Twas the night before Christmas, and all through my house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
No, that’s not true…day or night creatures always stir around here.
With five cats and two dogs, ‘What was that?‘ is often said in fear.
There is Smidge, our senior cat at 16 years strong.
She’s got attitude, it’s her way or the highway, she KNOWS she’s never wrong.
And then there is Mike, our polydactyl boy with extra toes front feet and back.
If something (or someone) falls, it’s probably him, those feet…kitty agility he lacks.
Dali is our only cat that fits the typical cat mold.
She is standoffish, unless she wants something, then she’s a love to behold.
Buster and Murphy (siblings) are the youngest of our kitties,
Buster’s a big boy, easy going and loving, Murphy is tiny, determined and gritty.
Then…add two dogs to all that kitty personality.
The combination can sometimes make me question my mentality!
Gracie – a terrier – is loud, active (REALLY active), and so, so devoted.
She is always at my side, with a watchful eye – barking alerts at all things she’s noted.
Bennie is our youngest, he’s the perpetual happy pup.
He’s a toy collector, needing several at his side, at all times, for backup.
As with any family, there can be arguments and issues (except for Bennie) leaving us quite fraught.
Smidge doesn’t like Dali, Murphy likes to chew on things she should not.
And often Mike wants to play when Buster does not.
As I sit here and write this Christmas poem about my family…
- Smidge is in my lap purring,
- Bennie is telling me he wants to play,
- Mike is pacing about needing a snuggle,
- Gracie is staring…why are you still sitting behind that computer?
- Dali is sleeping somewhere (until an hour before dinner),
- Murphy is in a window looking out,
- And Buster is jumping in and out of a box (making more noise than 10 cats);
…I’m grateful for them all and their individual personalities.
From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Holiday season.
We will continue to fight for safe pet food – their LOVE is our reason.
Susan Thixton & Family
SaraA
December 23, 2024 at 8:37 am
I’ve been waiting for this! Happy Holidays!
Thank you for being you!
Angi
December 25, 2024 at 8:06 am
Thank you for what you do! Merry Christmas to you all!
Sandra Graham
December 23, 2024 at 8:58 am
That was so inventive…..thanks for sharing the unique
family of pets you have. Mine are Standard and toy poodle Bentley and Pepper, parrots Tikki and Rima 32 and 29 yrs old and Shadow black dsh and Blue Max blue dsh. We wish you a Merry Christmas as well.
Mari-anne Whitney
December 23, 2024 at 9:13 am
Merry Christmas to all!
Jerry
December 23, 2024 at 9:14 am
Lovely summary of your fur kids’ personalities. Nothing turns a house into a home like a dog or cat. Thanks for the terrific work you do.
Carol
December 23, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Even though I live in Ontario Canada, I enjoy your videos. You put so much work into them and helping pet people. We don’t have a lot of the food that you talk about, but it is very interesting.
Happy holidays and will look forward to seeing more of you in 2025.
Wendy
December 23, 2024 at 9:39 am
Thank you Miss Susan !!!
We have been your devoted fans for years!!!
Merry Christmas with love from our home to yours 🎄❤️🐾
Love Wendy and my 8 rescued shelter kittyluvs,
Cherry , Ella Starlight, JessieCupcakes,
HeartHope, TippyTwinkiesLoveBlinkies,
MarshieMarshmellow, TerriJoyBeautifulBoy,
RosieRosemary ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🐾🐾
Sallie Baldwin
December 23, 2024 at 9:41 am
Your Bennie looks just like Rally, my granddog, who is over the 🌈 bridge. We miss her., but we have another Papillon granddog, Yowza, who is black and white and 3 years old. He is active in agility. Doing very well.
I have a toy poodle, Kula, who is a lot like Gracie. Not so much active most of the time but always lets us know about any impending problem(very loud). She is 7 years old.
Loved your poem.🎄❤️ Thank you for all your work.🙂
Michele Little
December 23, 2024 at 9:55 am
Love your poem and you are blessed in your framily.
Hope you have a wonderful New Year and keep up the good work.
Please
Marsha
December 23, 2024 at 10:01 am
Very well done. Excellent job!
Bonnie Morris
December 23, 2024 at 6:19 pm
Awe Susan, that’s a lovely introduction. Animals complete us, I think. They seem to make us more compassionate human beings, in my humble opinion. I have a schnauzer named Ditto, a mix breed named Bella Bee and a rescue maltipoo named Harley. They complete me. Thank you so much for what you do. Pet al those lovely creations share your home for me, please.
Judy AZ
December 23, 2024 at 10:16 am
What a beautiful Family!! Love your Christmas Poem. Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy 2025!!
Lynne Holley
December 23, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Adorable poem and so relatable! 😊 Happy Holidays to you and to all!
