To get ready to get her photo taken with Santa on the weekend, Zoe made sure she got her hair done – with food colouring.
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Now Zoe’s not a person, but a silky bantam. One of five chickens owned by Warilla’s Bailey Tye.
Bailey’s dad, Brad, took Bailey and Zoe to Dapto Mall on Saturday so the pair could get their photo taken with Santa.
But not before Bailey’s mum gave the normally white-feathered Zoe a very fancy dye job with some food colouring.
Zoe was just one of several pets getting their photo taken with the man in red on Saturday.
Dapto Mall had been doing pet photos with Santa for the past three years, said marketing manager Kimberley Christo.
‘‘We had seen it done in a centre in Queensland so we thought we’d give it a go out here,’’ Ms Christo said.
‘‘We’ve got a really strong family market. We had some interest from a few customers so we thought we’d trial it for the first year and it booked out – and we’ve done it ever since.’’
Though most people bring in a cat or dog for a photo, there were no restrictions on species of animal, she said.
‘‘As long as they can get it here.
‘‘One year there was going to be a horse, which we were going to try and do but, unfortunately, it never turned up.
‘‘We had a lady inquire [about] a lizard; we would love to have a reptile. Everything’s welcome – as long as Santa’s OK with it.’’
According to the man himself, Santa’s OK with most animals, even snakes.
‘‘We haven’t had any snakes yet, but last year we had my favourite photo,’’ Santa said.
‘‘I was holding a baby wombat under one arm and a baby kangaroo under the other arm.’’
Elsewhere, Santa pet photos were a hit at the Wollongong RSPCA. Owners brought in their furry friends for a festive snap to raise money for the animal welfare organisation.