Friday, October 01, 2010

Hairballs and Happy Tails - Rikki's Refuge Newsletter a

RIKKI'S REFUGE - HAIRBALLS AND HAPPY TAILS
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.

It's a beautiful sunny fall day!!! Fall really is here. The leaves
have been changing so fast. It's going to be a lovely fall.


WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO AT THE FARM

The bestest news all week! Brought together by feral kitties!
Hi Vincent - My fiancé. Larry Bisgaier, and I just got engaged - our
first unofficial "date" was at Rikki's Refuge many years ago to learn
about vaccinating feral cats, so we wanted to give back. We both
believe in your mission so much, and wish we could send you more! Best
of luck - Sue Wolf and Larry Bisgaier


Squeaks, the pigeon, has joined Rikki's Refuge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIGSF-1vBco


Last week was International Differently Abled Week
My sisfur Pepper Kitten Face got interviewed! Read it here and see her
pictures.
http://www.sparklecat.com/special/pepper-rikkis-refuge


Gibson !!! LIVE and in Catson doing the Happy Dance !!! After almost a
year and a half of confinement, healing from traumatic wounds, Gibson
tastes freedom at last!
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Their%20Storiesl.html
Scroll near the bottom to see him or watch his happy dance here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cqvwXhUyw


AT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

A real HERO traveled from Boston on Friday before the event. Christy
took the train all the way to bring me Mowgs' stroller so I could ride
in style at the Vegetarian Festival!!! AND she stayed to give me love
and hugs and more and more love. She's the bestest hugger!!! Mmmmmm
Purrrzzzz Mowgs sadly passed away in 2008 and Christy just couldn't
part with his stroller. Mowgs was paraplegic and loved his rides out
and about in his stroller. Thank you Christy and love to you Mowgs at
the Rainbow Bridge.

I went to the Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival yesterday. It was in
the big city so mom won't let me drive. I have to ride in my car seat
and watch out the window and nabigate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3JqtJ1Zalo

There are so many buildings and people and cars in Charlottesville they
park them on top of each other! It's like a kitty condo with lots of
levels. They call it a parking garage. I found a handicap spot right
near the elevator! http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025731423/

I'm ready to roll!!! No more long long walks down city streets to get to
the festivals!!! Thanks to my hero Christy who gave me this wonderful
stroller!!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026346070/

There were lots of other little folk riding in strollers. I think I was
the only one with fur!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025731203/

This is our set up. We have a cow tent cuz we love cows and all animals!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025731033/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026345610/

Angel, advertising herself as an organic vegetarian dog biscuit for sale
!!!! No Angel, you silly kitty, you came to look for a Forever Home. 16
weeks old, homeless, dumped on the streets, now ready for a new home.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025730755/

Cindy Lou, the doggy, came to look for a Forever Home too. Looks like
she may get her dream come true too. We have a great application for
her adoption. As soon as it's all checked out and verified we'll take
here there on the home check and see if she's happy!! This photo is me
and Cindy Lou and Mariza and Angela.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026345384/

Angel wants a forever home too. This little girl fell in love with her.
But her daddy is allergic to kitties. Lots of folks held and loved on
Angel. We're processing a really good looking application and soon
we'll see if Angel won that home!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025730497/

Polly came to help me out - she's a Spokes Kitty too. She thought it
was to scary, lots of dogs barking and so many people coming by. She
decided to take a nap in her cozy crate instead of give out hugs.
That's ok Polly, I love you.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025730393/

Larry, Mo and Curly came along looking for a new home too. They didn't
have any luck. They were scared so they won't go out to a real crowded
area again. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025730293/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344894/

As soon as I arrived my fans began to flock around! I had to get a
drink first, before I could start the loving and hugging. It was a
really hot day. I got to see my friend Wendy again!!! That was so
nice. And her husband Greg.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344798/

I love meeting folks and trading hugs and kisses!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025729935/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344576/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344470/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344364/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025729467/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026344104/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5026343986/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5025729101/


HERE ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS FALL!

Today and every Friday is Furrday!!! And on Furrdays you can send an
email and if yours is chosen they'll send me a $50 gift card for Fancy
Feast at PetCo!!! http://www.freekibblekat.com/giveaway.asp
Right now email Giveaway@freekibble.com with the words "Shelter
Giveaway" as the subject and tell 'em Vincent D. Cat of Rikki's Refuge
sent you!


