Dash and George Clooneigh are “mini mental health ambassadors that regularly visit residents and frontline healthcare workers at senior living facilities, many of whom have had a really tough time throughout COVID,” says Tracy Starchuk of Calgary, Alberta, who submitted this photo. Photographed by Megan Hutchinson

Doc listening to Santa Claus read a Christmas story, Devers, Texas. Submitted by Sara McNeil; photographed by Shelby Wittie

Aidan, Oneonta, N.Y., with a Christmas toy.  Submitted and photographed by Joy Dunn

Sporty has got the perfect coat to get him through a cold winter season in  Whitewood, S.D. Submitted and photographed by Amber Christians of Prairie Thunder Photography LLC

Caroline Warren and Beau Bichon are full of holiday cheer in  Hillsboro, Va. Submitted by Deb Bowers; photographed by Madeline Gammill Photography

Who needs a tree? Jack Russell Terriers Berkeley Sophie (Windermere Tally Ho) and Madeleine Marie (Lilliput Full Cry) look extra festive with ornaments adorning their collars. The two are owned by Father Michael Tang of Whittier, Calif. Photographed by Julie Hopkins of Camera Creations

Kathy Boyle of Canter Haven Farm in Utah sent this photo of her corgi/minion-inspired holiday photo shoot. Hannah is in the sleigh and Winston is the reindeer. Photographed by Ash Boyle

Casablanca is dressed for the season in Cross Roads, Texas. Submitted and photographed by Erin Tinnerman

Charlotte and Julia Murray with their holiday-ready ponies Sissy and Duchess, Exeter, R.I. Submitted by Heather Murray; photographed by Emma Guillot

Christine Leafdale and wreathed Wi Degro look ready for the festive season in Mount Vernon, Wash. Photographed by Alyssa Hamedi

Cooper, West Chester, Pa., is reconsidering “Jingle Bells” as a holiday favorite. Submitted by Lisa Lee

Sharon Hirsch took this photo of Sweet Coraline, her 8-year-old Connemara, posing with a carrot and apple wreath, “before it got all eaten” at Rivendell Farm in Durham, Conn. She said, “I had planned a ‘normal’ photo, but, Coraline being Coraline, gave me a big smile, and I grabbed the shot.” Submitted by Sharon Hirsch

Donovan asks, “Do you hear what I hear?” from his front door in Horsham, Pa. Submitted by Elisaabeth Williams

Dozer, Lilo and Fergie, owned by Whitney Brunner in Chesapeake, Va., might not be bearing gold, frankincense or myrrh, but they’re still three smart pups. Submitted and photographed by Catherine Michele Photography

Mary Mockus shared this photo of Dude and Babe, her rescued German Shepherds, on the lookout for Santa Claus in Novato, Calif.

Ella and Lucinda B. with Winnie, Mass. Submitted by Katie Bowles; photographed by Barbara Konieczny

Fabio is waiting patiently for his presents under the Christmas tree in Orland Park, Ill. Submitted and photographed by Marian O’Brien

For Your Love, “Lily,” posed for her festive glamor shot in Easton, Md. Submitted by Kerri Ginn; photographed by Tom McCall Photography

Greta and Mateo look like they are watching the chimney of their Alexandria, Va., home vigilantly, waiting for Santa’s arrival. Submitted by Karen Rudolph

Susan Garvey submitted this photo of her Gulfstream looking like he’s ready to help Santa build some toys. “Gus” lives at Cedar Ridge Farm in Quakertown, Pa.

Gum Tree Lane, “Artax,” of Wildwood, Mo., was the cover horse for our December 2021 issue. Submitted by Crystal Marshall; photographed by Irina Hulse Photography

If Harlow looks familiar, you may have seen her in past Chronicle Holiday Pet Galleries. The 8-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi belongs to Brooke and TJ Schneider of Phoenixville, Pa.

Holly the horse and her canine companion, Lunabear, having a secret chat with Santa in Creedmoor, N.C. Submitted by Elizabeth Cozart, photographed by Nancy Hight

Julie Kjellberg says her horse Holy Mackarel was a perfect model for his holiday photo shoot. “Amos” is a Dutch Warmblood gelding. Photographed by Morgan & Ian Ward in Durham, N.C.

Claire Stevenson took this photo of Santa’s helper, her amateur jumper-sometimes turned eq horse Irish Coffee, and Santa, her rescue dog Nigel. Nigel was in a shelter in South Carolina before Danny & Ron’s Rescue scooped him up, and Claire adopted him. They live in Southampton, N.Y.

