Yesterday, in a rural Kansas town, a real Santa Claus for pets delivered fresh straw to neighboring dogs chained to dog houses. This Santa also delivered some fresh straw to two areas where feral cats sleep. These dogs and cats had no bedding, no one was helping them survive outside in the Kansas winter. That is, except for their special Santa.
He didn’t know the owners of the dogs, but he’s noticed they had nothing to keep them warm – no bedding for them to snuggle in. He told me “they needed some help”. So…he packed up some large plastic bags and drove down to the local feed store that sells straw. The store gave him the loose straw that had fallen out of the bales. He raked it all up in his bags and then delivered it to the needy dogs and cats.
What makes this Santa Claus so extra extraordinary is that he is very sick. This Santa used to work for a pet food company, that is until he became too sick to work. He has lung disease from exposure to moldy pet food grains, he coughs up blood daily. He has tularemia the CDC linked to rendered pet food ingredients – a serious bacteria which causes half grapefruit size lumps to rise up on his chest and back and causes him to be feverish almost daily. He has chemical burns down his esophagus and into his gut from inhaling pesticides used on pet food ingredients, he’s shared it often feels like knives stabbing him in the gut. He was approved for medical disability two years ago (in a courtroom, by a judge), but the state of Kansas still hasn’t provided him with a dime of support or medical assistance. Needless to say, he doesn’t have two pennies to rub together and cannot seek medical treatment for his many serious health conditions.
Despite all of these challenges, this Santa Claus put his own concerns aside and cared for some needy dogs and cats yesterday. He convinced the feed store to give him the loose straw (he can’t afford to buy it). He walked into yards of people he didn’t know. He walked into yards with big dogs he didn’t know. The dogs knew he was their friend, every single dog knew he was there to help. He provided fresh straw to 8 different dogs and all welcomed him in. And even the feral cats knew he was there to help, a couple of them brushed against his leg as he was spreading their new bedding.
This Santa is very special. And his story of kindness to animals is something I had to share. To put aside our daily challenges and do something for others in need. We might not be able to deliver straw bedding to needy pets as he did, but we can all get involved in some way to make the world a little bit better.
This Santa inspires me every time I speak with him, and I hope he inspires you too.
Susan Thixton
(Lucky to call this Santa my friend)
Sally
December 24, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Can’t we help him, too?
Kay
December 25, 2020 at 4:50 am
How can we help this wonderful man? Where might we donate? God bless the courageous Samaritans of this world!
Sabrina DiBiagio
December 24, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Who is this Santa? Can we do something to help him? Maybe a fund to help him? We have to support these angels.
Jessica Lavish
December 24, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Is there some way to send Santa some money?
Teresa Beck
December 24, 2020 at 12:53 pm
So poignant and spiritual a message. Thank you
Duncan
December 24, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Yay, Santa! Well done!
Teresa Johnson
December 24, 2020 at 1:14 pm
A favorite quote of mine:
None of your days is fully lived until you’ve done something for someone who can never pay you back.
And now I know others also live it to the fullest.
I’m not far from Kansas, relatively speaking, as I live next door in
Colorado. I’m not a wealthy person, but comfortable enough. Susan, would it be possible to help this Santa?
Shari Wolfe
December 24, 2020 at 4:59 pm
Susan, this is such a heartwarming, yet sad story. Could a fund be established for this kind soul, who needs as much help as those for whom he provides warmth and comfort? God bless him. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2020 at 2:04 pm
I know who this person is! And may God Bless and protect him. He should be the hero of every single animal lover. Maybe he’s still here on earth for doing God’s work, inspiration and tweaking the conscience of those who should be put in Jail.
Though he wouldn’t ask for it, nor would Susan ever ask (which is NOT the reason for the accolade) this “Santa” deserves a Holiday Greeting donation from everyone who’s ever benefitted from the TRUTH about pet food!
Thank you!
Carol Sacher
December 26, 2020 at 1:40 pm
I want to help. Let me know how.
Debra
December 24, 2020 at 2:07 pm
He is living proof pointing to the facts that you have uncovered about the dog food industry. He has a heart of gold and I too wish there was a way to help him out.
