Celeste and Bernie Linkhauer had little Sadie Pearl all decked out for her first photo with Santa. Two perky green-and-red ribbons held little tufts of hair in place Sunday while the family waited in line at Century III Mall.

Sadie Pearl, 8 months old, was getting squirmy.

"It's her first Christmas," said Mrs. Linkhauer, of Elizabeth, who was a touch concerned that perhaps Sadie wasn't going to behave when it was her turn to sit on Santa's lap for a photo.

"I expect her to rip off his beard and run away with it," she said, laughing.

Sadie, a Maltese, wound up behaving like a perfect lady. In fact, a surprising majority of the 20-odd canines that had their photo snapped during the once-a-year event at the mall were relatively quiet and didn't mix it up with Santa or each other.

Visiting Santa at the mall has evolved beyond a holiday rite for American kids and their families. Most shopping centers have regular hours to include children -- Century III has daily hours until Christmas Eve, as does South Hills Village. But Santa also is a draw for pets at least once during the holiday season.

South Hills Village, which also held a visit to Santa for pets this past weekend, has another scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7.

"It's good community outreach," said Christine Jamison, Century III marketing manager.

The mall provides space for Fallen Timber animal shelter to showcase pets available for adoption twice a month, she said, and Camp Bow-Wow doggie daycare also set up events to advertise its services.

Although the first hour of the 6 to 8 p.m. session with Santa this past weekend drew only dogs, the mall has had some unusual visitors in the past, including a goat and a lizard.

More than one family dressed up for the occasion, including the Twymans of East Liberty.

Four-month-old Kamaya, a "real" girl, was decked out in a red velour Santa outfit. She awoke from her nap just in time to sit for the photo, which included the family dog, Mr. Beau, 10, a bichon frise wearing a red-and-white ensemble.

"He likes to get dressed," said Tiffany Twyman, Kamaya's aunt, noting that Mr. Beau had a matching hat but there was little chance he would keep it in place for the photo.

Anastasia Morin-Hutty, 8, of Regent Square, included family dogs Coco, a Pekinese, and Maxx, a mixed-breed, in a group photo. Her grandmother, Pat Koleszar, and father, Kevin Koleszar, brought the whole gang to the mall.

"I heard about this through the Humane Society," said Mrs. Koleszar, who brings Maxx to hospitals to work as a therapy dog. "They need all the publicity they can get."

Among the best-dressed was Maggie, a 2-year-old Boston terrier in a jaunty green sweater. Owner Nicole Jones, of Mount Washington, said the outfit was befitting the special occasion.

But the occasion wasn't quite special enough, she said, to entice her husband to come along: "He's too embarrassed."