Then while living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Roy's Christmas Day Santa Claus appearance on a crowded beach made the newspaper, with a front-page color photo in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.  Now it's a tradition.  Christmas 2009 was no exception.

For the past eleven years, Roy Haynes has been bringing cheer on Christmas Day to elderly and infirm residents of hospitals and nursing homes.  Many of these folks would have no family or other visitors, even on the holidays.  Roy and furry family members ensure they have the happiest holidays imaginable.

Roy notes:  "We were accompanied by our reinDOG, Sam, who is a humongous, lovable Mastiff we rescued a few months back.  Sam was transported to us by a compassionate individual with his own airplane who volunteers for A.R.F. (Animal Rescue Flights).  During yesterday's visit, one of the nurses told us she had not seen a particular patient-resident smile until he saw Sam!!  This patient was in the Alzheimers ward.  Although his memory was failing, he fondly recalled a family pet from many years ago."

Helping beings in need is hardly a new activity for Roy Haynes.  He and his wife Lisa, a retired professional wrestler, have taken in and loved animals in need at their Huntington, Vermont home.  Their nonprofit rescue is called S.O.S. - VT, for Save Our Strays. 

 These photos were all taken on December 25, 2009 at Birchwood Terrace Healthcare and Starr Farm Nursing Center in the Old North End of Burlington, Vermont.