Marjory St John
December 24, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story and for all that you do as well.
If there is any way to help this Santa or others, please let us know. I don’t know what I am able to do but will try to help however I can.
I am so grateful to you every day for all that you do to advocate for our animals.
Thank you and Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Marjie
maryann
December 24, 2020 at 2:49 pm
This story made me cry; bless this soul.
Go Fund Me page anyone???
Peaceful and Healthy New Year to All
M.
carolyn p. bailie
December 24, 2020 at 2:58 pm
How can we give to him?
JANET
December 24, 2020 at 3:07 pm
I ONLY WISH THAT THEY WERE MANY SANTA PAWS OUT THERE. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY PETS IN NEED. AND I WANT TO THANK THAT SANTA PAWS AND YOU FOR PUBLISHING THE ARTICLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I HOPE THAT MAYBE THIS ARTICLE WILL INSPIRE MORE HELP FOR ALL ANIMALS IN NEED. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!
Carol I. Picciolo
December 24, 2020 at 3:08 pm
I am so saddened by the story of this Santa Claus. I would gladly donate to help this man. He is a true hero and needs our help although he and Susan would never ask us. God bless the man. How can we donate to help this man?
Darlene Sumner
December 24, 2020 at 3:52 pm
I would gladly help along with all the others maybe we can make alittle difference in this mans Christmas
Peg
December 24, 2020 at 3:59 pm
How can I help him?
What an incredible man
I know his story
The dogs and cats felt his care and compassion and showed him theirs💕
God Bless you kind sir🙏✨
Caroline
December 24, 2020 at 6:02 pm
I’d love to contribute something to this wonderful man.
I don’t have his contact info but if we set up a go fund me, I will contribute.
Alice Hudson
December 24, 2020 at 7:41 pm
This Santa is an amazingly kind individual and should be rewarded in some way!! If only we all could do something that seems so small yet is so big for our fellow humans as well as for the mistreated animals. A wonderful Christmas story of a wonderful human being.
Jude Barnes
December 24, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Oh, how beautiful this dear gentleman is! God bless him.
Nancy
December 24, 2020 at 8:33 pm
We have to help him too. Also set up a bedding and food drive for those poor dogs chained outside.
Amelia
December 24, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Unbelievable! Someone should start a go fund me to help this guy. This is a disgrace that he has not gotten his disability payments. He needs to sue this dog food manufacturer. This manufacturer needs to be exposed so people stop purchasing their products. God Bless Him!
Mary
December 24, 2020 at 11:56 pm
I agree with all the above remarks. Would love to help this kind soul.
Eve
December 25, 2020 at 7:41 am
I agree. His condition I believe can be reversed. A fund needs to be set up and have the man treated using both orthodox and alternative medicine. The fund can help treat this man paying his medical bills and also booking him into a vegan holistic health treat for as long as it takes to help reverse and manage his condition. Using Homeopathy, Naturopathy and organic fresh juicing and herbs will help heal him. Susan slippery elm tree bark powder will help coat body mucus membranes and heals inside out. Please let us know if a fund has been set up for him. Maybe a RAW Pet Food company can start one for him or something.
Maria Allen
December 25, 2020 at 11:43 am
I too would love to help. MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACE ON EARTH
Gloria
December 27, 2020 at 1:47 am
That is really a tender story. The dear animals are so grateful! Yes, yes, wish there were more like him and what can we do to help this man? Can someone start a “go fund me” for him or something like that? And what about the people whose dogs had no warm bedding? They should be arrested for animal cruelty. It’s a felony now, you know. God bless the man who helped!
Bonnie Kopper
December 29, 2020 at 3:57 am
We would like to help this man. Anyway a bounce page could be started?
Dianne & Pets
December 29, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Nominate him for CNN heroes. There is some kind of annual dog heroes award show, he may qualify. His story needs to get out.
Katy
January 7, 2021 at 4:19 pm
So, Susan, did I miss something? Is there a way we can help this gentleman?
Just tell us! We’ll do it!