Rikki's Refuge: 07/01/2010

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Good Morning Good News!

kerryhilliard.vincent@blogger.comGood Morning Good News!!

I'm getting a little help from some friends while Mommey is visiting her son, so it may look different but it's still me, Vincent!

The Shelter Challenge is a contest where the shelter with the most votes during a several month time frame wins money. The shelter with the most votes in each state wins. We'd been holding on to the number one position for weeks, but we've dropped to number two. The leaders won the last two contests and they got all the money, but there's still time to get ahead of them!

The top ten in the USA win money for that category too. YOU can move us into top place!! YOU can make us WIN. You've already saved our lives, now make us winners.

All you have to do is vote for us every day. It's free. Not one penny. And they don't send you junk email or anything. You can go to our web page, www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the $100,000 challenge. Or you can use this quick little link- http://bit.ly/bDLKJY

Please keep voting every day and telling your friends to vote. Don't let me lose the contest if I can't send you Good Morning Good News every day for a bit. The contest is over Aug 22, but Mommey will be back way before then! Don't you worry. Just keep voting.

From Research Dog to Beloved Therapy Animal

Joey had a difficult start in life. His first 13 months were spent as a "practice dog". He accepted his fate unflinchingly, and became known in the lab for his friendly, laid-back temperament.Then something incredible happened. Britt Mactavish, a student on
campus at the time, heard about Joey and made arrangements to adopt
him!

Joey had never been loved. He didn't know what treats were, was
terrified of stairs and hadn't been housebroken. But Britt knew
he was special. In an amazing show of dedication and patience, she
spent the next six months using positive reinforcement to train Joey
and teach him how to trust people.

Today, Joey is thoroughly enjoying his new life. Not only has he fully
recovered from his past, but he and Britt are making a difference in
their community as one of American Humane's animal-assisted
therapy teams.

http://site.americanhumane.org/site/R?i=rLKGliFOF_6ldoo2-uoNJw..

This dynamic duo regularly visits schools, where children read to Joey
to improve their literacy skills. Joey is beloved by everyone who
meets him. Britt reports that the adorable beagle happily lies down
among the kids and basks in their attention, teaching humane values
while they practice reading.

He also has an uncanny sense for when a child's attention is
waning. He somehow knows when to get up and engage those who lose
focus. With one look from Joey, their attention quickly returns to
reading, listening and learning.

What a happy ending for a great dog!

Good Morning Good News!

kerryhilliard.vincent@blogger.comGood Morning Good News!!

I'm getting a little help from some friends while Mommey is visiting her son, so it may look different but it's still me, Vincent!

The top ten in the USA win money for that category too. YOU can move us into top place!! YOU can make us WIN. You've already saved our lives, now make us winners.

From Research Dog to Beloved Therapy Animal

http://site.americanhumane.org/site/R?i=rLKGliFOF_6ldoo2-uoNJw..

What a happy ending for a great dog!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 22, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Mom is visiting her hooman son, James, and grandkids.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4817475909/

She'll be bringing the grandkids back to live with her for a few years.
Her son is going on a sailing trip around the world!!!! Her Dad and
Brother are already in Thailand getting the boat ready. Soon they will
set sail for great adventures.

They want mom to go, but she won't go away and leave us for that long.

She is gonna do some diving with James before she comes home though.
They're going out on a boat today. Sounds scary to me. Sharks are really
big and they have really big teeth. Mom says the only time she stops
worrying about me and all the kitties and doggies and rabbits and
birdies and everybody in the world is 200 ft 500 psi and 34 sharks. I
don't know what all that means but it sure sounds scary to me!

More sharks are eaten by people every year than people eaten by sharks.
My mommey never eats nobody so you don't think they'll eat her do you?
Pray for my mommey to come home safe and not eaten. Even if she is
taking MY puter on the boat.

Some of my nice friends have said I can use theirs when they come to
visit. Hope they visit me a lot !!!

Please keep voting every day and telling your friends to vote. Don't
let me lose the contest if I can't send you Good Morning Good News every
day for a bit. The contest is over Aug 22. I'll be back way before
then! Don't you worry. Just keep voting.

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
Oh look! I'm a fish today!!! Maybe I'll go swim with mommey!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214298/

I think I'd really love the ocean if it didn't have all that water in
it. Then it's just be sand and fish !!!! Yum yum scratch scratch .....

Rene tells me her sister found out she doesn't have chromosome defects,
which means she has a better chance of being cured of the brain tumor.
They still won't call it cancer, but have her doing chemo pills &
radiation for another 5 weeks. At least it's good news. Thanks for the
prayers!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727204992/
Come play with me at Funland on Saturday to play games and raise money
for Rikki's Soz I can buy some Fancy Feast. Check diz out
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/funland%20day.html

Have you entered the best pet in the world in the photo contest yet?
YOUR pet could be on our calendar!!!! Hurry, the deadline is coming
close. There are some great entries - but is the BEST in yet????
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/2010photocontest.html

The nice produce stand on rt 3 in Fredericksburg, VA, USA is giving is
their left over produce again this summer. Please contact Jane
janew@infionline.net if you can help with pick ups. As much as we'd
like to see her every day, she just can't do it every day, she's got
kitties to take care of too !!!! I think their schedule is very
flexible and we leave totes there - so you just pick it up and it's nice
and clean and can go in a car for the trip to Rikki's Piggies !!!!

Jean shares her embarrassing pet story with us. I was having a women
only wedding shower at my house. Towards the end of the shower my
husband came in with our 2 year old dog, 70 pound, husky mix, Eddie.
Eddie was so excited to see everyone and wanted to give them kisses.
Terry was the maid-of-honor and she is also has a pet sitting business
and all dogs love her. Terry was wearing a type of low cut peasant
blouse. Eddie jumped up on her to kiss her and his paws pulled down her
top to reveal she wasn't wearing a bra. My husband was the only male
there and he then told her he trained Eddie to do that.

Leah sent me this note: Hiya Vincent! If one of your hoomans is up in
Culpeper ask if they could stop by Mama Mai's. I have a jar for you all
but I am working 6 days a week 12 hrs a day so I can't get down there. I
am certain there is at least $100 in there probably more.

Can YOU please pick it up so I can buy Fancy Feast?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Leah-Bodo/100000044858287#!/profile.php?id=100000044858287
This is her facebook contact or just go to Mama Mai's in Culpeper and
tell them you're from Rikki's!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvv5gL1pGb0
And at Rikki's we KNOW there ARE chickens in the trees. We've also
learned - the hard way - that's it's not real bright to sit under the
chicken tree!!!!

Do me a BIG favor today, Please? Be somebody's HERO ?

