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Christmas comes early: No rabies shots for Santa

Owner of cat that bit volunteer has come forward with vaccination papers

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updated 3:33 p.m. ET Dec. 11, 2008

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Santa Claus won't need rabies shots after all.

It turns out that a large kitty that drew blood after biting a volunteer Santa Claus at a charity event in New Jersey had been properly vaccinated.

The cat's owner, Christine Haughey, came forward and produced vaccination records after learning that 47-year-old Jonathan Bebbington, the Santa, might have to receive the shots.

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Bebbington says the cat bit his wrist and hand Sunday after becoming terrified because dogs were nearby at the Santa Paws photo event for an animal-rescue group.

The 25-year-old Haughey left after the attack.

Haughey tells WMGM-TV that her cat Benny is a mix between a house cat and a bobcat.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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