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Department store Santas have endured their share of naughty behaviour over the years, and children who tug beards or sneeze on red sleeves are usually handed back to their parents with a good-natured chuckle.

Now, Santa has a new troublemaker to contend with: the family pet.

Chickens, rodents, birds, cats, dogs - you name it - Santa's being photographed with a lot of critters these days, and has the scratches, ripped suit and urine stains to prove it.

"I've been licked a lot," said Harriet Farmer, 63, who's posed with hundreds of pets over the past seven years as the Ottawa Humane Society's volunteer Santa.

Some, she said, left "little wee-wees on my lap."

The rise of "Santa Paws" is part of the recent proliferation of pet merchandising. Owners want Christmas cards featuring Santa and their furry family member - in addition to the dog outfits and jewelled collar tucked under the tree.

Cash-strapped humane societies across Canada are taking advantage of the trend, holding annual Santa-photo fundraisers in malls and veterinary clinics from Prince Edward Island to Toronto to Whitehorse.

"Are there more of these gigs going on nowadays? Of course," says Victor Nevada, head of the Calgary-based Santa School and a year-round Santa-for-hire who says he does about 120 gigs a year.

While dogs and cats make up most of Santa's pet clientele, that's not all that people are bringing in.

"My favourites have been the five baby ferrets," Ms. Farmer said. "Oh, I had a rat with a Santa hat. He was lovely."

Victor Baitley, a 58-year-old Santa from Cobourg, Ont., says he enjoyed being photographed with a rooster one year. Another time, at Northumberland Mall, a farmer slipped one of Mr. Baitley's colleagues extra cash to trek out to a field and be photographed with a horse.

"We have had the odd rodent," said Wendy Haugen, a volunteer with the Alliston and District Humane Society, about 100 kilometres north of Toronto, which has held a Christmas fundraiser for several years. "Santa hopes he won't see any snakes."

Event organizers realize that not every Santa enjoys facing animals on the job.

"We have had a couple of pictures where Santa looks like he's trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and, you know, the Doberman," said Karen Stinson, manager of Northumberland Mall, where pets can be photographed with Santa two days a week during December.

"We just tell Santa, if you're not comfortable, don't do it."

But almost all Santas who do pet events agree that it's too much fun to pass up.

"It's hilarious," Ms. Farmer said.

Mr. Baitley added: "It's been really exciting at times, wondering what's under that blanket and what's in that cage."

Mr. Nevada, who offers three-day courses for Santas in training from across North America, has a number of tips for dealing with pets in his 526-page manual, All About

Being Santa.

To calm an ornery cat, he suggests tucking a hot water bottle under a blanket. To perk up a puppy for the camera, he recommends squeezing a squeaky toy - and bringing treats.

Mr. Nevada also urges Santas to bring an extra suit as backup, "in case of damage from claws, teeth, etc."

And while Santas do their best to make the situation picture-perfect, organizers say, owners should do their part, too.

Pack a favourite toy and a leash, and take your pet for a walk before the photo shoot, they say.

"Bring a really good sense of humour," advises Candice Nelson, who organized a nine-day event for the Ottawa Humane Society this year, where more than 350 photos were taken with four different Santas. "And don't be in a hurry."

Getting Rover ready for his close-up

While a photo of your pet on Santa's knee may sound adorable, sometimes pets don't co-operate. Here's some advice for Santas (and pet owners) from Victor Nevada, head of Calgary's Santa School.

Pet and talk to the animals as much as possible so they don't get bored.

The high-pitched sound of a whistle or a squeaky toy just before the photo is taken will usually alert the animals and cause them to prick up their ears and look attentive.

Dogs can sometimes be coaxed into posing with a treat such as a dog biscuit or treasured toy.

Cats are often aloof and don't respond as readily to bribery. To persuade cats to stay put for a shot, conceal a hot water bottle under a favourite blanket.

Harassing pets to get a good picture does not work. They just become more agitated.

Knowing some general rules regarding pet body language may save you from a nasty bite. If the fur over their neck and shoulders rises or the tail is between their legs, you may want to reassess whether to get close to them. If pets raise their upper lip, that usually foretells a nasty confrontation.

Rabbits wriggle a lot and if dropped can break their backs easily. Place one hand around the front of their bodies and the other one over their backs to keep them immobile.

It's usually a good rule of thumb to have owners hold their pets for a photo. That way you mitigate the potential of a nasty bite.

Sticky tape can be used to remove pet hair from Santa's costume.

For pet shoots, it's a good idea to have a backup suit in case of damage from claws, teeth and so on.

Hayley Mick; Source: All About Being Santa