In the holiday spirit of giving, Tractor Supply Company helped 9-year-old Caroline Lantz, who is battling cancer, by granting her wish of supporting abandoned and neglected dogs. Lantz was surprised with a shopping spree at the Franklin, Tenn. Tractor Supply store. There, she chose supplies that were donated to local nonprofit Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, which provides shelter to sick, neglected, injured and homeless animals. Tractor Supply also made donations to Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue & Sanctuary and Angel Heart Farm, which provides equine therapy to children facing life-threatening or chronic illness.
Lantz was assisted by her brother, Andrew, and the pair selected an array of products for the dogs including food, toys, treats and accessories. Tractor Supply also surprised the siblings with toys and apparel that align with the company’s “Out Here” messaging, which celebrates the rural lifestyle of its customers.
“Caroline could have wished for a trip anywhere in the world, or a shopping spree for herself, but instead she is focused on helping local animals in need,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, Manager of the Tractor Supply Foundation, the retailer’s philanthropic arm, in a statement. “From her infectious smile to her positive spirit, she is a true inspiration to all of us, especially during this holiday season.”
In 2017, Lantz was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nerve tissue that had metastasized throughout her body. Lantz’s shopping spree was organized after Tracy Kujawa, Executive Director of Angel Heart Farms, reached out to the South Franklin Tractor Supply location and Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue & Sanctuary. Kujawa wanted to make Lantz’s wish come true after the pair developed a friendship during therapy sessions at Angel Heart Farms.
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“Caroline is amazing. She is my girl,” said Kujawa in a statement. “As soon as I heard what she wanted to do I decided I was going to make it happen. Nothing was going to stop me. She is such a sweet and brave girl.”
“I don’t understand why any dog is ‘unadoptable,’ because every dog has a heart,” said Lantz in a statement. “This shopping spree was so much fun because people heard my wish for these dogs and made it come true.”
