Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Santa Claus Visits For the First Time Since Dog Run Deb's Death

By Carla Zanoni | December 20, 2010 4:58pm

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter

INWOOD — Dog owners and their four-legged friends made their annual pilgrimage to Homer's Run to visit Santa Claus this weekend, making the most of the neighborhood's first year without "Dogrun Deb" in the role of St. Nick.

Julio Belliard instead donned a beard and Santa suit for the "Santa Paws" event, which is hosted by the dog run group Inwoof. This was the first year where 54-year-old Inwood resident Deb Snyder, the group’s former president, did not fill in for Santa Claus after her death in November.

Belliard, Inwoof's parks liaison officer, took the reigns as Santa this year after volunteering for the post at a November memorial service held for Snyder at the dog run.

Inwoof members, who are best known at the run by their first name and that of their dog, said they worked together to hold the annual event despite their loss.

"Generosity is the true spirit of Christmas, and thanks to the help of all our volunteers, Inwoof was very happy to continue our tradition of offering the Inwood community a photo opportunity with Santa," said Monique Buzzarté, Inwoof's treasurer.