I love you,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 18, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

No blood in my pee this morning and mom says that's the bestest new ever
!!!!!

Let's go for a long bike ride. I have a specially made tricycle I love
riding !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4804903472/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696213934/
Roooooaaaaarrrrr I'm a lion again today. Maybe tomorrow I'll be a pig
- I love being a pig !!!

Who'd you ask to vote today?
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Today my friend Boob is my HERO.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4804284063/
Yesterday was his birthday and he's a kind a loving kitty and he asked
his friends to donate to Rikki's for his birthday!! Wasn't that nice?
They donated enough to feed us for more than two whole days. ALL of
us!! All 1259 of us !!!! Isn't that wonderful.

I love having heroes. It feels so good to know there's somebody out
there caring and looking out for you. And it can be such a little act
that makes you somebody's hero. Adopt. Feed a stray. Take somebody
to the speuter clinic. I just can't stop humming this song !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMzW3LIkNLA

A pat on the head, a smile, just a couple minutes lending a helping
hand. Reach out and be a hero today !!!!

Who's hero will YOU be today ?

I love you,
Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Thank you all for the wonderful Golf Tournament yesterday!!!! Lots and
lots of you had fun fun fun!!!!

The Good News is that I'm feeling much better and peeing fine this
morning. I got really sick on the way to the Golf Tournament yesterday
and didn't get to go. Boo hoo. Thank you all for taking over and
making it a wonderful event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696213934/
Roooooaaaaarrrrr I'm a lion today. How fitting!! KING of the jungle,
KING of Rikki's, KING of the whole planet!!!

Maybe so with YOU voting for me. This is getting exciting. We're
getting ahead. We're moving up and up and it's all cause you take that
time to vote for me every day!!! Just a little over a month to go !!!!!

Ask just one more friend to vote today.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

GO HOKIES GO !!!!! Thanks Larry for telling your friends. You're my
HERO!! See how much we moved up since you did!!!!!

Gotta run, while it's this hot we all try to get as much done as early
as possible so all my brofurs and sisfurs can rest quiet during the hot
part of the day!!!

I love you,
Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 14, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214230/
Oink oink oink I'm a piggy today !!!!! I get to eat all the Fancy Feast
I want. My hooman has to stand by ready to use those thumbs. Yum yum
yum !!! I'm a piggy today !!! Oink oink oink !!!!

Let's all vote together now !!!!! We'll win money to get more food to
feed more critters!!! Money saves lives!!! Happy dance !!! Dance just
like we will when they announce us as the top place winner !!! Happy
Dance Happy Dance .....
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Pweeeeehhh that was hard work !! Now we bet to pig out on a snack !!!!!
Num num num Num num num .. Happy animals have lots of good food.
Voting wins lots of good money!!! Good money buys delicious food.
Happy Dance Happy Dance ......

You ARE coming to the Golf Tournament on Friday aren't you! I've got
room for ONE more team. Sign up NOW. You can sign up as a tem or as an
individual or two .... Come chase balls with me ..... Happy Dance
.... Wonderful sandy rest stops ..... Happy Dance .... Email me NOW
to sign up so I can save a slot for you !!!!!!

Who'd a guessed he'd fit ???????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RbugqfpZhM

Oscar, the British cat who steals underwear, reported to police by his
owners
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4793156264/

Oscar the cat has been reported to police by its owners for stealing
underwear.

Forget catnip. This frisky feline has a penchant for frilly undies.

Seems Oscar, a 13-year old British kitty, has been swiping his neighbors
unmentionables - and just about anything else he can get his paws on.

"He was very proud that he had found these presents for us and would
drop them at our feet," Owner Peter Weismantel, 72, of Southampton, told
the Daily Mirror.

So far, the fuzzy cat burglar has swiped more than 70 items, from socks
to rubber gloves. Last week, he brought home 10 pairs of children's
underwear.

Worried that their neighbors would suspect something more perverse was
afoot, Weismantel reported klepto kitty to the police.

"The officer I spoke to thought it was pretty amusing, but he could see
why I was worried," Weismantel said.

He and his wife, Birgitt, have been fostering Oscar since last
Christmas. Despite his naughty knicker thieving habit, the couple still
plan to adopt him.

"He's got a lovely personality," Birgitt Weismantel, 56, said. "If
anyone is missing any underwear, it would be good to put their minds at
rest that it's only a cat pinching them and not someone more unpleasant."

The couple has held on to the pilfered items in hopes of one day
reuniting them with their rightful owners.

Oscar, meanwhile, remains on the prowl.

Mommey says a cat like that was responsible for one of the most
embarrassing moments in her life. She had a kitty who loved to drag
silky things (not real silk cuz mom don't use stuff made out of real
animals) all over the house. Back then she had like these stacking
basket things she kept undies and sox in and all. I know, I can see how
many of you are laughing and thinking - and did she ever have anything
DRY to wear? That's before she caught kitty fever and started rescuing
us so she only had a few well behaved kitties. Well sort of well
behaved. At least not peeing on the laundry!!!!

So mommey is real young, a shy little thing - ha I can't imagine!!! And
this hooman boy asked her out. So when they come back and mom opens the
door here's her undies draped all over the couch and on the floor in the
living room. Mom about died!!! She never saw that guy again either!!!!

Tell me your most embarrassing story caused by a kitty or doggie or
other critter! One that you laugh about now!

Lovely picture from Conscious Grubs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4793225460/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4793225382/
I don't discriminate! I get more pictures and stories about cats sent
to me!!!!

Love and Peace to you - have a wonderful day !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4792590957/
I seez you tomorrow.

I love you,
Vincent

PS Could you be a hero and adopt somebody today? Pleeze lots of kitties
and doggies and others in pounds and shelters who will love you forever
if you give them a home.

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 13, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4693628803/
Ok, it's mutiny time! I need your help! We've got to join forces to
change this "rule" that cats are the last to get to use the computer!
It's gotta change - if I have absolutely nothing else to say to anybody
then and only then may the hooman touch MY computer! Gotta vote quick
while the hooman is away!

http://bit.ly/...bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

You know you can vote from any place on the planet? If you can connect
to internet - you can vote!

I got a Siamese kitty just like my friend Sirikit, who's learned to be a
really cool cat no matter how hot it is this summer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mqZxCFZI4Y

Here's a sneak peek of some of what we're auctioning at the Golf
Tournament on Friday - still time to sign up to come !!! And you don't
have to play golf - you can just come to play !!!! If you want to see
the rest of the wonderful gifts to be auctioned, then you'll have to
come! http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/GolfAuction2010.html.

More cute kitties!!!
http://www.flixxy.com/seagull-and-cat.htm

And some other species to round out the day !!!
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7454755&syndicate=syndicate&section
See, we all CAN be friends, no matter what! Love your neighbor,
especially if they're a stray critter!

