With a quick check of the fur-trimmed stocking hat, Boomer was ready for his close up. For Ollie, Cooper and Lucky, it was a different story, as Ann Hilton's dogs squirmed and wriggled throughout the Christmas portraits by Pet Antics in a benefit for Humane Society of the Black Hills.

After several tries with two assistants, Hilton posed her two lap-sized bichon frises on a table Tuesday as her two Labradors lounged in front. Four quick clicks and Jackie Lake of Pet Antics had finished the shoot for Hilton's photo package of her pets.

"This is their fourth year," Hilton said of her pets posing for portraits.

While not entirely pet perfect, the images captured the mayhem and differing temperaments of the dogs as they posed for Hilton's new holiday cards.

"Jackie makes Christmas cards, and I send them out. They're my kids," Hilton said with a laugh.

In 2007, as part of "Photos with Santa," Lake photographed 220 dogs, four birds, seven cats and a blue-tongued skink. After expenses, Lake donated $2,000 to the shelter. This year, she challenges businesses, organizations or groups within the community to match money raised at the event.

"It does so much good," she said.

The annual "Photos with Santa" benefit offers five opportunities to deck out the family pet, pooch or parakeet for its holiday photograph. Not only does it capture the joy of the season, it also helps animals that are less fortunate, said Melissa Foxworth, executive director of Humane Society of the Black Hills.

Last year, the benefit's $2,000 added to the shelter's budget which helped to fund the spay and neuter program, the animals' daily care and provided extra treats and toys for the dogs and cats at the shelter, Foxworth said.

Last month, nearly 500 lost, stray and abandoned dogs and cats - and an owl - were turned in to the shelter. Although some of the lost animals are reunited with their owners, a majority of the animals arrive in litters because people refuse or lack the resources to spay or neuter their pets.

"People don't understand the importance of spaying and neutering their animals," Foxworth said.

Last year, 11,379 animals went through the shelter. This year, the numbers could increase. "We still have a month to go." It is one of the reasons why "Photos with Santa" is so important, Foxworth said. "It goes to the care of animals on a daily basis."

As head photographer, Lake and her sidekick, Paul Priest impersonating St. Nick, contribute their time and talent to the endeavor. Lake uses some money from the package price to process the photographs, but the rest goes to the shelter.

"This is fun," she said. "We get great pictures, and we have as many animals as people want to bring."

"I figure it helps out the Humane Society. I enjoy working with the pets and the kids, too," Priest said.

Priest, 82, gets dressed and readies himself with a little makeup, new boots and his reconditioned Santa suit. Made especially for the senior citizen, it has held up remarkably well over the years. He also uses it when visiting children in his neighborhood or at other functions. "At my age, you have to keep up and going or you go to pot in a hurry," he said.

Priest hopes to hold a record-number of pets this year for the benefit, something he embraces as his own personal charity that benefits not only the families getting the photographs but the abandoned animals waiting for homes at the shelter.

"It's a lot of driving and a lot of running around, but it's worth it to me," he said.

Lake offers three photo packages: three 4-by-6 photos for $10, five 4-by-6 photos for $15, and eight 4-by-6 photos for $20. All proceeds, minus processing costs, are donated to the animal shelter

If You Go

What: Pet Portraits with Santa

When:

* 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, Wags to Whiskers, 1101 W. Omaha, Pet Pantry Building.

* Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, Paws Store, 607 St. Joseph St.

* 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Safe Haven Pet Resort, 3401 S. Highway 79.

* Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, Hardware Hank, next to Safeway.

For more information, call Jackie Lake at 721-7387.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.