Atlanta , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Whether they 've been good or bad , some dogs visited Santa this holiday season to get their photos taken with the jolly but unfamiliar bearded man in a red suit . It 's 1-year-old Max 's first time , owner Janice Sims said of her Australian shepherd , `` but he 's not afraid of Santa like my kids were . '' She planned to hang his photo on her Christmas tree . It was also a first Santa visit for Gizmo . The 11-month-old puppy arrived a little after the holidays last year as a gift for 4-year-old Naomi . `` I never wanted a dog , '' remembered mom Jewel Washington . `` But I guess I swallowed the Kool-Aid , '' she laughingly said as she and her daughter Naomi tried to get their dog to look the camera . They are giving Gizmo a lighted leash for Christmas . Check out holiday shopping special coverage . There is a lot of laughter and fun in the whole process . Dogs greeted and played with each other while they waited for their turn with Santa . Owners -- some of whom were shopping when they just happened upon the photo session -- helped volunteers pose the dogs with Santa . Nikko has gotten his holiday photo taken for eight years in a row . Owner Sophia Henry said she does it because her own mother enjoys getting the pooch 's picture as a gift every holiday . Avoid holiday pitfalls with pets . But before anyone gets all `` Scroogey '' about a waste of money in hard times , many of the pet and St. Nick pictures taken across the country raise money to help not-so-lucky animals . FurKids , a no-kill animal rescue organization , provides a Santa and photographers at PetSmart stores around Atlanta . The organization sponsored several `` Santa Claws '' events in Tucker , Georgia , this month . A $ 5 donation bought a framed digital photo of the owner 's choice with as many critters that can squeeze into Santa 's lap or on his bench . Santa `` Mike '' has volunteered his lap every December for a half a dozen years to raise money for FurKids so the charity can save abandoned cats and dogs and get them adopted . He 's experienced only one `` damp '' visit , when a dog last year watered his boots . But he also put his foot down when faced with a 170-pound Rottweiler . He told the owners , `` I 'll sit in his lap , but you 're not setting him on my lap . '' However , his most unusual pet picture over the years was with a 10-foot boa constrictor draped over him . Doguroo , a doggie day care and grooming center , sponsored several Santa photo sessions in front of a huge sparkling tree at Central Park in Atlanta 's Atlantic Station 's this December . Any critter -- including two-legged ones -- could get their photo taken with Santa for a $ 10 donation to the Atlanta Humane Society . Doguroo owners Eileen Kelly and Jean Finney brought along their very sweet pit bull mix , Lottie , wearing a colorful collar with bells , who patiently sat on the sofa with dogless humans who wanted a critter in their photo with Santa . Lottie also submitted to petting by happy children . All she demanded was an occasional treat . Santa `` Jimmy '' visited with children all day at Dillard 's at Atlantic Station , before taking up his post out in front of the tree in the park , as he does on weekend evenings . His most memorable experience this year was having the front legs of 170-pound Great Dane draped over his lap . Sherie and Britt Layman brought their 1½-year-old canine cocktail , Loretta ( aka Mrs. Santa Paws ) , for a photo . Katie Fisher had a double challenge for Santa -- Simon and Gigi , both dogs around 2 years old . She said the two pups will be getting lots of treats , tennis balls and sweaters for Christmas . And one pet owner brought her three dogs decked out in their festive red and white outfits . The Humane Society of New York held a Toys for Dogs event this year , where pets could get their photo taken with Santa in exchange for donated toys for homeless dogs . Director Sandra DeFeo says it 's less of a `` fund raiser '' and more of a `` fun raiser '' with `` good cheer , sweets and holiday drinks . '' `` We always bring dogs available for adoption , '' DeFeo said . Donations go to support the animal shelter and free clinic . Pet owners bring mostly dogs , but an occasional cat or bird drops in to join the festivities . But DeFeo says it 's not only small creatures sniffing around at these parties . She has seen some single pet owners checking each other out . And , she says , a particularly handsome Santa was a big attraction one year .
Santa and pet photos are great fundraisers for animal charities . Nikko gets his photo taken every year so his owner can send it to her mother . Comment: Doguroo owners ' pit bull mix , Lottie , was a patient `` loaner dog for petless people .