Since pets are part of our family, it’s only natural that you want them to get in on all the holiday fun. And that’s where PetSmart comes in, as they are offering photos with Santa for your furry friend free of charge. It’s actually genius because if you’re a pet parent, you’ll likely already be planning a visit to your nearest location to pick up some treats and holiday gifts for Fido. And while you’re there, you can also stop in and have your pup’s photo taken, though be sure to have a reservation first—they are required. First up, you have to register for a photo with Santa at PetSmart. Bookings are available through the website on select dates across the U.S. You’ll be directed to find your nearest PetSmart location, and from there, you can choose one of the four dates available: Dec. 10 and 11, or Dec. 17 and 18. You may need to look around at different PetSmart locations, though, as many dates are already booked up and sold out. All time slots are in five minute increments in hopes of squeezing everyone in. Once you choose the date and time that works best for you, you’ll need to input your booking information and get the confirmation sent to your phone. You can have two options for the photo—you can take them on your personal camera or you can opt for a PetSmart photo that will be sent to you via email. It’s understandable that even the most-well behaved and friendly pups could get a little skittish around strangers—even Santa—so PetSmart divulged a handful of tips to ensure that you get the absolute best holiday shot. First thing’s first, the store recommends that you dress your pup up in a festive little outfit—if they allow for it, of course. Another tip suggests bringing some kind of toy or treats so that you can grab your pup’s attention and direct their gaze toward the camera. You can also use the treats to reward them for their good behavior after the barktastic shoot! PetSmart is, obviously, pet-friendly, so you can always arrive a little earlier and do some laps around the store so that your pup gets acclimated to the surroundings. There’s also plenty of incentives for pup-parents, including three times the Treats points on purchases the day of your shoot through the PetSmart’s Treats Loyalty Program. You can then show off the holiday photo of your pup and Santa online using the hashtag #ShareTheJoyContest, which will run through the final day of Santa photos on Dec. 8. The retailer also asks that you use the hashtag #Contest in your caption and tag the @Petsmart account. The winner of the contest will receive a four-day, three-night trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and 200,000 Treats points (about $500 to be used at PetSmart). There will be five runner-ups who will take home 100,000 Treats points ($250) while six additional customers can score a month of Hill’s pet food for free. Come for the photo, post for the prizes! Book your photos now!
