Photos: Holiday gifts for pets

Westside Pavilion expanded photo-with-Santa events at which pets are allowed to three nights from one after they proved a big hit with shoppers. Above, Darraty Fagan, 6, with her brother Ryland Fagan, 3, and their dog Gypsy with Santa at the L.A. mall last week. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Dec. 21, 2014 2:22 PM PT

Holiday shoppers are splurging on presents for animal sidekicks as they get treated more as family and friends.

Bono, a cocker spaniel, waits for a photo session with Santa at the Westside Pavilion in L.A. last week. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Terrier mix Charlie, owned by Eric Bouffard and Tamiko Manago, gets photographed with Santa at the Westside Pavilion mall last week. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Tamiko Manago, left, with her terrier mix Charlie and husband Eric Bouffard get photographed with Santa at Westside Pavilion. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Adriana Kaplan, 10, holds her cat Fluff Fluff after a photo session with Santa at the mall. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)