HotmailSanta, claws a less-than-jolly combo
Man to receive rabies shots after 'terrified' animal gets testy at photo shoot
 | Video |
 |
Santa clawed, bitten during photo shoot Dec. 10: The jolly fat man in the red suit was anything but after being scratched and bitten by a bobcat at a holiday pet photo shoot. Santa tells all to MSNBC's Tamron Hall. MSNBC |
 | Slideshow |
 | Animal Tracks Two Thanksgiving turkeys, a see-through sea creature, a camouflaged catfish, a hungry golden monkey, a kissing pooch – plus more animals great and small. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Unlikely friends A pig and a tiger, a monkey and a rabbit, a duck and a dog – these best buddy pairs make some very odd couples. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | more photos |
 | Video: Pets & animals |
 Who will win Best in Show? Nov. 25: TODAY anchors talk to John O’Hurley, host of the National Dog Show, about what to expect at this year’s competition. |
. |
Santa Claus posed with a very large kitty on his lap — and now, unfortunately, he might need rabies shots. Jonathan Bebbington was playing the jolly old elf during a Santa Paws photo event at a PetsMart store when he was bitten Sunday on the wrist and hand. The event was to raise money for Penny Angel's Beagle Rescue group.
The cat and owner disappeared after the incident. At least one person thought it was a bobcat, said Joan Kerr, president of Penny Angel's.
"It had absolutely huge paws, like three inches around," Kerr said.
The cat, named "Benny," appeared terrified because dogs were nearby, Bebbington, 47, told The Press of Atlantic City.
"It had very powerful jaws and big teeth," he said, estimating the cat weighed about 30 pounds.
The woman who brought it to the store told people there she bought the cat from a breeder in Wyoming for $1,500.
"Her last words were, 'I have a permit and the cat has all his vaccines,' " Bebbington said.
Unless the owner produces vaccination records, Bebbington will have to receive rabies shots starting Thursday as a precaution. He's already had a tetanus shot.
"I don't want anything to happen to the cat," he said. "It's a beautiful animal and was naturally scared."
Rabies shots are not as bad as they used to be, when they were a long ordeal of dreaded, painful shots in the abdomen. They now consist of a shorter series of shots in the arm.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM PETS |
 Pets Section Front |
| Add Pets headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links
Resource guide