Community Corner
Pets Celebrate the Holidays at New Rochelle Shelter
Money raised from the Holiday Pet Portraits benefits the New Rochelle Humane Society.
Families brought their pets to the New Rochelle Humane Society on a recent Sunday to get their holiday pictures taken.
The Holiday Pet Portraits event has been around for more than 15 years. Each year the shelter gets about 50 dogs that get their pictures taken.
Most of the animals seen at the event were adopted from the New Rochelle Humane Society, because Shelter Manager Dana Rocco recognized most of them.
“Each 5-inch by 7-inch picture costs $20 and from that families can order any other sizes including holiday cards,” Rocco said. “We take in animals that are lost, injured or mistreated and all the money made from the event goes to helping the shelter.”
In the entryway, there was an area where people could purchase holiday-themed presents. People were encouraged to buy the New Rochelle Humane Society’s Westchester Police Officers & NRHS Shelter Pets Calendar because all the donations go to helping animals in need.
Each family had a choice on whether they wanted to include Santa in the picture. Some people wanted a holiday photo just with their pet.
The room where the photos were taken was festively decorated, with Christmas trees and holiday presents in the background.
Rocco was instrumental in conduct the photography shoot.
The professional photographer said she is known as the “dog whisperer” because she does a great job connecting with the animals.
After getting the set ready, Rocco held up toys to get the animal’s attention. People who were not in the shot were asked to stand behind the photographer so the pet would concentrate on Rocco.
The shelter provided Christmas-themed antlers and Santa hats for the pets, if people wanted them, as well as a m for the people who celebrate Hanukkah.
Kim Barrett of New Rochelle brought her family to the event as well as their dog Zorro. It was their second time doing so.
“We love supporting the New Rochelle Humane Society,” she said.
“We actually used our holiday photo from last year as our Christmas card,” Barrett said.
All the money raised goes directly to the New Rochelle Humane Society in benefit of helping the shelter.
