SANDPOINT — Every dog, they say, has its day.

And, for a Welsh dog owner, that day is Christmas for his 17 pet Dachshunds.

Each year Liam Beach, who is an animal management graduate, coaxes his four-legged family members into holiday sweaters. The pups are then posed on his home’s staircase for a family photo.

In a story on goodnewsnetwork.org, Beach reports that the elaborate yuletide photo requires a full bag of treats and almost an hour of patience.

But, because of his patience and the aforementioned bag of treats, Beach was able to capture a portrait of Buster, Daisy, Ziggy, Wallie, Zac, Bonnie, Saffie, Duke, Diamond, Ruby, Kizzy, Sammy, Kansy, Kiki, Lottie, Benji, and Dudley all dressed up in their Christmas best.

This is not the first time that the 20-year-old from Rhondda, Wales, has taken a Christmas photo of the pups on the stairs, the website notes.

However, his previous effort only took about 10 minutes; this Christmas photo required more work because of the doggie sweaters.

“It took about 45 minutes to get the picture because when the dogs were dressed in their outfits, they thought it was time to go walking and [they] all went crazy running around the house,” Beach told reporters, according to the website. “So, I had to calm them down before putting them on the stairs.”

With pets becoming more a part of our families, appearing in special photos, getting extra love and attention and even earning their own Christmas stockings and presents, it’s clear the four-legged members of our family have a well-deserved spot in our hearts.

Before my 21-year-old Siamese cat, Max, passed away in September, I admit it, I was one of those pet owners. Max got a stocking, usually with a catnip toy or two, and a present, again more toys. Although, in typical Siamese cat fashion, he demanded that I open his presents for him first and help him play with them.

In honor of your own beloved pets, why not consider donating what you can to the Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots drive? Like our pets, all the children in the community deserve to have a Christmas, too.

Total donations received so far add up to $35,548.81 but there is still time to add to the tally.

The goal for this year’s campaign is $50,000 — the same as it has been in past years.

The Lions make the most of the money by shopping bargains, and with the assistance of generous local businesses. The Toys for Tots program provides free new toys for children living in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in-between. A Christmas dinner for the family is also provided.

Donations for Toys for Tots can be dropped off at the front desk at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

You can also drop off donations at Columbia Bank’s main branch in Sandpoint, 414 Church St., or at the Ponderay branch, 300 Bonner Mall Way.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note. If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.