Rising number of pets with gifts under the Christmas tree
Dogs, cats, rabbits and turtles are among the growing number of treasured pets taken to get Christmas photos with Santa as more people look to include their animals in holiday festivities.
"It's more and more every year," Westfield Albany's Santa told 1News in between a busy photo shoot schedule.
"It's a pretty new thing really, but it's Christmas time for pets as well isn't it?" he said.
With him today, Claudia Sykes and 18-month-old Japanese Spitz Kai.
Like any youngster, Kai was eager for a photo with the jolly man in red and especially fond of the squeaky toys in the hands of the photographers.
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Kai, an 18-month-old Japanese Spitz, has his photo taken with Santa. (Source: 1News)
"I feel like it's a quite a new thing," Sykes said.
"I don't really have a proper reason for it – I just think it's fun, and Kai likes to be out and about and meet people."
Their photos are destined for Instagram and Nana's fridge, Sykes said.
Claudia Sykes and her Japanese Spitz Kai pose with Santa at Westfield Albany. (Source: 1News)
It's not just photos with Santa which are becoming seemingly more popular – there are also the presents.
In the UK, just over half of adults own a pet, according to one vet charity.
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Of that number, a full third or 36% welcomed their pets into their new homes during the last three years.
That figure is in line with what pet store workers in New Zealand are seeing.
Jane Boyd, from Louis and Phoebe Pet Boutique in Auckland's St Heliers, says a lot of people adopted pets as Covid lockdowns forced much more time at home.
"And so they've gone and they've got themselves a dog, you know, to keep themselves company and they like to spoil them at Christmas," Boyd said.
"They think of their dogs and their cats and their pets as part of the family these days."
Her store has had no shortage of special pet presents and treats.
"Obviously they buy their children and their family some presents, but also they're buying their dog something, putting them under the tree and then watching them open them," she said.
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"They just love it."
An array of dog treats and a cat bed in the shape of a Christmas tree are among the gifts on offer for our beloved pets. (Source: 1News)
A survey from a pet insurer in the UK suggests one out of every five pet owners will be spending more on their animal than they will on their partner.
Overall, four out of five planned on buying their pet a gift.
Big pet store chain Animates said New Zealanders have also been rushing in with Christmas gifts in mind.
"I think there's been a greater understanding of the happiness our pets bring us, especially in the last couple of years," Animates marketing general manager Nathalie Moolenschot said.
"We've seen over the Christmas period that generally, the sale of toys or treats is about three times greater than any other time of the year."
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And not only for immediate family, it seems.
"It's not just the pet owners who are buying something special ... at this time of year," Moolenschot said.
"We're seeing the grandparents, the wider whānau, the aunties and the uncles – they're all coming in and wanting to get that pet a little something special under the Christmas tree."
Money from some of the Christmas pet toys is being given to charities.
The Westfield Albany Santa said he wasn't fazed by the growing stream of animals – some furry, some not – that are brought to him for photos.
"You know, we're well experienced with reindeer and they're pretty big, so we're OK with that," he chuckled.