I love you, even if you aren't a stray!
Vincent

PS oh poo, mommey said she just found a bunch of e-mails in the junk
folder that are from some of you - she doesn't know why things are going
in there. Somebody complained things were bouncing back cuz it was
full. Things are still coming in - but she did clean lots out too.
Others things are coming in from the same people that some got junked.
I don't get computers. I'm a cat. Not a computer genius. Fred
probably knows what's wrong. Anyway most of the junk ones seemed to be
end of June early July - so if you need mommey and haven't heard please
send it again.

She says her brains is discombobulated but she's working really hard to
catch up. That's what SHE says. I think she's just trying to keep ME
off the puter. I REALLY REALLY want my own puter. Pleezzzeeee.

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Starting off to a cool morning !!!!! It's gonna be a cool, wonderful,
fabulous, fun day !!!! Isn't it wonderful to have another happy fun day
on planet earth??? I love you planet earth!!! Thanks for letting me
stay on board!!!

And know why I get to stay? Cuz of YOU!! YOU YOU YOU !!! You are my
HERO !!! You saved me and you let me live !!!!! Thank you, every one
of you animal rescuers out there. Every life you save DOES make a
difference. A great big huge difference!!! Thank you for working so
hard for us !!!!

Help me gallop to the finish line !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4695579481/
It's so terribly important that you keep voting every day, in every way,
thru August 22. Oh just think is we win more animals get to live !!!!
It's so wonderful. All you have to do is click away on your computer,
your phone, your what ever connects to the internet. Get every body to
do it. Stop in at libraries, internet cafes, even places like Panera
Bread that let you internet while you eat, and hand every body on
computers a little note asking them to vote. If every one of you
rounded up just one more daily voter we'd have it made paws down !!!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you - I LOVE you so much for helping me to win!!!!

Your turn to vote now!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

PS if you don't want to vote every day for me - would you please send a
lap top to one of us so we can work on voting for you! Thank you, from
the 1258 animals without computers at Rikki's!

Ugg my hooman is on this like maximusously grody diet. It's called no
time to go grab food, eat what pops by. Soon I think she'll be eating
flies. At least I think that'd be better than what she's getting. I
don't understand her. She's one of dem vegavores so she don't eat none
of the good stuff!! Well , that's ok, it leaves all the Fancy Feast for
me !!! Yesterday for breakfast she had carrot ginger soup Candy gave
her - sounds like she wants to be a rabbit or something. Rene wants mom
to be a rabbit too, she brought a garden fresh salad and watermelon and
raspberry sorbet. I think her ears are getting longer ......

You should see how big the baby piggies are getting!!! Even little
runty has doubled in size. Though the big pink guy is about 12 x the
size he was born and his black bro about 8x. Amazing. They eat like
pigs!!!!! Don't sit down in front of them for long !!!!!

Hey did you know Fancy Feast is on sale at Target for 32 cents a can?
If you know anybody who'd like some ........

Do you like smelly flea drops? I really hate getting them. Uhh Ickkkk
no wonder the doggies go roll in goat poo. It does smell better. But I
ain't gonna roll in goat poo cuz I gotta wash my own fur off and yuck
... just the thought makes me want to roll in Fancy Feast !!!!

Every month mom makes all us cats and dogs get flea drops. I guess it's
a lot better than having them bedbugs. It's just about an all day job
to put them on all of us too. Lots of us run and bite and scratch. But
it's one of those "Hooman knows best things" so they force us into it.

Be my HERO and don't let the begbugs bite me !!!!!
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/one-month-of-flea-and-tic-prevention-for-the-dogs-and-cats

Golf Tournament on Friday !!!! Come join us !!! I'm so excited to get
out and chase a little ball all turn the grass. And they have the
bestest rest stops along the way - here and there, great huge clean
white sand boxes!!!! Just a fabulous place to spend your day.

I've got room for four more teams and one team that needs their 4th
player, somebody just found out they can't make it.

Wanna play golf??
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/i-want-to-play-golf-at-the-tournament-95

Got a team?
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/my-team-of-four-want-to-play-golf-at-the-tournament-375

Just join us for lunch and the fun and festivals, door prizes and live
auction hosted by Miss Virginia!!!
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/lunch-at-the-golf-tournament-and-festival-25

Or if you can't come at all but would like to help make it a success!!!
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/sorry-ill-miss-the-golf-tournament-and-festival-but-i-want-to-make-it-a-success

Well I see the hooman coming. That means breakfast is served to all my
1258 brofurs and sisfurs and now she'll give me SECONDS if I get off the
puter !!!!

See you all later - love you whole lots - hope to see you Friday !!!!

I love you,
Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Hooman's out for a sec so I got the puter!!!! I'm gonna drag it out to
a dog house and see how long it takes her to find us.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4732290437/

SHE has run out to warm up a cup of Carrot Ginger soup - like grody to
the max, if she thinks I'm eating THAT for lunch she's got another think
comin ....

Thanks you all for feeding her and keeping her out my stash of Fancy
Feast !!!! And thank to you all who brought me Fancy Feast yesterday!

Hey I voted and I'm a bear today !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4783289520/
Grrrr invite me to your piiickaaaaniiiick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4783289456/
I may not be as civilized as the dawggies ....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4751216459/
but I'm much more polite than a goat!!!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4132905453
(ps, Animal Rights Disclaimer: this is a computer picture a friend
made, we do not let anybody do this to our real goats! Nothing to worry
about, honest!)

So it's your turn to vote now!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Thank you so so so much for being my HERO and making me win !!!
All it takes is your vote every day thru Aug 22!!!!

It's a chilly day today !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4782539515/
I'm glad I'm a furBEARer!! Ha ha, get it, I'm a bear today too !!!
Bet it'll warm up though. Yesterday was Delightful Ducky weather in the
morning. Lots and lots of much needed rain.

It cooled it off for all the volunteers coming to work !!!!

And for Lena's 5th Anniversary party it was beautiful !!!! She was so
happy!!! It was really really nice of all of you to send her presents
and cards!!!!

Don't forget your ticket to win a boat !!!! www.RikkisRefuge.org

And be sure to put my Birthday Party on your calendar too. Ok, well
it's Rikki's birthday party but we're the same age!! Rikki's will be 12
years old on August 15th!!!! So we're having a big party. Visit ME and
all the critters and veggie barbque and Greg Allen music and lots of
fun. Please plan to be there.

Uh oh ... I hear biped foot steps .......

(((( Vincent, VINCENT, VINCENT D. CAT, hand over the puter NOW! ))))

Mawwmmm !!! How'd you find me that quick?

