Slide Show: Animal Lovers Gather for a Pet-themed Fashion Show and Photos with Santa Claus

Andrea Bordonaro of Willoughby was standing in line at the Great Lakes Mall holding her 11-month-old daughter Alexa and clenching leashes attached to the collars of her two Shih Tzus (shee dzoos), Coconut and Tisha, clad in their winter coats.

Even though Bordanaro certainly had her hands full, she didn't mind one bit.

"We love every minute of this," said Bordanaro, who was looking forward to getting her daughter's first photo with Santa. After all, there's nothing more exciting than a baby's first Christmas.

Bordonaro was pretty confident that her daughter wouldn't mind sitting on Santa's lap, but she wasn't too sure about Coconut and Tisha that were sniffing their surroundings.

The Bordanaros, and about 50 other dog lovers, lined up to get their pet's photos taken with Santa. Athough the dogs were well behaved, there were a few barks, yelps and one or two growls.

The mall also hosted its first pet-themed fashion show Sunday that was sponsored by maurices, a new clothing retailer at the mall. More than 50 people and passers-by gathered to watch.

The fashion show featured maurices new lines of apparel worn by employees and volunteers of the Lake County Humane Society of Mentor. As the employees and volunteers sported the retailer's clothes, they were accompanied by a dog or cat up for adoption. The show was emceed by Steve Neumann and Linda Uhas, morning hosts of Wake Up Lake County on 1330 WELW AM Radio

Renee Lanzara, director of marketing and business development at the Great Lakes Mall, said maurices sponsors these types of fashion shows at all of its locations throughout the nation. The show benefits Rescue and Runaways, a national campaign to increase awareness of animal shelters and adoption opportunities.

The event also featured pet businesses such as The Golden Barkery, a Mentor-based online bakery, which provided treats for pets and humans, too. The business will donate 10 percent from every purchase to animal rescue organizations.

Other vendors included A1 Bed & Biscuit, a pet boarding resort and grooming salon and, For the Love of Pits, a Cleveland-area Pit Bull rescue organization, featured a pet remembrance tree at Dillard's south entrance concourse providing guests the opportunity to write a memory or sentiment on an ornament that will hang from the tree.