Santa had no doubts that Jackson, Fairfield, Conn., had been a very good boy this year. Submitted by Kara Golden; photographed by Tina Marie Photography

Emily Jones of Indian Valley, Idaho, sent this photo of her crew, Junior, Hyde, Grizzly, Oslo, Sparks and BudLight. Photographed by Taylor Shanks

Leroy enjoys dressing up for the holidays during his retirement in Guilderland, N.Y., “after being a three-ring hunter/jumper/equitation unicorn,” says his owner Hallie Brooks. Submitted and photographed by Hallie Brooks

Veronica Finkelstein of Lumberton, N.J., sent us this photo of her dog Maggie enjoying the snow. It was taken by Pandemic Pets, a photography company started by a high school student who takes photos of pets to raise money for animal shelters.

Friends Donkey, Fuzzy the dog and Pippa the horse getting in the holiday spirit in Powhatan, Va. Submitted by Maile L’Herro

Meadowridge DayCoach inspecting the holiday decor at the barn in Virginia Beach, Va. Submitted and photographed by Victoria Tunis

Finnegan is the snowball in this, Acton, Mass., holiday scene. Submitted by Michelle Conlon

Miss Piggy is ready to fill in for Rudolph. She was found as a stray in West Virginia, and after spending some time in a shelter made her way to her forever home with Katie Hasse in Haymarket, Va. Submitted by Katie Hasse

Munchkin, Columbus, Ohio, is ready to fill out his elf job application. Submitted by Janis Fox; photographed by Michele Lindner Nash

Santa’s helpers Myrlie (left) and Cutty are on their way to deliver holiday cheer in a vintage Amish buggy. Submitted by Kathy Pinera, Emerson, N.J.

Has anyone “spotted” an elf around here? Nash, New Park, Pa. Submitted by Beauty Brown

Otto the Friesian sure makes a handsome Santa. He’s owned by the Joubran Family in Northern Virginia. Photographed by Valerie Durbon

Parker, Northampton, Pa., is dressed in the colors of the season. Submitted by Ann Harrington

Pebbles looks like she could be a ballerina in The Nutcracker with her festive tutu. She was adopted from Danny & Ron’s Rescue by Caroline Moran of Malvern, Pa. Photographed Amanda J. Cox Photography

Who wouldn’t want to find a gift like Pippa, Manchester, N.H., under their tree? Submitted by Hannah Strobel; photographed by Michael O’Keefe

Red Notice and Jack Russell friends Bert and Ernie want to make sure Santa can see them and their Christmas spirit. Their owner Brenda Tananbaum sent us this photo taken at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Conn. Photographed by Leslie Newing

A Christmas message submitted and photographed by Debby Thomas, Manakin Sabot, Va.

Roxanne Louise, Gainesville, Ga., definitely was not on the naughty list. Submitted by Amy Trent

Saluut2u is trying his best to stay on Santa’s nice list, but Final Saluut isn’t making it easy. “Final Saluut, AKA ‘Teddy,’ is quite impish, and this photo shows off his unique personality,” says Anne Walker, Loxahatchee, Fla., who submitted and took this picture.

Sassy the Cow is happy to get a festive glow-up for the season, but she’ll leave any sled pulling to the rein-dogs in the barn, beagles Libby and Levi. Submitted and photographed by Michele Verderosa

What do you want “Fjord” Christmas, asks Santa’s helper, Signe, of Essex, N.Y. Submitted and photographed by Audrey Sparre

It’s a bit hard to tell what Squibble, Boonville, N.Y., thinks of being the target of so much holiday cheer. Submitted by Leeanne Greene

Stella the snowman (center) is back this year, posing with her new little sister, Ruby, a 10-month-old schnauzer, and Binky the pony. Submitted by Tricia Costa of Verona, N.J.

This magical scene of Stubben getting a peek inside Santa’s bag in Church Hill, Tenn. Submitted by Rebecca Marshall; photographed by Kathy Schultz, Farm Fresh Photography

A festively wreathed Sundance poses with Judy Kurz in West Chester, Pa. Submitted by Judy; photographed by Priscilla Millard

Santa’s new reindeer, from left, Melimion, Count Chokula and Galadriel, snuck inside for a quick warm-up in Wicksburg, Ala. Submitted and photographed by Tammy Nenni

Santa gives a pep talk to reindeer Nala, a rescued Saddlebred mare up for adoption at the Virginia Equine Welfare Society near Ashland, Va. Photographed by Amanda Lelia Photography

Wesley Spalding gets in the holiday spirit in Atlanta. Submitted by Natalie Spalding; photographed by Alison Bearman

Danny & Ron’s Rescue manager Christy Edens submitted this photo of Whopper, taken by Michael Schofield in Rembert, S.C.