(((( The cord my dear, the cord running from the outlet on MY desk .....
))))

Oh poo, I hate getting outsmarted by the bipeds. Remind me to use the
battery next time. See ya later.

I love you, even is SHE's gonna take me puter away,
Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Friday, July 09, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 9, 2010

It's NOT my fault !!!! The HOOMAN is to blame !!!

I did not forget YOU

I did not stop loving YOU

I did not remove YOU from the list

THAT hooman removed ME from the 'puter !!!

The nerve of her!!!

I've only got a minute to vote and say hi wile mom goes off to clean up
the blood.

Thank you Snickers!!! I've told you Snickers is a ..... Oh I better not
say that, I don't want my mouth washed out with soap...

When mom's pulling her hair out with paper work she has it all over her
desk. The papers, not her hair. A pile of this here and that there and
envelopes and checks and labels and this great big mess. Mom calls it
organized piles and says it's important to match things up. Oh, the
silly things hoomans busy themselves with. If you can't eat it, what's
the point!!!!

Snickers likes to lay claim to any pile of papers, or anything else, on
the desk. So she sits on one pile and mom needs something and tells her
to move, Snickers won't, she just growls and starts putting the ears
back. In mom's defense, she does ask nicely a few times.

Then she reaches out and tries to pull a piece from under Snickers and ..

well this is how she acts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4454539347/

and Snickers slashes mom.

Oh Dang, mom's on her way back, must not a been that bad, just a couple
Band-Aids. Come on Snickers, you can do better than that!! If she
needed stitches I'll have the puter for hours!!!!

Hey I voted and I'm a doggy today !!! Woof Woof Woof

Vote NOW so you don't forget !!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

THANKS to YOU we're in the top ten in the nation!!! Gosh you all are
wonderful!!! Keep voting every day and get all your friends to vote.
Don't be shy, these votes are saving lives!!!!

Mom says I should say thank you too all of you who made donations to
help us keep the 'ectricity on and to make enough payments so they
didn't repossess me and the feed store even said they'll deliver two
more weeks before they yell at mommey again.

And I want to say thank you to all of you who helped to fill my pantry
!!!! Yippee. And of course the Bread Fairy and the Pumpkin Princess
who has other delicacies this time of year, and all the produce picker
uppers and food bank fetchers and broken bag haulers!!! It takes
everyone of you doing your share to keep us happy and healthy, and I
thank you !!!! You all is the bestest hoomans on the planet - and
YOU're my HERO !!!!

Gotta run - I see a bush in the shade with my name on it !!!!

Love you, each and every one of you, very very much,
Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 4th 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4755827727/
It's the Fourth of July !!!! Happy Dance!! Tour today at Noon

Vote NOW so you don't forget if you're having an exciting day !!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Cat Seye: HEY EVERYONE..remember this week I posted about an older cat
who was dumped by her former humans who were hateful and told the
shelter to euthanize her because she was not friendly and didnt like
anything...and she was giving up on life in the shelter? WELL lucky she
had photos taken and posted and guess what? ...SHE HAS A NEW LOVING HOME
WITH A FANTASTIC LADY IN TX AND A NEW BROTHER! HER NEW NAME IS
JAYDA..and she is HOME!!!..here are a few of her old pics and then her
NEW ones in her first days of being home she was adopted on the 2nd, so
hurray for JAYDA in her new home with her new furbrother and new furever
mommy Nichole.....

Working together we make Happy Tails !!!! So glad Jayda has a hero !!!

Cat Cafe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_cafe
A cat cafe is a theme cafe whose attraction is cats that can be watched
and played with. Patrons pay a cover fee, generally hourly, and hence
cat cafes can be seen as a form of supervised indoor pet rental.

Cat cafes are quite popular in Japan, with Tokyo being home to at least
39 cat cafes. A pioneer is Cat's Store, which opened in 2005. The
popularity of cat cafes in Japan is attributed to many apartments
forbidding pets, and to cats providing relaxing companionship in what
may otherwise be a stressful and lonesome urban life; other forms of pet
rental are also common in Japan.

-----we at Rikki's can verify that it's very relaxing to eat lunch with
35 felines dancing on your table!!!!

There are various cat cafes. Some cat cafes feature specific categories
of cat such as black cats, fat cats (---Purrrfect for a cafe!), rare
breed cats or ex-stray cats.

Japanese cat cafes feature strict rules to ensure cleanliness and animal
welfare, in particular seeking to ensure that the cats are not disturbed
by excessive and unwanted attention, such as by young children or when
sleeping. Many cat cafes also seek to raise awareness of cat welfare
issues, such as abandoned and stray cats.

Be safe and have fun today. Who's hero will YOU be today?

Love, Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 3, 2010

Lot's of folks out working today !!! Tile board going up in the
quarantine building!!!

I'm a beautiful blue tang fishy today !!! Mom says she'd trade me
places!!!! She likes to swim with dem fishes - ME? Iz stay on dry land!!

No matter where you are - please vote for Rikki's today!!

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Tour TOMORROW at Noon !!!!

I have spectacular news for you !!!! I'm gonna give you a great big
bonus !!!!
Boat Raffle tickets now $1 - that's right - $1 for one ticket.
$5 for 6 tickets.
WOW your chances are even better.
Get your ticket NOW http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Yeah!! You heard me right!! At Rikki's Refuge $1 could buy you a
boat!!!

The boat is a 14 foot aluminum hull Somkercraft 1998. The trailer is a
one axel 1997 Sealion.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699078005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699708218/

For ONLY $1 you could be driving this boat away after the Open House on
August 15th !!! This could be the luckiest buck you spend all summer !!!

$1 buys you one ticket. $5 buys you 6 tickets!!!! Splurge - it's all
to feed the animals !!!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
Be sure to comment that's it's for the boat raffle.

Can you help me sell tickets or post flyers? Let me know:
Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Have a fun fun fun 4th of July. I'm all ready !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4755827727/

Love, Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Friday, July 02, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 2, 2010

Bet you thought I was gonna forget about you today !!!! NO NO NO NEVER
NEVER NEVER

It's been a busy busy day !!!!! I think when the weather is so nice it
keeps us running and playing all day and before you know it - POOF -
it's almost dark !!!!! Maybe the sunlight makes you feel more energy so
you never slow down !!!!!

Ya all vote now !!!

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Tour Sunday at Noon !!!! Visit Vincent !!! See Vincent. See Vincent
Scoot. See Vincent Scoot to You. See Vincent Scoot to You for Treats
!!! Please come on the tour and visit me !!!

The Free Lance Star was out today doing an article about James who works
here. He's an accupressurist too. They also talked to all of us and
took lots of pictures and were here for hours !!!!!

