By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
Groveland Twp.-On Dec. 13-16, the Santa dogs will be back at Bueche’s at 400 N. Ortonville Road, to raise money for the Genesee County Humane Society.
Carl Liepmann, who has been organizing this fundraiser for 35 years, always looks forward to bringing in the dogs.
“Usually I get ‘oh my gosh, are they alive?’ because they just sit on the table and don’t jump off,” said Liepmann. “I like meeting the people and talking to them about their dogs.”
Patrons can stop by the entrance way of Bueche’s and see the dogs, decked out in Christmas garb, and donate to the Humane society.
The fundraiser has only been at the Ortonville Bueche’s for 7 or 8 years, but has been at the Flushing Bueche’s for 35 years, and the dogs will be at the Flushing location Dec. 18-23.
The funds go towards the purchase of food for the animals in the shelter, and has brought in more than 25,000 pounds of food in years prior.
“Kids love to play with them,” said Liepmann. “People always ask how to train their dogs and I tell them the secret is they have to be smarter than the dog and they tell me that’s it for them.”
Liepmann, and his own Santa dog Birch, will be at Bueche’s on Wednesday, and he may have a puppy with him as well, but the only way to find out is to stop by Bueche’s on Nov. 13.