Lebanon Man Volunteers 7,000 Hours With His Two Therapy Cats

Robert "Smitty" Smith shows up to volunteer every single day with two unusual coworkers: Butters and Snickerdoodle, his beloved cats who travel everywhere with him on a harness and leash.

The Air Force veteran has logged over 7,000 hours of community service in Lebanon, Oregon, working 10 to 14 hours daily despite being displaced and living without electricity. He holds doors at Dollar Tree, helps with carts at Bi-Mart, and volunteers five days a week at SafeHaven Thrift Store doing everything from electronics repair to janitorial work.

"It's pretty hard for the elderly to get into that heavy door, so I hold the door for people, help them take their groceries out, or anything they need from me," Smitty explained.

His feline companions have become local celebrities. Butters, a black cat with a white triangle on his chest, serves as Smitty's unofficial service animal by waking him when his sleep apnea causes breathing problems. Snickerdoodle, a copper and black tortoiseshell, wandered into a loading bay one day and never left his side.

Kids and seniors alike stop to pet the cats and bring treats. People remember the cats' names before his own, but Smitty doesn't mind because "they get great enjoyment out of just petting my cats."

Artist Mary Thorp noticed something special about this quiet man with a servant's heart. She watched him transform as the community showed him kindness, eventually publishing an illustrated children's book called "The Tale of Smitty's Kitties" to share his story.

Sunny's Take

Smitty's motivation runs deeper than gratitude for the truck someone donated or the camper shell that gave him shelter. He wants to set an example for his five daughters, 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

"I want to show them by example that you can fall, but you don't have to stay down," he said.

The community has noticed. When a vehicle struck Smitty last September, firefighters rescued his cat. When another cat went missing, police officers searched until they found her. An autistic child started holding doors for people after watching Smitty do it.

Now he's been nominated for the Frankie Gray "Answering the Call" Distinguished Service Award, which honors outstanding community service. The recognition comes as no surprise to the Lebanon residents who see him every day, rain or shine, making their town a little bit brighter.

For Smitty, who insists he's displaced rather than homeless because "home is where the heart is," Lebanon has become exactly that.

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