By By Adrienne McKenzie
Santa Clause is making an early stop in Atmore this year, but this time it's not for the kids, it's for area pups and kittens.
The Escambia County Humane Society is hosting Santa Paws on Dec. 15 where area residents are invited to bring their animals to visit with Santa and take a Christmas picture.
"We will have a backdrop and Santa Clause will be here," assistant director Wade Okahashi said. "Santa will take pictures with the pets for a $10 donation."
The money from Santa Paws will be used to assist the pets at the Humane Society.
"Since we are non-profit, we have to do everything we can to raise money to buy medication among other things for the animals," Okahashi said.
Santa Paws is not a new event for Escambia County.
"This is the second or third year we've done it," Okahashi said. "But, we've just taken over the facilities in Atmore."
Okahashi said the Humane Society will be allowing residents to adopt on Dec. 15, but throughout the entire month of December there is a special price for adopting animals from the facility.
"We will be doing adoptions that day," he said. "For the month of December we will be doing all adoptions at half price."
The cut-in-half price will still include the cost of spaying or neutering the pets, a heartworm test, up-to-date vaccinations and a microchip.
To have your pet's picture taken with Jolly Saint Nicholas, visit the Escambia County Humane Society located behind the National Guard Armory on Hwy. 31 Saturday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
For more information, call 368-0859.