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The Chronicle’s 2024 Holiday Pets Gallery

PUBLISHED

December 24, 2024
9:59 am

WORDS BY

Lauren Foley

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Every year we ask readers to submit their animals dressed in their holiday best, and the photos never disappoint. We’ve compiled some of this year’s images to share with you.

Abigail Lee shared this photo from Little Rock, Ark., posing with Celtic Strider, owned by Alexandra Doucet. After 12 years away from horses, Lee says she recently started riding again, thanks to “Strider” and Doucet, who is also her trainer. “You could say I’ve ‘found my stride,’ ” says Lee. This photo was taken by Alexus Stadler.

Mr. News, affectionately known as “Nugget,” is Alice Dimaggio’s dressage horse, but he’s also a Bureau of Land Management mustang and was part of a 2018 roundup. This photo was taken by Amanda Conyers of Salamander Studios at Sheriffmuir Farm in Harvard, Mass.

Equine veterinarian and photographer Allison Howell of Alpharetta, Georgia, shared this photo she took of Winston, a Chihuahua she adopted in 2010. She reports that he enjoys dressing up and loves everyone he meets. Sounds like Winston is on Santa’s nice list!

Amy Meravi’s dog Tony wasn’t shy at all about meeting Santa for the first time. The photo was taken in Royersford, Pa., by Wendy Campos Photography.

Baltimore, Carlisle, Pa., submitted by Aysha Michaud, photo by Giana Terranova

Princess Peanut, Bridgehampton, N.Y., submitted and photographed by Beth Thompson

Apache and Loki, Clinton, Ind., submitted by Bethann Smith

Booker, West Chester, Pa., submitted by Blanton Goll, photo by Ricardo Romero

Ava Calsbeek and Fenway were decked out as Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch in this photo by NKG Photography, taken at Hitching Post Farm in South Royalton, Vt.

Catano, Black Forest, Colo., submitted and photographed by Rachael Patton

Ziva, Spokane, Wash., submitted and photographed by Christel Carlson

Taylor Cusack sent in this photo of CV’s Eventing Rebellion, an off-track Thoroughbred she describes as her “adventure buddy.” “Darcy’s” photo was taken in Damascus, Md., by Niamh O’Connell, owner of Hoof Woof Images.

Captain, Azula and Kiwi, Fleetwood, Pa., submitted and photographed by Dana Hartz

Jennifer Corti of Connecticut shared this photo of Doc inspecting a holiday wreath in Connecticut.

Kickstart, “Benjie,” Millbrook, N.Y., submitted by Emily Marino, photo by Chelsea Lothrop

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Blaze and Carl Beck go on a homemade sleigh ride in Riva, Md., submitted by Emley Ditamore

Ivan expresses his love for Santa (Rebekah Robinson) with a big kiss in Chester Springs, Pa. Photo submitted by Erin Beach

Madagascar, “Marty,” Clifton Park, N.Y., submitted and photographed by Grace Catalfimo

Pirate Captain, Davidsonville, Md., submitted by Hannah Ong, photo by Rebecca Lazarus

Chronicle Pets Gallery regular Harlow is now 11 and still enjoying the holiday magic. “She increasingly loves snuggling on the couch and her bed and she’s as opinionated as ever!” said owner Brooke Schneider of Phoenixville, Pa.

(From left) Harrison, Hank (mini) and Carl pose for their holiday portrait in Lebanon, Ohio. Submitted by Holly Barger, photo by Cait Boblitt Media

Red Hot Chili Pepper, Boyce, Va., submitted by Jean Loonam, photo by Portraits by Carol

Coolhorses Carlos, Hiram, Ohio, submitted by Jennifer Carr, photo by Cait Boblitt Media

Velvet and BooBoo, who are full sisters, look perplexed to have found Santa’s hat but no sight of the man in red! Judi Watt took this photo in MacGregor, Manitoba.

Justina Schwartz’s Testarossa gently accepts a cookie from Santa in this photo by Dark Horse Photography in Woodstock, Ill.

Ruby (dog), SNF Hanna and Kathy Gauthier, Buskirk, N.Y., photo by Molly Czub

Kathy Pinera, of Emerson, N.J., shared a photo of her newest addition, Eddie. Eddie may not have had the chance to know his predecessors, Pinera’s dogs Odamae and Cutty, both Holiday Pets Gallery legends, but we’re sure he’s making them proud in his debut. “He has big shoes to fill, so we thought filling Santa’s shoes was fitting,” said Pinera.

With the holly and red lantern on the stall door and the Christmas tree lighting up the background, this photo of Dear Heart, “Grady,” shared by Katie Kelly, embodies the holiday season. The photo was taken by Sabrina Forbes at Memory’s Hill Stables in Waynesboro, Va.

“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” But if there was a mouse, we’re pretty sure Katie Petronelli’s cats Felix (left) and Fritz would handle it; maybe dog Gigi would even assist! Together they posed perfectly while horse Lorca De Caryan, owned by Bernadette Coyle, watched over, in Leesburg, Va.

Caché, Ocala, Fla., submitted by Kelsey Almer-Monast, photo by Jesse Klein

Princess Buttercup, Loxahatchee, Fla., submitted and photographed by Kristin Materka

Hope (left), Houston and Liz Lovins, Broomfield, Colo., photo by Elizabeth Lord

“Donkey is almost 20 years old and has been a part of my farm since he was a yearling,” said Maile L’Herrou. “He is extremely tolerant and kind and lets the animals hang out on his back all the times I get the notion to encourage them to be up there.” Friday the cat can jump up on Donkey’s back himself, while Fuzzy the dog gets a lift, L’Herrou reported. She shared these photos from Powhatan, Va.

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(From left) So Curious, Marlo Miller and Our Fortune Cookie in Houston, photo by Sonia Alexander

Willy Want Some More, Nottingham, N.H., submitted by Maureen McKinney, photo by Amanda Sylvestri

Melissa Tritinger’s Stargazer is a mustang from Onaqui, Utah, who has “become the heart of my farm and family,” according to Tritinger. RJStein Photography took this photo in Pittsburgh.

Jennuine Blue and Nan Buckner have the Grinch in their grasp in this photo taken by Alan Buckner at Woodland Farm in Milton, Ga.

Wing Commander (horse), and pugs LouLou and Puck, Sydney, Australia, submitted by Rona Von Stein

Abby-Rose, Victoria, British Columbia, submitted by Ruth Lick

Sam Toscano says Sonny Boy is a Jack Russell “in every sense of the word,” which of course means he’s the perfect combination of naughty and nice. This photo was taken at Creekside Park in The Woodlands, Texas.

Bishop, Richmond, Va., submitted by Samantha Silver, photo by Genevieve Burnett Photography

Shawnees Last Warrior, “Major,” Jonesboro, Ark., submitted by Jessica Melton, photo by Katherine Myer

Samantha Monnig shared a photo of her horse Goodnight Moon. While “Sterling” passed away last year, this photo, taken by Olivia Danielle Photography in Knoxville, Tenn., is a beautiful way to remember him.

Monkey and Susan Boone, Little Washington, Va., photo by Denny Bomar

Leo, Loxahatchee, Fla., submitted by Tasha Mitchell

Dogs Ruby and Stella have their helmets on and are ready to ride, while Santa, aka Binky the pony, gives them some pointers in this photo submitted by Tricia Costa of Verona, N.J.

Wright Choice, Clover, Va., submitted by Vivian O’Brien, photo by Lena O’Brien

Updated
December 24, 2024
10:00 am

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