Good Morning and Good NIGHT all at the same time !!!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and BE SAFE.

Love, Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

RIKKI’S REFUGE - HAIRBALLS AND HAPPY TAILS JULY 1, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4654847890/
The newsletter of thanks from grateful animals to their beloved rescuers
brought to you by Vincent D. Cat

We are the happy animals of Rikki's Refuge who so thank you for giving
us the gift of our lives. We represent all the animals, the world over,
whose lives have been saved by kind and loving people just like you.
Thank you for being an animal rescuer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I'M PRAYING THAT YOU WILL HELP ME!
SATURDAY, JULY 3rd WORK PARTY
TOUR THIS SUNDAY - JULY 4th
NEXT SATURDAY IS LENA'S FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
EXCERPTS FROM VINCENT'S DIARY
FUNLAND & FRIENDS WITH COLOR PRINTERS!!!
GREAT BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO VOICES FOR ANIMALS
WINCHESTER VIRGINIA USA, LOVELY BARN CAT NEEDS HOME
SUNNYSIDE - for a wonderful musical evening
GOLF TOURNAMENT and FESTIVAL July 16th
OWN YOUR VERY OWN BOAT FOR ONLY $5
EXOTIC TEA !!!!
IS YOUR PET CALENDAR MATERIAL?
THANK YOU
CURRENT NEEDS
NOW YOU DID VOTE, RIGHT?
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK
THE FINE PRINT

I'M PRAYING THAT YOU WILL HELP ME!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4742787593/

The Shelter Challenge is a contest where the shelter with the most votes
during a several month time frame wins money. The shelter with the most
in each state wins. Right now we're number one, but the guys who are
number 2 are catching up really fast, and they won the last two contests
and they got all the money. I think it's time to share !!!!

The top ten in the USA win money for that category too. We're #11. YOU
can move us into top place!! YOU can make us WIN. You've already saved
our lives, now make us winners.

All you have to do is vote for us every day. It's free. Not one penny.
And they don't send you junk email or anything. You can go to our web
page, www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the $100,000 challenge. Or you
can use this quick little link http://bit.ly/bDLKJY

You'll enter our identifying information as Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA,
USA - note no apostrophe in Rikki's - it will look us up on the list and
then ask you to click VOTE to cast your vote for us. You then must
perform a simply identification of an animal to verify you are hooman.
For example when they show a picture of a White Tiger - you must think
simple and type just TIGER, Siamese Cat is just CAT and so forth.

Please vote as much as the rules allow. that's one per day per person
per device. So you can vote at home, on your phone and at work. Even
at the library is you stop in !!!!! But you can't vote twice on the
same day, same device cuz it remembers your cookies!!!

SATURDAY, JULY 3rd WORK PARTY
Come and help Ron, Director of Serving Cats, hang the tile board in the
new Quarantine Room. 11 am till .......... If you're skilled
that's great. If not he'll teach you all you need to know for a case of
canned cat food !!!!!

TOUR THIS SUNDAY - JULY 4th
Tour on Sunday July 4th at noon - gates open at 11:30. Tours last about
2 hours and dress for the weather - it's all outside !!! YES you'll get
to see the piggies!!!! Admission is two cans of cat food per person -
but it's best to bring a case of Fancy Feast for me !!!!!

NEXT SATURDAY IS LENA'S FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Lena Stocks, Sanctuary Manager and Chief Medical Officer has been here
protecting our animals for five year !!!! She's a really good critter
mommey!! I love Lena. On Saturday July 10th at 3 pm we're going to
have a little celebration for her. Just a little cake, a few gifts and
big congratulations!!!

If you appreciate Lena and all her hard work - you are invited to come.
If it's too far for you to stop in for a few minutes you can send her
a card, a small gift (she loves frogs, dogs and all of us, green and
blue, and has quite a few dogs and cats of her own and three
granddaughters - hooman - from 1 to 5), a tip or a gift card (Petsmart
please cuz she always uses those for us!). Send it to me, so she
doesn't get it early and has lots of presents to open at her party!
Vincent D. Cat (LS)
10910 Barr Ln
Rapidan VA 22733

EXCERPTS FROM VINCENT'S DIARY
Monday 10 am
Working at Rikki's is always filled with fun and excitement and
unexpected events !!!! We never, just never, get bored here !!!!

And the closer mom is to a deadline and trying to work to keep it ......
The more likely it is to be an exciting day!!!!

I could play 20 questions with you all day and you'd never guess what
Valerie discovered on rounds this morning!! Never !!!! Should I tell
you - or make you play ?????

About the size of two, maybe three cans of Fancy Feast and it goes
squeak squeak oink oink squeak squeak ........

WHAT??? Bella has babies????? From WHERE!!!!! The guys are all
fixed and she doesn't even live with any of them. She and Lola hate the
other pigs and they have their own home. Roaming wild boar????

Hmmm how long has she been here ...... When was that last snow storm?
She arrived during that, a pet who kept escaping and getting arrested by
animal control. They took her home that day and her folks said aww just
keep her. So here's poor ACO Trish with a pig on her livestock trailer
and it's COLD and there's tons of snow on the ground AND they already
had another pig waiting to come to Rikki's. He'd been neutered and was
waiting till that "adjustment" time was up for him to come.

Beau a big pink guy with a black head had been a stray. Very friendly.
Neutered and roll. Literally. So she headed back to the shelter,
rounded up a crew of deputies and loaded Beau onto the trailer too.

Mom was busy out side taking care of all the snowy issues and didn't get
the phone call ..... At 4:30 pm all the animals were taken care of and
safely bedded up for the night and mom said the staff could go on and
leave in the hopes they'd get home safely before the roads got too icy.
Just as they were getting in the car ............

........... a couple sheriff cars and animal control truck hauling a
trailer pulls in. Mom's like HUH???? Lucky for everybody we have a
great friendly crew and everybody pitched in to help.

We couldn't even get to our usual pig quarantine pens. So we cleared a
path to Emu Estates. Had to dig out a house - remember it was about 3
feet deep - dig an area around the house cuz 3 feet is way over Bella or
Beau's head. Get bedding and food and water and get them all set up for
the night.

That was about 114 days ago. After seeing the babies this morning, Mom
came screaming into the office, "what is pig gestation?" I'm very smart
you know, I read the dictionary in my spare time, so I said, "gestation
means how long you're pregnant, it's the length of time ..." And she
said, "shut up smarty pants, let me get my chart out of my desk. Hmmmm
112-116 days. Today is ..... Bella arrived ..... Ah ha".

Now the next panic is, of course, was it Beau or was it before? Is that
why Bella went wondering that fateful day? Or Beau ...... So mom
went chasing Beau around for a feelie and found nothing. See mom run
.... See Beau run .... See mom run .... See Beau squeal ..... I think
I should write books, what do you think?

