A Real Santa Claus for Pets – Truth about Pet Food
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)
