Paws by Claus: Santa delivers for animal shelter

MADISON, N.J. (AP) - Santa Claus went to work on Christmas Day for an animal shelter.

Santa delivered dogs and cats as presents for the St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ.com reported (http://bit.ly/1zkOeii).

Shelter staffer Melissa Morgan donned the costume to deliver pets adopted this week by parents to doubly surprised children in the area. She took a box to the door of the Crescenzi family in Union, and 4-year-old Angelo ripped the wrapping paper off to reveal a black kitten inside.

"The only thing you have to do is love him forever," Morgan told him. "Can you do that?"

"Yeah!" yelled Angelo's 2-year-old brother, Giovanni.

The animal shelter said it permits adoptions only after one-on-one counseling with families to make sure they understand the responsibilities and can offer safe environments.

"This is a time of great warmth and family bonding," shelter CEO Heather Camissa said. "Why not add this extra bit of special?"