Mom didn't find any "goods" and so she called the shelter and Trish and
they definitely verified seeing him neutered and the "goods" being
removed. Pweeeee God willing the other female pigs ...... Bella must
have been out street walking, picking up guys, when Trish arrested her.

Monday 11 am
Mom and crew are working on fencing and all kinds of things needed now
for itty bitty baby pigs. they are about the size of 12 week old kittens.

Monday 11:14 am
Welcome to the world little one !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743715986/

Monday 11:16 am
Hi MOM !!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743716118/

Monday 1:40 pm
Refuge Rule 14,786: When working at Rikki's Refuge, ALWAYS keep a clean
change of clothes in your car !!!!! Valerie was helping Bella move
into her new home. Hint: pigs LOVE to roll in mud. Pigs cannot be
picked up by the scruff of the neck. Pigs don't willingly go where you
tell them to!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743079465/

Monday 4:43 pm
Mom isn't taking well to this baby thing, the babies seem a bit thin
too, they needed some extra warmth and bottle feeding.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743079617/

Monday 4:46 pm
Snuggy babies!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743079823/

Monday 4:48 pm
This is the active little one !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743079993/

Monday 7:04 pm
They've all taken to the bottle very well. The runt is getting fed twice
as often. The others are climbing on mom and sucking her shirt. Bella is
sleeping well in the nursery we set up for her, lots of soft bedding,
she seems not to feel too good this evening. Hoping she's just tired and
confused. Convincing her to get in the truck to go to the vet is no easy
task!!! Anybody up for the 12-4 am shift? My heroes Kristy, Beth and
Katarina all volunteered to help with night shift.

Monday 8:16 pm
The last litter of pigs we had was in 2000, the littlest one had
problems and was treated with homeopathy by Dr Pitcairn. Her name was
changed as she grew into an elegant lady, she's now Frieda and still
lives with us!

Do you remember 10 years ago on a snowy Christmas Eve when Charlotte,
the one too young to possibly be pregnant when she arrived, gave birth
to four breach babies!!! The runt of that litter, now known as
Frieda, she started life as Little Tar Baby cuz she was just a speck of
black! She became a world famous pig when Dr. Pitcairn cured her
incurable malformed legs using homeopathy!
http://www.drpitcairn.com/homeopathy/Cases/tarbaby.html

Monday 8:21 pm
Well I have to go now. I have to help mommey bottle the babies. I can be
a good kitten daddy. I'll try to be a good piggy daddy. When we had baby
piggies before I couldn't help cuz I'd just come here too and I was
still really sick. Nighty night - pray we don't get any other excitement
like this tomorrow !!!!!

Tuesday 7:52 am
In Search Of - a new home. Must be QUIET environment - no squealing
babies, especially no piglets. Must have other mature cats for friends.
Must feed large quantities of luxury food, specifically Fancy Feast.
Cozy beds a must. Will purr and nuzzle ears in exchange. Must be willing
to over look ... um .... hmmm ... um... ... well .... little accidents.
call 1-800-SAV-VINCT

Tuesday 9:38 am
First thing on the 'puter every morning I vote in the Shelter Challenge.
I sure hope you do too!! (http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange
VA USA) Ahhh I'm a frog today !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214360/

That sounds peaceful. Think I'll slip out of here and go down to the
creek. Packing my lunch cuz I'm eating Fancy Feast NOT flies today !!!
The piglets want to nurse mommey, their mommey Bella. Bella looks at
them charging for her and head butting her nipples and she runs
screaming. I don't blame her!!! And dang, the little black guy's tusks
are sharp!!!

If Bella has "assistance" staying still they'll nurse, but she starts
breathing hard and it pulls the nipples out of their mouths. We'll try
again a little later - maybe the mother instinct will kick in. Bella
should have thought about the outcome of going street walking back in
February. Not only did it make her a stray and got her arrested and
disowned, now it's got her piggies!!!

Tuesday 11:05 am
We survived the first night nursing the babies!! Mom fed the little
runt - and siblings - every hour - all night long. The GOOD NEWS is
they may only need that 3-10 days!! DAYS not even weeks !!!! Yippee
!!!!! The itty bitty runt is taking a couple licks of milk by himself
now.

Turn the volume up ALL the way to imagine the sounds of the hungry ones.
These were just fed! But LOOK the itty bitty teeny tiny runt takes a
drink on his own !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V036Ip6E5vM

Bella still isn't very impressed with her babies. She needs
"assistance" lying down to feed them. And it only lasts a minute or so
before she runs away. Valerie will keep trying all day and keep paws
crossed she'll decide she loves her babies so they can move in with her.
Right now it's not safe to leave them in with her.

Tuesday 3:11 pm
Yipp Yipp the baby runt is scarfing down milk with corn meal like crazy
!!!!! Thank you Terri and Mira - the other two can chase mom around and
drink while she stands up. She's ok with that now, but little runty
can't reach!

Tuesday 6:39 pm
Hours and hours of teaching Bella to be a Mom ........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1trmrkP4vgs

Has finally paid off --- the happiest sight we've seen all day !!!!!
Note how the baby kneeds with his hoofs, head butts, roots all over the
place - no wonder this didn't thrill Bella !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un-_fY24Iyw

Tuesday 9:34 pm
I had to type in my security check word to make the last post on
facebook and it was: "squealer reports" --- how appropriate!!!!

The two bigger ones are sleeping with mom Bella. The little one will be
sleeping with me and my mom. The little one won't stay in the house with
her family and keeps coming out and walking around and then falling
asleep on the ground. Mom doesn't think that's safe overnight. She's
just a baby and will be too cold and lonely. She is gulping at her
bottle and eating cornmeal mush and she's much stronger today. I think
she's gonna be ok !!!!! But still keep your paws crossed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4743716118/

Wednesday 9:30 am
Piggy family doing great this morning. The two stayed with mom all night
and are now out laying in the sun with her. Do they ever stop
nursing???? What little PIGS !!!!

Little bit is tucked in between two hot water bottles sleeping. The
hoomans are feeding her. It's cool out this morning. When it warms up
they'll work on getting her on Bella. Mom says she's gonna charge Bella
day care fees if this keeps up!!

Wednesday 7:45 pm
My tails dragging, I'm whooped!!! Gonna try to catch up with my notes a
bit before my whiskers hit the keyboard. All was fine here today, just
fast and fine. Bella's very successfully nursing the two bigger piggies.
The itty bitty one can't get the hang of holding on to a nipple so she's
still on a bottle. Lena just left and took her home for the night.

