Scooped up and plopped on Santa's lap, Chance the Pomeranian's eyes darted between a photographer and his camera, his owner, who was backing away, and the gentleman in red, whose white-gloved hands were closing in on the pup's manicured coif.

But like a well-trained model who can strike a pose on command, at the sound of a whistle, Chance cocked his head and gazed into the camera's lens.

Chance was among the dozens of pets who visited Santa at Dogtopia in White Flint on Saturday during a photo event organized by the Montgomery County Humane Society. The event was the second of three photo ops the society will hold this season in an effort to raise $5,500.

"People are really into it," said David Poole, a volunteer coordinator for the Humane Society, who played Santa for the day. "Everyone gets their kids to Santa and for a lot of people, these are their kids."

Poole has dressed up as Santa for three years and this year grew a beard, which he bleached.

The county's Humane Society takes in about 9,000 homeless animals a year and placed about 3,000 in adoptive homes this year. The organization provides educational programs and seminars about behavior management, emergency preparedness and responsible ownership.

The Humane Society supports including pets in holiday traditions, like visiting Santa, but the society advises against welcoming a new pooch to the family during the holidays, said b j Altschul, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society.

"Animals will sense anything that is going on in the household — how people feel, how they are interacting," said Altschul. "They're far more sensitive than we give them credit for."

The ideal time to adopt a pet is when an owner can pay attention to the animal and when the household is calm, she said.

Other area shelters and rescue organizations list similar reasons for advising against giving pets as gifts.

Pets do not make good surprises — the recipient may not be financially or emotionally prepared to care for an animal, said Julie Palakovich Carr, the dog adoption coordinator for the Montgomery County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"We don't recommend giving animals as gifts no matter what time of year," said Carr.

Melanie Samet, the co-owner of Mutts Matter Rescue and a 15-year veteran of the animal shelter and rescue field, said it has been her experience that shelters receive more animals during and immediately after the holiday season.

"In the rescue community we call it ‘tis the season of dumping," said Samet, whose Rockville-based rescue opened in March.

Samet recalled how she spent Christmas Eve last year — at a shelter, where people left their dogs because they had visitors coming.

Carr and Altschul said the SPCA and Humane Society's intake numbers are fairly constant throughout the year. In 2010, the SPCA took in about 13 dogs and nine cats a month, according to data provided by the SPCA.

Both, as well as Samet, said their organizations have stringent screening processes intended to keep people from making rash decisions or adopting a pet to give as a gift.

At the SPCA, every member of a household where an SPCA pet will stay must meet with an adoption worker, Carr said.

If you go:

The Humane Society will hold its last of three Pet Photos with Santa events 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Sniffers Doggie Depot, 7300 Westmore Road, No. 1, Rockville. For details, call 240-483-2846.

-Avoid surprises: Pick a pet that fits your family's lifestyle.

-Consider older animals: Puppies and kittens are cute, but they need a lot of attention. Adult animals are more likely to be calmer and more eager to bond with family members.

-Consult with gift recipients: If giving an animal as a gift, make sure the recipient is prepared for the emotional and financial commitment required to care for an animal.

-IOU pets: Rather than sticking a bow on a puppy or kitten, give a gift certificate, which will let the recipient choose the animal, while you cover the cost.

Safety tips for pet-proofing your holiday décor:

-Avoid tinsel.

-Keep electric light cords hidden or out of reach.

-Consider the toxicity of holiday plants: Some, including lilies, amaryllis and mistletoe can be toxic; others, including poinsettias, holly and Christmas tree needles can cause indigestion.

-Cover tree water with chicken wire: Stagnant water soaking a tree could contain fertilizers and bacteria.

-Don't settle for a sticky pet: Use vegetable oil, instead of shampoo, to get pine sap out of fur.

Source: A Cat Clinic in Germantown

sgantz@gazette.net