He uses his mouth to hold and ring a red bell, and he 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.

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Kohl is the fifth Democratic senator to announce his retirement ahead of the 2012 election.

Republicans will see Kohl's retirement as a clear pickup opportunity. A self-funding millionaire, Kohl also is owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise and widely popular in Wisconsin. Any candidate Democrats run is likely to need more financial support from the national party.

Democrats had thought as recently as last week that Kohl would run again.

"I've always believed it's better to leave a job a little too early than a little too late. And that's how I feel today," Kohl said during a Friday news conference in Milwaukee. "The interest and the energy I have for this job will find a new home at the conclusion of this term."

The 76-year-old Kohl was elected to the Senate in 1988 and never has won an election with less than 52 percent of the vote. Born and raised in Milwaukee, he worked as an investor before founding the Kohl's grocery and department stores that earned him a fortune. He also is widely credited with keeping NBA basketball in the relatively small market of Milwaukee.

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