December 4, 2012 > Wis. mini horse rings bell for Salvation Army Wis. mini horse rings bell for Salvation Army By Carrie Antlfinger, Associated Press WEST BEND, Wis. (AP), Nov 30 - Tinker may be miniature - as in a miniature horse - but he's a big money raiser for the Salvation Army. He uses his mouth to hold and ring a red bell and also picks up with his mouth a ``Thank You Merry Christmas'' sign. He can also bow and give kisses. Major Roger Ross, a Salvation Army commander, said Tinker is one of their biggest money raisers in the area: He brings in 10 times the amount of a regular bell ringer. ``A good kettle for a couple of hours brings in about $250, and for the same time period (Tinker and his owners) have been known to bring in $2,500,'' he said. ``They line up to put money in the kettle.'' The 13-year-old horse, who's brown, black, grey and white, has been ringing for four seasons. ``I actually save up all my donation and give it to Tinker because I have such a soft place in my heart for him,'' said Karen Hammen, who gave money while Tinker stood outside a West Bend craft show on a recent Saturday morning. One of Tinker's owners, Carol Takacs, said she and her husband got Tinker 12 years ago. She said she went to look at a property, fell in love with the miniature horses there and asked that one be part of the deal. ``About three or four years ago I was walking out of a store and there was a bell ringer and I gave,'' she said. ``I started thinking `I wonder if I can, if I can help make this even more interesting.' So I went home and I started working with Tinker.'' His name was Tinker when they got him, Takacs said. ``As fate would have it, I could not have named him more appropriately if I had tried,'' she said. Before appearances, she spends a half-hour vacuuming his mane and fur and puts glitter on his hooves, a bell on his backside and a Santa hat on his head. And - of course - Tinker wears the Salvation Army apron. She also made pins with his face on it - a gift for every $5 donation. While most people are wooed by Tinker and his decorations, she said some don't believe he actually holds and rings the bell. ``We don't do that with Velcro or glue. There's nothing on his bell. He knows that this is his job and he does it very well,'' she said.