With just four weeks until Christmas, everyone’s getting ready to enjoy the fun and festivities this merriest season brings! You can see families setting up their Christmas trees, storefronts being overrun in a sea of red and sparkling lights, and friends and workmates all preparing for this year’s Christmas parties.

But if you ask us, there’s one distinctive thing that’s fun to tick off on many Christmas wish lists. I mean, it just wouldn’t be Christmas if you don’t get a chance to personally see the big jolly man in the red suit. And the big kids in all of us–unarguably–would just love to take a photo with him as he cries out Ho-Ho-Ho!

Well, you better watch out, you better not cry… Because Santa Paws is coming to town!!!

In partnership with the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, we are holding a special Christmas Pawty where animal lovers can have their fur babies photographed with Santa as he lands a special stop over at the 4one4 Property Co. headquarters this coming 11th December.

So, if you’ve been dreaming of capturing a picture-pawfect snap of your fur babies with Santa himself, we’re very pawsitive that this is the moment you’ve been waiting for (excuse the puns, too excited for this!!). 

As much as we’d love for everyone to bring their fur bubs down for the day, we’ve gotta be careful of those puppos who aren’t all that social or just like to keep to themselves. In an effort to have the day run as smoothly as possible, we have had to limit slots and bookings are really necessary for this event. You may book here your preferred time between 10 am – 2 pm (fingers-crossed there’s still a slot available) and then you and your pup should be ready to strike a paws. 

Great news for you! We won’t be charging any money as payment for the photos, but we do encourage everyone to donate to the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania. All funds raised and proceeds from this event will go to their Christmas Appeal activity. Not only will you help yourself get out of Santa’s naughty list this year (*wink) but you also, and more importantly, help fund the basic needs of the dogs in the shelter.

Here’s another exciting news: 4one4 Property Co. Director Patrick Berry has vouched to double whatever the figure that will be raised from the event and everything will go to the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania!!!

The Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania (DHoT) is Tasmania’s largest canine welfare organisation caring for Tasmanian dogs in need. For 73 years now, this not-for-profit organisation receives no regular funding from the government and it heavily relies on the charity of the Tasmanian dog-loving community (through donations, fund-raising events, and selling products)–keeping them afloat through the years. 

DHoT looks after approximately 3,000 lost, abandoned, and surrendered dogs each year through the operations of their four Homes across the state: Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, and the largest in Hobart–catering to all parts of Tasmania.

Both organisations, 4one4 Property Co. and Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, carry the same principle and advocate for a similar purpose: to provide safe homes where love and kindness are fostered–for all types of people for the former one; and for every dog for the latter. 

We saw this as an avenue to collaborate with DHoT and help them make the Christmas of the dogs at the Homes extra merry and meaningful. Sadly, not every dog will be enjoying the festive season with a forever family, so lending a helping hand with whatever we could provide is something that makes us happy, too. After all, this is the true meaning of Christmas: helping, giving, and loving. 

A superstar agent by day and a dog lover at heart, our fellow 4one4 member Aaron Murray is a proud volunteer at the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania. Mr Murray shared how the Homes need dog-walking volunteers to exercise the dogs and provide them with enrichment whilst they are still waiting for their forever homes.

“What I do at the moment is I go to the Dogs’ Homes and spend my time for a couple of hours a week: I play with the dogs, walk them around, give them some exercise, get them some playtime, and then swap around,” he narrated. 

Whilst he’s at it, Mr Murray at times also invites fellow dog lovers for a walk who are also keen on real estate–hitting three birds with one stone: creating bonds with the pups and talking about real estate, all whilst exercising for a healthier life. 

He also shared how the organisation wanted to do a Santa event this year but they are out of resources and manpower, so, that’s how this idea originated. Our superstars from the MediaHouse Team will be taking charge of the Pawto shoot itself along with the other 4one4 staff members and representatives from Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania–from the booking process through to passing along the pics to all puppy parents. 

As we mentioned, on the day of the event, on top of our priority list is the safety of the dogs and the attendees; hence, the booking process. Other than that, we’ll also be providing some snacks and water for the puppy dogs and we’ll make sure to have one-way directions so the attendees will be able to get in and get out without crossing paths with the other dogs. 

“The jolly man in red from the North Pole is actually a person from the Dogs’ Homes because they have hands-on experience dealing with dogs. Having the man in red being an expert with puppy dogs is a great help.”

This event is close to Mr Murray’s heart, too, as he grew up with pet dogs at home. Every member of his family has a puppy dog and all three of his pets actually came from Hobart Dogs’ Home.

“From that sense, I’ve known that they’ve helped us out to gain another family member. That’s only fair to still give back and help them out for the opportunity that they gave us,” Mr Murray said. 

“I’d hate to see dogs stuck on the streets and it’s nice that they’re giving them a fighting chance through their Homes.”

Since the DHoT doesn’t receive regular government funding, Marketing and Development Manager Alexandra Bray shared that they have two big fund-raising activities every year.

“First, the winter appeal which takes place during the middle of the year and our Christmas appeal, which is summertime and at Christmas time,” Ms Bray mentioned. “The money that we receive from our fund-raising activities and donations from the community is not guaranteed. So, such activities are really important to us,” she continued.

This Santa Paws Day event is part of the organisation’s Christmas Appeal among other activities such as selling Dogs’ Homes calendars and Christmas cards and putting up donation boxes in businesses and establishments. 

The biggest activity that they hold during this time is the street appeal where volunteers go and hit the streets and shopping centres asking for donations. They also write letters to the public telling them about the organisation as they share stories with the community about dogs that have been rehomed. 

According to Ms Bray, it can cost around $1,100 for one week to keep a dog in their care and there’s never a time limit for how long a dog is waiting in adoption for a new family. Hence, fund-raising activities and donations from the dog-loving community are essential. 

“Overall, it helps Tasmanian dogs find new loving families and it helps with the cost of those dogs being in our care. For transparency, the highest cost we have is veterinary services. We employ vets in the Dogs’ Homes who give full medical services to all the dogs that come into our care,” Ms Bray discussed.

If you want to directly donate money, the primary avenue for that is through their website. From the “Donate” button, you’ll see a few options to pay. Aside from cash donations, you may also donate physical items which you can just directly bring to the Home. 

For those who wish to adopt a dog, the best thing to do is follow their Facebook page since dogs are coming and going all the time. This also goes on their website and people can apply to adopt a particular dog. 

“We’re really trying to match the dog with the right family, which is why we ask people to apply for a specific dog. For instance, if it’s a really big dog, we want to try and get it somewhere where they have some land and they have appropriate fencing.”

Both the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and 4one4 Property Co. hope for a fun and peaceful event on 11th December. Make sure to book a time here from 10 am to 2 pm to reserve a slot for you and your fur baby! 

It’s always fun to do something we love with a FURpose. See you at the 4one4 HQ, dog lovers and fur parents! Santa Paws will be waiting there!