Behind the beard and the ho ho hos

Volunteer Santas help community’s many good causes

Every year, a small army of volunteers puts on bright red suits (filled out with extra padding, if needed) to help many good causes around the community ? whether to raise money for causes like autistic children or homeless animals, or to bring joy to children at the community parties that gather neighbors together for fun and fellowship. This year Warwick Advertiser pays tribute to one of these jolly volunteers, who gave some insight into what it’s like to play a beloved Christmas icon.

Walter Ross

When Walter Ross plays Santa for the Warwick Humane Society’s Pets with Santa fundraiser, he gets to see a lot of old friends, who have names like Bear, Fluffy, and Sweetie Pie. They’re the animals he remembers as the skinny, often abused creatures who first showed up at the humane society’s shelter. Their transformation to happy, healthy pets, brought in by affectionate owners for a photo with Santa, is always a great thrill for him. “We call them ?the graduates,’” he said.

Having your picture taken with a pet takes time and patience. Chris Babicke, a professional photographer who donates her time every year to the cause, knows how to get an animal’s attention with a duck call or a whistle. “The animals get that quizzical look,” Ross said.

Some of the dogs are rambunctious, and the cats are tough cases, but Ross handles them all. The best-behaved dogs this year were “four pit bulls that I saw coming at me,” he said. They may have a bad reputation, but they were the sweetest of the bunch. He’s also conversant with exotic pets, like rats and hedgehogs. One rat felt so at home with Santa, he tried to burrow into his big white beard.