Sandy
December 23, 2024 at 10:21 am
Susan, It’s me Lady, Sandy’s faithful Shepherd Lab girl. I’m writing to you to express my deepest gratitude and to give you a big slobbery kiss for all that you do for pets! ! I’ve been wagging my tail like crazy thinking about your courage and dedication to justice for our well-being all these years. I wanted to say I have a paws-itively good food now since my owner changed it up thanks to you. I am waiting by the Christmas tree right now cause I smell something new for me. I can’t wait much longer. If I ever get to meet you I will be waiting with my new toy, so you can throw it for me again and again. Merry Christmas to you and all the creatures in your world. woof!
Diane Teed
December 23, 2024 at 10:21 am
Merry Christmas Susan and to your fur family, too!! Thank You for all you do!! Happy New Year!!
Helene
December 23, 2024 at 10:32 am
Happy Holidays to all. What a cute poem. The cook book remains amazing and so easy to use. Many wishes for a kinder more peaceful New Year.
T Allen
December 23, 2024 at 10:40 am
Merry Christmas to you,Susan and your family and furbabies. Thank you again for all you do to help keep our pets safe and healthy. The road just got a lot steeper but with your help we aren’t giving up!
Carol Chakeropulos
December 23, 2024 at 10:41 am
Good luck, Susan! and i know you would not have it any other way! Me too! Your holiday letter with pictures is so wonderful. I thank you again for all you do for all furbabies. My furbabies- Toula & Nia (my boy, Telly, crossed over the rainbow bridge about 4 months ago)… we all wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year 2025! Hoping for more success.
With love and gratitude,
Carol C. & the girls xoxoxox
Angela
December 23, 2024 at 10:42 am
Love the poem. Merry Christmas to the entire Thixton clan!
Nancy Lockman
December 23, 2024 at 11:20 am
Merry Christmas to you and your 4 leggers!🎄
Thank you for everything you do.
A long time fan over in Land O Lakes
Nancy
jan b-b
December 23, 2024 at 11:32 am
LOVE love love the poem! So grateful for all that you do for our pets, Susan………and my 4 oriental shorthairs send love to your felines and canines! Fonzie and Katie, age 12, Carson, age 7, Lena, age 5
and Jan and Sonny
Michele Curtis
December 23, 2024 at 11:37 am
Merry Christmas! May you have a happy holiday season and a wonderful year. Thank you for everything you do. It is very, very appreciated. I just told someone, whom I met in a store while shopping yesterday, about you and your website. Your contribution is a true blessing!
Nancy Wood
December 23, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Thank you for sharing your beautiful animal family. Reading about each one of them made me smile. I am in need of smiles these days. We lost 4 of our 6 cats in 2024 and remain heartbroken. We are still blessed with 2 cats and 1 beautiful dog. Thank you for all the wonderful work you do keeping us aware of pet food problems and dangers. Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, prosperous 2025.
Diane Pichan
December 23, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Thank you for all that you do to help keep our pets happy and healthy.
Merry Christmas to your beautiful family❤️
Sarah
December 23, 2024 at 1:19 pm
LOVE this! And THANK YOU for the great work you do. So many people and pets have benefited from your incredible efforts to keep everyone informed about the corrupt profit-driven pet food corporations (and the federal agency that protects them) who would rather see dogs and cats die than lose a single penny in profit profit profit and more profit. Please keep up the good work. Be well and be lucky in the New Year and that goes for your four-legged family members too.
Joyce McNemar
December 23, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Thank you, Susan, for your tireless work all year on behalf of our pets. Not sure how you had the time to write such a clever poem about your wonderful menagerie, but thank you for sharing it. Merry Christmas to you and yours and best wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year!!! Cheers!
Ronda Faulkner
December 23, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this Susan. Have to say it’s my best Christmas greeting yet! Thank you for everything you do for all of our pets and pet parents.
Merry Christmas from Nova Scotia, Canada
Michelle Zeeman
December 23, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of all these precious souls! Merry Christmas!
Teresa Johnson
December 23, 2024 at 10:11 pm
Happy and Blessed holidays
however you celebrate them.
Mine is not the traditional pet home. I have hedgehogs. 9 to be exact, currently. And one wild caught Bold Jumping Spider who took residency in my kitchen/dining room mid October now residing safely in a custom decorated habitat complete with her own potted plant to climb and hide.
But I do love hearing the stories of any and everyone’s multi species family.
I hope all thrive and the joy they bring our lives outweighs the negative things that creep in. Time cuddling ANY pet is time well spent and does not detract from our lives 💕
Bright Blessings All
Becky Shulda
December 24, 2024 at 2:35 pm
I cannot thank you enough, Susan, for all that you do for pet parents. It was the most charming and loving Christmas card to see your photos and read all about your pet family. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And a meaningful and peaceful Christmas holiday!
K Brewer
December 25, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Thank you for this cute poem, and all you do all year long! Happiest of Holidays to you and your furry crew 🙂