Zeus’ Pawsitive World: First Time I Met Santa

Once upon a time, in hot sunny Florida, there lived a charming little Biewer terrier named Zeus…

I am a happy dog who loves my mom more than anything in the world. However, there was one thing in particular that I had never experienced before - meeting Santa Claus.

My mom, Carla, always loves to make every holiday special for me. However, due to her crazy work schedule, we had missed out on the joy of meeting Santa in the past. Determined to make up for lost time, my mom planned two Santa photo shoots for me to celebrate the 2023 holiday season.

My mom booked the first session at Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. We went on a Wednesday evening, which was a fun break in my regular routine. Mom made me wear my Christmas sweater and it was so darn hot. When the first session arrived, I found myself face-to-face with a jolly old man in a red suit. The photo set was adorned with twinkling lights, decorative ornaments snow pine trees and some reindeer. They looked so real and I was absorbing all the sights and smells. Finally it was my turn to meet this Santa person. My mom placed me on the wooden bench next to him and walked away to take some pictures. I gazed up at the stranger cautiously, unsure if I could trust this man in red. My instincts told me to be wary, but deep down, I trusted mom to keep me safe.

With a gentle voice, my mom reassured me that Santa was a friend and had many gifts for me. I took a hesitant step forward and sniffed at Santa's outstretched hand. I discovered that Santa smelled familiar, like cinnamon and joy. In that moment, I felt at ease and allowed Santa to give me a small treat. I didn’t want to be alone in the photo, so I called mom over to sit with us. 

Santa laughed heartily and promised the both of us many presents for having such a fun time. 

As the first session came to an end, I realized that Santa wasn’t so bad and I looked forward to my next meeting with Santa.

About a month later, our Santa meet session arrived, and I was excited to see Santa again. I entered the room with a wag in my tail, more confident to meet Santa and eager to receive more treats and enjoy Santa's jolly presence. I played with other dogs who were also there to meet Santa, spreading joy and cheer. This time I was alone on Santa’s lap and when I finished I got a pup cup from Starbucks for being such a good boy. 

My third encounter with Santa was more relaxed. My neighbor had asked the fire department to make Santa appear and just like that, there I was taking photos with him and my mom. I learned to like Santa because in the end, he really is a jolly fellow. Santa laughed and hugged me tightly. The joy in his heart was palpable as we all  laughed and barked with happiness.

In the end, I realized that meeting Santa wasn't as scary as I had initially thought. Through the three Santa encounters I learned to trust in his mom's judgment and felt the love and warmth that Santa brought into our lives. I had a wonderful time embracing the holiday spirit and spreading my own joy to everyone I met. We even started a new tradition, sending out Christmas cards. I can’t wait to do it all over again this year!!

From that day forward, I eagerly await the holiday season, knowing that it is a time of love, trust, and new adventures. And, of course, it is a time when Santa will visit us once again to create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.