SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Santa Claus stuck around San Diego for a little bit Wednesday morning to make some special holiday deliveries.
This is quickly becoming a San Diego tradition: instead of resting at the North Pole, we found Santa in the North County, delivering memories sure to last a lifetime. He surprised three families with new animal companions from the Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
‘Twas the morning of Christmas and he's usually done, but this Santa Claus is out for more fun.
A kitten, a cat and a puppy too - their days in a shelter are about to be through.
He looked at his list and checked it twice. A 16-year-old in Encinitas has been very nice.
The Rancho Coastal Humane Society is where she first met the kitten and right from the start, Emily was smitten.
But mom wanted this to be a Christmas surprise and you can see it was from the look in her eyes.
With more deliveries to make - Santa left - chop chop. An assisted living home was Santa's next stop.
In a comfy chair, 92-year-old Della sat, then Santa presented her with a friendly, new cat.
Turns out, Della hasn't had a pet for a while, so her new addition made her smile.
And with that Santa's work here was through, but he still had one more delivery to do.
Nine-year-old Kylee, standing at her front the door, had no idea what Santa had in store.
She hugged her new puppy and named him Ollie and then did something that makes Santa Jolly.
This Santa knows firsthand, a puppy can give you a lift, because as a six-year-old in Iowa, his dad gave him one as a gift.
Wednesday to Kylee's eyes, her joy, brought a tear - another successful year of Santa spreading Christmas cheer.
All of Wednesday's adoptions were set up through the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, which makes sure the families and their new pet are a good match before Santa makes his delivery.