Yippee Good News Happy Dance Happy Dance Happy Dance Happy Dance !!!!!
Lena just left for the night AND took the itty bitty pig with her !!!!
Two are nursing well with Bella, their mom. But the itty bitty one just
can't figure out how to hold on well. She's gonna play piggy mommey
tonight!!!!

Most employees who arrived at 4:30 in the morning and worked tirelessly
all day long, never sitting down, not taking a lunch break, shoving down
a sandwich with one hand while helping an animal with the other wouldn't
be ready to take work home with them when they were leaving at 7:30 pm.
That's 15 hours of non stop fast and furious live saving love Lena
dispensed all day.

But Lena can't go home with out taking something! 6 of the doggies go
home with her every night. And tonight she's taking baby runty piggie
home too. She's gonna piggysit all night for us. Bye bye baby piggie,
see you in the morning.

Thursday 5:15 am
Lena is late for work this morning. Her hours don't officially begin
till 8 am, but for her, if she isn't here by 5 am, she's late. As she
lets the dogs out of her truck, she shouts come see the baby!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4751856774/

My gosh, she's gained weight over night and she's eating like ... well
like .... like a PIG !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4751856812/

Thursday 6:15 am
Her nursery already looks like a pig pen !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlQgod1kjbM

Bella and the other two are doing fine as one happy family unit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4751216295/
They've got the to suckle and to be suckled thing down just fine. Here
they are snoozing after Bella had a breakfast of 4 bananas, a loaf of
whole wheat raisin bread, an eggplant, 4 yellow squash, a huge zucchini,
6 apples, and two quarts of mixed grain!! Just a light morning snack!

FUNLAND & FRIENDS WITH COLOR PRINTERS!!!
I need 125 copies of the Funland flyer -
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/funland%20day.html - for the goodie
bags at the Golf Tournament and Festival. Can you print them out for
me??? Purrrlease.....

July 24th from 2 pm - 10 pm don't miss this special deal for Friends of
Rikki's Refuge
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/funland%20day.html

GREAT BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO VOICES FOR ANIMALS
clinic who speutered 122 cats Saturday. Mary Ellen, president of Voices
is fabulous and has worked non stop for kitties for years and years and
years. She's one of those wonderful people who doesn't yell and get mad
and doesn't tell others what to do, but gets out there and does it!!!
My wonderful friend Barbara volunteered at yesterday's clinic too.
She's another one who works endlessly for the animals. Just adopting a
kitty a couple years back she heard about the homeless problem amongst
my kind, so she got involved!! And wow did she ever get involved!!!
She now lives to serve our species and saves lives every day!!! Mary
Ellen and Barbara - you're my HEROES !!!!!
http://www.nbc29.com/global/Category.asp?C=175568&clipId=4899972&autostart=true

The best movie ever - broadcast it EVERYWHERE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMzW3LIkNLA&feature=player_embedded

WINCHESTER VIRGINIA USA, LOVELY BARN CAT NEEDS HOME
A friend of mine is trying to place her neighbors barn kitty. The
neighbor has died and Velvet has no home. He is 'fixed' , male, very
good guy. He is a great mouser too. If you've got the barn in the area
let me know and I'll put you in touch with Mary.

SUNNYSIDE - for a wonderful musical evening
Jim Lilly - Guitar, Betty Calvert - Bass, Carol Phillips - Autoharp
www.sunnysidemusic.webs.com

Old Time Mountain, Classic Country and Gospel Music
2nd Friday every month: The Recreation Center, 8:00 to 11:00 pm
With Special Guest: Spoonman Dan Willoughby & VA State Fiddle Champion
Jimmy Delozier
(213 William St., Fredericksburg) 540-371-6498

July 8th Grottoes Community Building, 7:00 pm, 109 6th St., Grottoes, VA
July 9th The Recreation Center, see address above, 8:00 to 11:00 pm

GOLF TOURNAMENT and FESTIVAL July 16th
Come play golf with ME !!!! Grab your slot before they're all sold
out! Contact me to sign up to play right now. As an individual or a
foursome!!!!

Tons of entertainment, special admission prices for non-golfers!!! Door
prizes, raffles, live auction and more!! Read all about it:
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Golf2010.html

OWN YOUR VERY OWN BOAT FOR ONLY $5
Yeah!! You heard me right!! At Rikki's Refuge $5 could buy you a
boat!!!

For $5 you could be driving this boat away after the Open House on
August 15th !!! This could be the luckiest $5 you spend all summer !!!

$5 buys you one ticket. $100 buys you 25 tickets!!!! Splurge - it's
all to feed the animals !!!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
Be sure to comment that's it's for the boat raffle until it gets up on
our web page proper!

Can you help me sell tickets or post flyers? Let me know:
Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

EXOTIC TEA !!!!
Yummy exotic teas !!! Mommey loves these!! www.prismtea.com
Order anything from now until the end of the July 2010, and 15% of the
profits will be donated to Rikki's Refuge. My facebook friend Rainbow
Diamond arranged this for us!!! Thank you Rainbow.

It is NOT too early to stock up for Christmas !!!!!

Tell everybody you know about this lovely delicious deal!!!!

Lovely encyclopedia of exotic teas: http://www.prismtea.com/tea-gifts.html

IS YOUR PET CALENDAR MATERIAL?
Do you have the most beautiful, the funniest or the cutest pet ever???
Is he or she deserving of a page on the 2011 Rikki's Refuge Calendar?

We're having a photo contest to pick the 12 animals that will be!!!
Here's the low down.
Entry fee is: $10 per photo.
Enter as often as you like, as many photos as you like, as many animals
as you like.
Animals - of any species, any number, but no humans - may be in the
photo.
Animals must be the central focus of the picture.
It can be your pets, wildlife or what ever.
Give us your best shot!

You can enter via e-mail by submitting your entry fee here
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php and then submitting your photo to
mail@RikkisRefuge.org - use your same e-mail address on both so we can
link them up. Please limit photos to 5 x 7 inches and 72 dpi.

OR You can mail your photo or a disk to us along with your entry fee:
Rikki's Refuge Photo Contest, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960.

All entries must be in by August 3rd at midnight. Our judges will
select their favorite 12 photos. These will go on display at the August
15th Open House and the public will pick the final winner. All photos
submitted will be displayed on the web site. The winner will be
displayed in full size in Reflections. The runner ups will be there,
just smaller. Sorry, only so much space!!!

These 12 photos will then be turned into Rikki's Refuge 2011
downloadable calendar just for YOU - our very special hoomans who make
our lives possible!!!

So get out there and start snapping away.

You know how the fine print goes. You must have to have rights to the
photo!!! Once submitted Rikki's has rights to use the photos. Photos
don't get returned. Decisions are final, blah blah blah.....

