Poking and prodding. Oohing and aahing. Waving and whistling.

When it comes to animal photography, all of the above come into play.

And then?

“You just pray,” said photographer Homer Frank.

About 60 pet owners took their furry friends Sunday to the Lawrence Humane Society where Frank sat with camera ready. Dubbed Santa Paws because many of the pets posed with the jolly old elf, last year’s event raised about $2,000, all of which goes directly to the Humane Society.

Although most of the animals eventually cooperated, many had to be cajoled to sit still. And then there was the trick of getting the owner and animal to look at the camera at the same time.

Dogs, cats, ferrets – even a rat in a hat – bared their teeth for the camera.

Lavada Rooks, Lawrence, brought her blond Yorkshire terrier, Willow, to the event.

New to the area, Rooks said she had never heard of Santa pictures for animals.

“I thought I was the only person on earth who treats her dog like a child,” she said.

A Jack Russell terrier-mix named Klaus checks out the big guy in red during a photo shoot with his owner, Sally Kay, Lawrence, left. Lawrence Humane Society employee Blaine Hamilton portrayed Santa, and Lawrence photographer Homer Frank took the photos on Sunday at the shelter.

Willow’s green and red sweater covered what Rooks said was a bad haircut.

“I want to start doing this every year,” she said. “I want this to be a little tradition we’re starting.”

Humane Society director Midge Grinstead said many people marked the annual event on their calendars. Some use the pictures in Christmas cards; others tape them to their refrigerators or turn them into Christmas ornaments.

Santa Paws will continue from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St. The cost is $10 for two prints and the negative.

But regardless of what they do with the pictures, Grinstead is glad they have them taken at the fund-raiser.

“We’re eeking by,” she said, gesturing to a facility already filled to capacity.