All-Puppy Nativity 'Too Much Fun To Pass Up'

VIENNA, VA—Like other Christian churches, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna set up a Nativity scene to celebrate the Christmas season. But on Saturday, Dec. 2, it wasn't your typical Nativity scene with figurines or people dressed up in costumes; the photo opps were centered around family pets. After all, four-legged creatures are part of the family.

Instead, you'd find a puppy in the manger and three other dogs looking on as shepherd and angels. It was the second year the Methodist church held this community event, encouraging churchgoers and community members alike to have a fun morning with their pets. The event was free, and community members were asked to make donations to Second Story, which supports homeless and at-risk youth.

Leslie Conroy isn't even a member of the church but said it was "too much fun to pass up." She often dresses up her labradoodle, Lucky, to cheer up people at retirement homes, and this was just another fun day with Lucky to support a good cause.

"I have never even heard about anything like this," she told Patch. "The dogs are really cooperative and it's really cool to see."

When Rev. Eric Song joined the church over a year ago, he brought with him the idea of a live puppy Nativity. "We thought it would be a new and fun tradition to celebrate with loved ones in the community. People love their pets, and we love to support people and their families," he told Patch. "Pets are considered family."

Beth Tribble echoed this sentiment, saying it was "a fun community event where you can see your neighbors as well as to get your dogs out of the house." And the pictures of her dogs Snowball and Emma are priceless.

The church provided the costumes and decorations as pet owners brought their furry friends for a picture perfect opportunity. At one point, they even got pictures of a pig and bunny.

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Perhaps one of the cutest moments was when Lucy, a chocolate lab puppy, posed in the manger with the family's other dogs dressed up as shepherds, and a 14-year-old golden retriever as an angel.

Stephanie Liu, who brought her golden retriever, Agatha, thought it was a great opportunity after her dog recovered from medical work. "We're always looking forward to meeting other pet lovers," she told Patch. "It was a great community event."

Some of the pet owners weren't shy about dressing up with their pets. "The cutest pics are when the people and the animals get in them together. Everyone gets very silly, which is fun to see," said longtime church member Kathy Lovelace, who brought her labradoodle, Bella.

A lot of this fun was trying to keep the costume on the pets long enough or keep them from jumping out of the manger. And as families left the church that day, they've got a Christmas card that's hard to beat.

After all, the dogs were looking at the camera for treats.