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Humane Society volunteer dons red suit to raise money
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal
Published on Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
JACKSON TWP.: Some Santas are born jolly. Some have jolly thrust upon them.
Ken Dexter, a 48-year-old Massillon factory welder posing with dogs and cats at PetSmart on Saturday, first donned the red suit for the Stark County Humane Society 15 years ago.
It was the first time he volunteered for the annual photo session, and the female Santa was having a rough day, Dexter remembered.
''She was very impatient,'' he said.
'''Look,' I said, 'these people are here to take a picture. They want a good picture.' And I said, 'Why don't you just have a little bit of patience with them?' She goes, 'Well, if you think you can do a better job . . . here.' She stopped right in front of the kids. Took her Santa suit off right in front of the kids and handed it to me. So ever since then, I've done it.''
Dexter has sat with dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, a potbellied pig and a spider (in a glass box). One year, he posed with a well-behaved goose in a Christmas bonnet — another year, a llama.
Two years ago, he shared the bench with a boa constrictor about 3 inches thick and more than 10 feet long.
The owner ''had other animals, too, but he wanted to make sure we did the snake first,'' Dexter said.
The man pulled the snake out of a burlap sack, foot by foot, as Dexter watched in horrified disbelief.
''He kept pulling it out of the bag, and pulling it out of the bag, and I was getting really nervous,'' Dexter said. ''He asked me to put the snake around my neck, and I said no. I said, 'You'll have to sit beside me and hold it.'''
Dexter is on his third customized, extra-sturdy, red velvet Santa suit. The commercial suits just can't stand up to the slobber and claws. He's never been bitten, but some dogs confuse the red coat for a fire hydrant.
''Once one of them does it, then they all smell it, and then they try to do it again. The little dogs, mainly,'' Dexter said.
Santa's assistant, Diane Neal, was more impressed with how Dexter single-handedly posed with four big Rottweilers a few years ago.
The trick, she said, was getting the dogs to cock their heads in that much-prized inquisitive look. Over the years, Neal has accumulated squeaky toys that emit various pitches to achieve this purpose. The cheeseburger squeaky gets the best results, and that's the one she used for the Rottweiler photo.
''All four of them cocked their heads,'' she said. ''We had people gathered watching, and they all cheered when we got the shot.''
Not all animals are so cooperative.
''The llama did not sit on the bench,'' Neal said. ''And I pretty much gave up on trying to position him. He was going to do what he wanted to do.''
Santa's outfit is complete down to the wide black belt and white gloves.
Neal, who has served on the Stark County Humane Society board of directors for 27 years, is Santa's assistant, but she doesn't do elf ears.
''My kids begged me not to do that, it was embarrassing,'' she said.
On Saturday, Neal worked with Santa to avoid another potentially embarrassing moment when the Quartz family showed up — with three cats in a shopping cart and a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, Koda, on a leash — for their annual Christmas picture.
Santa held Koda's leash.
On Santa's right sat 10-year-old Mitchell Quartz, holding Oliver, a 3-year-old striped cat.
On Santa's left sat Mitchell's 7-year-old sister, McKenzie holding Mater, a 1-year-old striped cat.
On Santa's far right sat the children's mother, Jen Quartz, holding Sebastian, a 16-year-old gray-and-white cat. On Santa's far left sat the father of the Jackson Township family, Nick Quartz, who had no animal, but was earning serious husband points.
''He prefers to remain anonymous,'' his wife said when the family was waiting in line. ''He hates this day.''
Neal intervened when she saw Oliver's back paws splayed in a less-than-modest posture.
''Honey, you look like you're strangling him,'' Neal said to Mitchell. ''Can you . . . there, that's better. You're doing your best, I know.''
Neal explained that she didn't want certain parts showing.
''When it's for perpetuity, you try not to have the crotch shot,'' Neal said. ''Although sometimes, that's all you get.''
Photographer Rick Stern got the picture (with Oliver appropriately adjusted), and the Humane Society got $5, about half the cost for the 4-by-6 inch framed photo.
In years past, the Humane Society has raised $500 to $600 from the weekend.
Santa will be at PetSmart from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
Pet photos with Santa:
PetSmart, 5465 Dressler Road N.W., Jackson Township, works with four local pet charities to offer pet pictures with Santa on the first three weekends of December.
Photos are taken from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The framed 4-by-6-inch photos generally cost $9.95, with $5 going to the charities.
The Stark County Humane Society will be there today. Next weekend will benefit Second Chance for Animals.
The last weekend will be split between Ohio Greyhound Gathering and Adoption and Dachshund Rescue of North America.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792, 800-777-7232 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
JACKSON TWP.: Some Santas are born jolly. Some have jolly thrust upon them.
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