Carly Konopa, of the Class of 2026, who doubles as a photographer, was present to capture all the adorable scenes on camera, with plans to post the photos later on a website. Carly is a Canine Educator Care Team member.

Santa, of course, knows the value of always having some helpful elves around!

The event proved very successful! All you had to do was to look at the steady line of people and pets that formed throughout the afternoon to realize how much demand there was for photos of Santa with furry companions. Full disclosure, though, there was an incentive – cookies were available for those who came to the event, but they had to get their picture taken to qualify for the treat.

The photos will be uploaded to a website as soon as that can be arranged post-finals. The site is at https://circlekproductions.pixieset.com/photoswithsanta/. Just be patient as finals take priority!

All in all, the photo op for pets needing a picture with Santa proved to be a fun, entertaining, adorable and uplifting afternoon event. You could say it was just the right therapy for the stress that fills the days and hours before final exams. Thanks to all the Canine Educators and their caregivers for making the event such a success!

And you can always count on a cat for a purrrr-fect pose!

And thanks to Santa, too! Interesting side note – when Santa was hanging out with the pets, Dean Marsh could not be found, and then he was seen again after a back-up Santa arrived. Hmmmm – surely just a coincidence, of course!

It all made for a great prelude to a “Happy Howl-iday Season!!”

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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