Santa goes to the dogs. Parrots hate him (7 photos)

Santa has gone to the dogs this weekend in Sault Ste. Marie.

Cats, too.

The jolly old elf is posing with his furry and feathered friends to help raise money for The Animal Assistance Group (TAAG).

"Christmas is not the best time to get or give a pet," Santa tells SooToday.com. "It's a very busy and time and you don't want the furry, feathered and finned folks to get lost in the shuffle."

Santa says it's best to go for a pet right after Christmas, maybe around Boxing Day, because you can get great deals on supplies for your pet and you'll have time to hang out with him or her.

Santa will be at 316 Wellington Street East (on the corner of Bruce Street) today from 1 to 8 p.m. to be photographed with your pet.

All proceeds raised from the $10 photos with Santa, go to TAAG's spay-and-neuter program that assists low-income families with the cost of the operation for their pets.

It also pays to spay and neuter rescued strays that are sheltered by TAAG, either in one of its foster homes or its office/shelter.

TAAG is an animal assistance organization that's been active in the Sault for more than 25 years, says its president Cheryl Alberta.

"We have a no-kill policy," she said. "We shelter abandoned or animals in distress until they are adopted."

Paul Grimard from Extreme Airbrushing is donating his time and equipment to photograph and print the pictures of pets with Santa.

And Santa will pose for a photo with any sort of pet.

Almost any sort.

"No arachnids, please," said Santa. "I don't mind a snake, or a lizard or even a rodent curling up on my lap but I have a problem with arachnids."

Yesterday, Santa was even visited by a pet parrot.

"We couldn't get her picture," Santa said with a chuckle. "She was too scared of the beard and wouldn't even come near me."

Alberta says the photos will be ready in 48 hours, in plenty of time to frame and wrap them for Christmans.

For more information on TAAG visit its website.