The holidays are on their way, and it’s almost time for Santa Paws! The Humane Society of Ventura County’s popular annual two-day holiday photo-shoot event will take place on upcoming Sundays, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, at the HSVC’s shelter in Ojai, at 402 Bryant St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

Adults, children and pets are welcome to pose in photos with or without Santa. And if you’d like to doll up your pets, the shelter will have festive costumes available. Pocket pets, reptiles, rabbits and birds are all welcome!

In addition, during the Dec. 2 event, the HSVC will host its annual bake sale, and Firefly Ceramics will once again be on hand with its special Tiles for Tails program. For a $25 donation benefiting the HSVC, you can design your own tile that will be permanently displayed on-site at the nonprofit shelter.

The main event both days will be the photo sessions, which include five to 10 images and start at $30. For a larger donation, you also will have access to keepsakes including a 2019 HSVC calendar. All images will be provided on-site on a USB flash drive.

For 33 years, the HSVC’s Santa Paws has been providing high-quality holiday family portraits for Ventura County residents and beyond. “Seeing the joy in the faces of the families, their pets and Santa during the session is incredibly rewarding,” said Greg Cooper, the HSVC’s director of community outreach and official Santa Paws photographer.

“Thanks to our director, Jolene Hoffman, and all of the HSVC staff and volunteers who make this event possible, this is a really joyous and exciting time of year here,” said Cooper, who has helped with the event since 1990. He added the group’s gratitude to longtime Santa Paws Santa Chuck Bowman “for once again providing his services as the best St. Nick in town!”

Santa Paws families often thank the HSVC staff for the wonderful memories these events have created. “The passion and commitment from the staff and the quality of the photography from Santa Paws are why I keep coming back every holiday season,” said Penny Harvey, a longtime Santa Paws visitor.

Santa Paws is the HSVC’s largest community event of the year, bringing in some 300 families. All proceeds go directly toward the daily operations at the shelter.

As a private nonprofit, the Humane Society of Ventura County relies 100 percent on private donations from individuals, organizations and businesses and through grants and trusts. Your support is vital to the group’s efforts to provide daily services, and all donations are tax deductible.

For more information on the event, contact Cooper at [email protected] or 805-646-6505, ext. 112.