THANK YOU
to those of you who helped me start making a dent in the bills. Neither
the cat food store nor the feed store will let us back in till we're
paid off - or at least way down. You saved the electricity and you let
us get flea preventative for the month!!

If you're like me and don't have a job and are doing all you can to take
care of your family, just send us your love and prayers!

If you have a job and you're able to eat and feed your family and your
critters and you still have a dollar left over, would you consider
giving it to me? I promise to put it to good use taking care of al my
sisfurs, brofurs, sisfeathers, brofeathers, sisscales and broscales.
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

I keep trying to find a job I can do, yet I get rejected over and over
at interviews. It always goes well on the phone, they're impressed with
my resume. Yet when I get there and sit down for the interview, they
take one look at me and start laughing. "You're just an old three
legged cat!"

"Yes sir. I have a very large family to support. I'll take on any
task. I'm purrsonable, charming, reliable ..." And before you know it
they've booted me out the door.

We'll I better be closing here. I have an interview in 4 hours at Food
Lion. In the cat food section. I sure hope it comes with good
benefits. Gotta get Nanny fed and the goat cart hooked up so we can get
to town in time. I hope to see you at the tour Sunday!!!

CURRENT NEEDS
Funding is number one!!!
Canned Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Canned High Protein Puppy Dog Food
Bleach
Trash Bags
Paper Towels
Laundry Detergent

NOW YOU DID VOTE, RIGHT?
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY
Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK
and until them I send you all my love for letting me live at Rikki's!!!!
Hope to see you Sunday for the noon tour!!!!

Love,
Vincent
7/1/10

THE FINE PRINT
Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 367-acre, no-kill, all
species, peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations from kind and
loving individuals just like you! We help farm animals, domestic
animals, and wildlife. Over 1200 individuals of 22 different species
now reside at Rikki's Refuge. Please continue to help us help the
animals. To learn more about Rikki's Refuge go to
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/, http://www.rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/, and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge .

We survive on donations from kind and loving people, just like you. We
live on a shoestring and make it on less than one dollar per day, per
animal. So if you can spare a couple of bucks to buy a few meals,
please go to http://www.paypal.com/ and use our email address of
mail@rikkisrefuge.org . We do accept checks, money orders, cash and
stuff, too! Thanks for your support. Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357,
Orange VA 22960

Your donations directly support the Critters of Rikki's Refuge. Rikki's
Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS
501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation. Federal Tax-ID
54-1911042. We hold membership in all Combined Federal Campaigns in
Virginia #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart
Charities #1377, iGive, Benevolink, paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 1, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

You should have gotten your Hairballs and Happy Tails a little earlier
today. So I won't repeat all that news!!

Baby piggies and mom doing well. Think the little one will probably
need to be hand reared at least for a while. The other two and happy
with Bella, their mom!!!!

Please help spread the word to others who may be willing to vote to help
us win some much needed funding.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
One vote a day per computer, phone or what ever per person thru Aug 22.
The shelter with the most over all votes will win money to save lives!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4745408291/
EVERYBODY can vote !!!!

Tour Sunday Noon !!!! Hope to see you.

Cindi send this in and says the recipes are yum!!!
Man lives on $2-a-day diet
A MELBOURNE man is living on a diet costing just $2 a day to teach
Australians how to live below the poverty line. He wants them to turn
their back on cheap fast food and the celebrity diet culture. Having
survived on his extreme poverty diet for the past 52 days, Richard
Fleming is hoping to recruit 1000 Australians to eat for less than $2 a
day for five days thorough his Live Below the Line campaign.

Having devised diet-based serves of such things as home-made soups
(37c), hummus (24c), dahl and rice (41c), marmalade (5c) and peanut
butter (8c), the Ivanhoe resident has shed 10kg so far but is still fit,
healthy and easily manages 20km cycling each day as well as working.

"There is a level of stupidity in all this, I don't deny that," Mr
Fleming said. "That is what has engaged people. "It is about battling
your hunger thoughts, and that is not with me any more because I think I
have become stronger than them now. I know how to get enough energy
into my diet; it is about getting the nutrition into my diet. I have
gone through the withdrawals and my diet is not too bad."

Having turned his back on a promising corporate career with Deloitte to
work in the slums of Bangladesh, Mr Fleming returned to Australia and
set himself the challenge of living below the extreme poverty line for a
month - but was brought undone on day 26 when the cold outer of the MCG
on Grand Final day became too much to handle. To make up for the
failure he has extended his personal challenge to 90 days, armed with a
better understanding of dietary requirements, how to make cheap meals
and how to find fresh fruit and vegetables at markets.

Inspired to gain a taste of what the 1.4 million people living in
extreme poverty experience every day, he has so far recruited 500
Australians to join his diet in August. His Live Below the Line
campaign "is not here to (make people feel guilty), it is to engage
people", he said. "In Australia you can live healthy cheaply, and I
have been forced to find those healthy options. It means you keep away
from snack foods and the stuff we regard as not as healthy but which is
more consumable and accessible. To me things like milk now seem like a
luxury - but it is the last 80c a day where I can have things like a 10c
mandarin, which is a godsend when it's 3pm and I am a bit hungry."

Mr Fleming said there were also important lessons for those contributing
to the $364 billion spent on diet solutions each year. "It is the
mental above the physical: to know you can do something like this means
that when you step up to another challenge you know it can't be as bad
as this, as bad as what 1.4 billion people experience every day," he
said. To learn more about Live Below the Line and Richard's challenge,
visit livebelowtheline.com
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/man-lives-on-2-a-day-diet/story-e6frf7kx-1225885885019

I can ONE UP that !!! At Rikki's we survive totally, not just food -
one $1 per day per critter!!!

Pumpkin and Potato Soup
Ingredients
* 2 tbs oil (30 ml) - 10 cents
* 1 onion, finely chopped – 10 cents
* 1 garlic clove, crushed - 5 cents
* 1/2 tsp ground coriander - 5 cents
* 1 tsp ground cumin - 5 cents
* 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg - 5 cents
* 750g peeled pumpkin, diced - 75 cents
* 3 large potato, peeled, diced - 30 cents
* 1L vegetable stock - 40 cents
Total cost: 185 cents (Serves 7 @ 27c/serve)

Method
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over low heat, add onion and leek
and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened but not colored.
2. Add garlic and spices and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
3. Add pumpkin, potato and stock and bring to the boil.
4. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Allow to cool slightly, then blend in batches.
6. Return soup to pan and reheat gently. Season and add a little
more nutmeg if desired.

If you try the soup mom would probably like some, unless you're tossing
a mouse in I'll stick with my Fancy Feast!!!

Love, Vincent

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.