People are starting to get ready for Christmas … buying presents, decorating, and getting their pets photographed with Santa Clause.

OK, maybe getting a pet photographed with Santa isn’t a normal Christmas ritual, but the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is giving people that opportunity this holiday season.

Santa will be available to pose with various pets at the Small Animal Clinic Sat, Nov. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“Some people are really into their pets so they should enjoy it,” Chad Carda, co-director of the fund-raiser said.

“People usually bring in cats and dogs but we’ll do anything,” Jeb Mortimer the other co-director of the fund-raiser.

Some odd animals have been photographed in the past said Traci Stoick, volunteer of the fund-raiser last year.

“There have been ferrets, iguanas, and one lady brought in a horse. One year there was a chinchilla which is a small, rabbit-like animal that can fit in the palm of your hand,” said Stoick.

The sitting fee is $5 and includes three photographs. Extra photographs are 75 cents each. Christmas and other holiday cards are also available.

“It will take about one week to get the three photographs back and then the person can come back and choose which one is their favorite to go on the Christmas and holiday cards if they want to order them,” Carda said.

“After the orders are sent in, it will take about another 3 weeks to get it back,” he added.

“That is why we planned this fund-raiser so early,” Mortimer said. “That way people will get their pictures back in time for the holidays.”

“People are being scheduled for 15 minute blocks plus we hope to see a lot of walk-ins,”Mortimer said.

The project is a fund-raiser for the ISU Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) to help members with finances to go to the National Symposium.

The event will be held at Purdue next year in the spring.

“The Iowa State SCAVMA chapter is the largest in the nation,” said Mortimer.

“Lots of different schools get together to compare notes on what their clubs are doing at nationals. They share ideas, information on events, and community and school services that they are doing in their area,” said Carda.

For an appointment call 294-4900. Walk-ins are also encouraged.