West Side Canvas: Pet Market Santa

By Robert Beck

Santa sits on a folding chair in front of a backdrop of a small-town snowfall, with wrapped packages on either side and a large toy soldier slowly, silently, beating a holiday drum.

There’s a flurry at the front of the line as people adjust pet costumes and get hats just right. The animals are mostly blank-faced and submissive. Milo is a 12-year-old Shih Tzu who doesn’t move much in his stroller. I’m told that this is about as excited as you find him nowadays. His person gets his attention by saying “chicken chicken.”

Lulu’s person allowed as how she probably didn’t want to be here. She hadn’t been groomed, and “How do you compete with a dog in a hat?”

Darcy arrived sporting a sign on his Christmas coat with an arrow pointing to the side and reading: “Dear Santa, They’re The Naughty Ones!”

Most know their way around. Ruby and Daisy were brought by their walker. Ruby immediately headed to the counter and started stealing treats. Reviews of security footage from evening and early morning hours when the 72nd Street Pet Market is closed show a steady flow of dogs dragging their people to the door.

Maxwell Is a Brussels Griffon. This is his second time visiting Santa, and he’s excited to be here. Mochi (rice balls) is a Japanese Akita. Winnie was adopted four weeks ago. Lucky girl. Howie came in a shoulder bag.

It’s BYO camera here. Occasionally, I was mistaken for an employee and asked to take the photo. The environment was a touch chaotic, and my note-taking suffered.  I wrote down “A red velour Mrs. Santa suit with ‘Santa Baby’ written on the back,” but I’m unsure if that was Mia or someone else. Bert and Ernie, entwined in their stroller, claimed the free treats are worth getting dressed up for.

Three cats saw Santa while I was there: Edie (Calico), Rory (black and white long hair), and Freda (Bengal).These were tight quarters, but all participants maintained decorum despite moments when their noses were inches apart. Holiday Spirit prevailed.

This is Kannoli’s first time with Santa, but she was at Pet Market last February for photos with her person in a big heart Valentine display. Lizzie is wearing a Christmas tree suit.

Loki, named for the Norse god of mischief, was excited for his third Santa photo. His person had hoped the name would be ironic, but alas, it suits him. One year, Loki tried to remove Santa’s beard.

The beard is a concern. When people heave a large dog onto Santa’s legs, it often lands on his long beard, which is attached to his ears. It becomes a situation. That, and there are the occasional Lokis to be wary of.

Dashi. Parker. Olive. Mufasa.

A stroller full of chihuahuas arrives, all three in matching red outfits and all with that glare the breed is known for.  Cocoa,  Zabark, and P-something (handwriting, again). Sixteen and 17 years old. Imagine somebody dropping three old chihuahuas in your lap. The person lifted Cocoa’s head for the camera, or maybe it was Zabark. “Put your little chin up,” she said, raising her own.

After two hours, Santa stood up, stretched a little, and went to the back of the store for a break. A customer reached through the Santa line to get a dog toy off the wall. “I’ve been in here shopping before,” she said, shaking her head, “but not with Santa Claus.”

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