SUWANEE, Ga. -- The third annual Run for the Rescues 5k will run Saturday, March 23 in Suwanee Town Center Park.

The Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals invites all families, including canine family members to participate. The run aims to benefit homeless pets. 

A festival will be held along with the race from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., including food and drinks, arts and crafts, inflatables for kids and treats for digs and runners. Sample products will be available for purchase. Georgia SPCA will also do frisbee demonstrations and give training tips and CSC testing. 

Dogs can compete in various contests, including longest tail, longest ears, best trick, and more. 

For more information, visit the Run for the Rescues website. 

BUFORD, Ga. -- Mall of Georgia is inviting all pet owners to being their animals to Mall of Georgia to have their photos taken with Santa for the holidays on Sunday, December 9, from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

After the mall closes, the entrance between Nordstrom and Belk near Woodward Crossing Boulevard will be open for pets and owners to enter. Santa will be set up in the Lower Level Nordstrom Court. For a map of Mall of Georgia, visit www.mallofgeorgia.com.

The mall is located on Buford Drive. Photo packages start around $30. Mall of Georgia asks that no exotic pets participate.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- "I've done everything from sales to marketing, accounting," said Emily Griffith. But one day nine years ago, long after most people have chosen their life's path, Griffith found a new one.

"I was early in my 40's, and I had no idea I knew how to paint," she said.

Turns out Griffith was a natural, and even though she calls a first painting of her dog primitive, it's still better than most people could ever do.

"The more you paint, the more your eye gets trained," she said humbly.

Almost 1,000 paintings later, Griffith is a renowned painter -- of pets.

"That's what I'm known for is capturing the dog's personality," she said.

Especially when that dog is the dawg -- Ugga. Griffith has painted Uggas 7, 8 and 9.

She also painted actress Tori Spelling's dog, who died.

And she's painted hundreds of not so famous pets, no less adored by their owners.