Santa famously checks whether kids are naughty or nice. The Real Pet Santa, however, only asks, “Who’s a good boy?”
The answer is, of course, all dogs — but also horses, skunks, snakes, turtles, geese, possums and even an emu — and Dave Riley himself, whose portrayal of the jolly old elf brings joy to pets, parents and organizations concerned with their welfare.
Last Chance Ranch, an animal rescue in Richland Township, has been working with Riley since 2022. He’s appeared at nearly a dozen Last Chance events, where he takes pictures with pets and sometimes owners, with donations going to the organization.
“Dave goes above and beyond,” Last Chance Executive Director Jackie Burke said. “He works with so many animal rescues, and makes each and everyone of us feel the true spirit of the season of giving.”
Riley estimates he has raised thousands of dollars for rescues. Burke confirms Riley has helped raised nearly $3,000 for Last Chance Ranch, alone.
Riley said he takes great pride in being able to help a good cause that has given him so many memories and so much joy. In addition to dressing up as Santa, he also plays the part of the Mensch on a Bench for Jewish pets and owners who celebrate Hanukkah instead of Christmas.
Santa’s story
Like Tim Allen’s character in “The Santa Clause,” Riley never intended to become Santa’s helper and don the red costume, but a mishap led to his transformation.
Nearly 25 years ago, the Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, resident was in a serious motorcycle accident that required months of rest and healing. With little else he could do, he started interacting with the puppy he had adopted shortly beforehand. Curious and intrigued by little Rose’s behavior, he began to study her intently.
“I started learning why she was doing the things that she was doing,” he said. “As that knowledge grew, I began to understand dogs better. It eventually evolved into me being able to sense and communicate with animals.”
Riley says he is blessed to have mastered animal speak and be able to interpret their cues and signals. It was, he said, thanks to observation, study, empathy, intuition, patience and much, much practice, all of which he had time to hone with Rose.
Once recovered from his accident, his love of dogs and bonds with them blossomed into him fostering dogs and volunteering at local animal shelters.
Fostering turned into pet rescues, which led to the development of the Real Pet Santa almost a decade ago. It started with visits at farmers markets, arts and craft shows, and through word of mouth. Then some mutual friends connected Riley and Last Chance Ranch.
“It went so very well,” Riley recalled of their first event together in 2022. That success was followed by more events.
“He is amazing with the animals,” said Burke, Last Chance’s executive director. “He is also kind and patient with pets and their owners and works to get the best picture possible.”
Riley is joined by his former spouse, Marcy Riley, who plays Mrs. Claus at the photo events, where they pose with pets, owners and children.
“I have a lot of fun doing it,” she said.
All the good boys and girls
Riley says he has a love for all animals but has a special place in his heart for large dogs — he currently has two Bernese mountain dogs, Zerra and Phoebe, but the more, the merrier, he said. But that doesn’t limit his picture options; Riley has photographed with an array of animals, from snakes to skunks.
“Anyone with any type of pet is our audience, and I stress to people, I don’t care what kind of pet it is,” he said. “Last Chance Ranch had an emu named Elmo and he was awesome. I’ve had turtles, a horse that tried to bully me, a goose wearing a diaper, and possums. You name it, I’ll sit with it. If you hand me an alligator and tell me how to hold it where I’m not going to get hurt and it’s not going to get hurt, I’m in.”
Burke recalled one special moment.
“Dave even went above and beyond one year for a longtime volunteer who had a senior horse with limited time left,” she said. “The volunteer wanted to get her horse out to Last Chance Ranch for photos, but the senior horse refused to get on the trailer. Dave was willing to schedule a visit to her farm to take photos that as a memory to be cherished forever.”
One of his most memorable photo ops involved a 120-pound female Akita, a noted guardian breed. Riley told the dog’s owners to let the dog off her leash and let her sniff around and get used to the area.
“After she got comfortable, she jumped up on my bench next to me,” he said.
“She sat there patiently waiting for her photo to be taken with Santa. I looked up and this couple had tears running down their cheeks, and I literally asked them, ‘What’s the matter?’ And they said, ‘She’s never had her picture taken with Santa because she’s always been turned away because she’s so big.’ And I said, ‘Folks, I will never turn away any animal.’ Everybody should have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa.”
Sunni Battin is a freelance writer.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
The Real Pet Santa has two more Lehigh Valley appearances scheduled this year:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at Art Fusion, 2580 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Township. Cost is $10 per family, with proceeds benefiting Last Chance Ranch.
- Sangria Sunday with Santa, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at Black River Farms, 2472 Black River Road, Lower Saucon Township. Benefits Tails of Valor.