NOW - October 30 - Enter your Craft for a Cause and help Rikki's Refuge
JoAnn Fabrics is having a contest called "Craft for a Cause." Make any
item using supplies purchased at Joann Fabrics, photograph it, and enter
it online.
http://joannfabricandcraftstores.blogspot.com/2010/08/twice-as-nice-to-craft-for-cause.html

October 1-7 is International Vegetarian Week
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/veg-week/
Save lives this week - it's easy - just go vegetarian for the week!
You'll be joining millions of hoomans across the globe who'll be giving
it a try.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAaFhKuMRgw

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full
breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit
itself to mankind. Compassion is the keen awareness of the
interdependence of all things...MAY YOU ALL have a compassionate weekend!


Saturday October 2nd, Rikki's is Going to the Dogs in Fredericksburg
http://www.fredericksburgsgonetothedogs.com/Fredericksburgs_Gone_to_the_Dogs/Home.html
come join us and have a lot of fun!


October 4th is World Animal Day http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/index.asp


Saturday October 9th, Vittles with Vincent at N's Cafe in Culpeper. The
WHOLE family is welcome, the dogs, the cats, the kids. 11 am - 7 pm.
Yummy yummy Middle Eastern food with specials of the day, just for
Rikki's folks. Rikki's Sampler Platter with Falafel, Dolma, Baba
Gannouj, Hummus, Tabouli or Fattoush, with Pita. Pooch Platters. Kitty
Cups. Kids Plates. Indoor and outdoor dining, I'll be dining on the
patio and you can join me! Ask me for the flyer if you can hang it up
anywhere around Culpeper!


October 23rd, Saturday, Fall Furr Fest (noon-5pm) and Haunted Forest
(5-8 pm) at Rikki's
Meet Vincent the Fortune Teller (bring can of Fancy Feast if you want a
long life line)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000683975/
Scarecrow Competition, Pie Walks, Cornhole Tournament, Game Booths,
Craft Tables, Face Painting, Visit all of Rikki's Animals, Tickets are
on sale, Admission $3 pre sale, $5 at the door, game tickets one can of
cat food or 50 cents. info? Katarina Galvin katarinagalvin@yahoo.com

It's not to early to sign up for the Fall Furr Fest and Haunted Forest!!!
http://www.whofish.org/Default.aspx?tabid=47&modid=382&itemid=917306&rCode=23&action=detail
I'm gonna get to eat and eat and eat ... oh wait .... Katarina!!
Isn't that supposed to be Furr FEAST ???????


October 31st, Sunday, noon, Tour the Refuge, Famous Tour Guide Jan
Chetnik gets you up close and friendly with all the animals.


November 13th, Saturday, noon, Tour the Refuge, 2 pm, Nature Hike at the
Refuge

Sunday Nov 21, Rikki's Vegetarian Thanksgiving, refreshments start at 4
pm and sit down dinner at 6 pm. RSVP is required, limited seating for
dinner. Send me an e-mail to sign up. This year Mariza, a Rikki's
Refuge Approved Vegetarian Chef, will host the dinner in her lovely new
home, off Route 3, not far from Route 20 in Spotsylvania, about 20
minutes closer to Fredericksburg than Rikki's.


December 25th, Sunday, noon, Tour the Refuge

See www.RikkisRefuge.org for additional details about events.

HOW YOU CAN HELP AND WHAT THE ANIMALS NEED THIS WEEK

We desperately need your help with expenses. Food, winter bedding,
utilities, doctor bills. If you can, please be my HERO and make a
donation this week http://bit.ly/BeMyHero Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357,
Orange VA 22960 Thank you, I know your bills are going up as fast as
mine. Every dollar donated really helps us help the animals.

Items we need this week are: Canned cat and dog food, the winter eating
binge has started!
Dry cat food.
Cracked corn.
Paper Towels.
Trash bags.

Donate your Capital One Credit Card reward points to us!
https://www.capitalone.com/give/donate/541911042?external_id=WWW_Z_541911042_Charity_Widget_Z_Z_G_GSDON

AND HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP WITHOUT IT COSTING YOU A PENNY!!

GIVE US YOUR VOTE. The new Shelter Challenge is running thru December
19th and Rikki's needs your vote!!! Last time you made Rikki's number
one in the state. The challenge now? Can you make Rikki's number one
in the nation? Right now were wavering between number 5 and number 6.

You can vote every day. Round up friends, co-workers, school mates,
neighbors to vote.

If you'd like voting bookmarks to hand out let me know. I can send you
the PDF for you to print and cut or if you can't do that I've got
volunteers making them and I can send you finished product!

It's very simple, quick and FREE and could win Rikki's up to $10,000.
Very much needed right now! You can go thru our web page
www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the $100,000 or use one of these
simple links: http://bit.ly/RikkisRefuge or http://bit.ly/VoteVincent
Enter "Rikkis Refuge" as the shelter in the state of VA, if you're
outside the USA you may have to enter USA as the country. That's it.
Click search, then vote, then identify your animal of the day for
confirmation!! Very simple!!! Spread the word.


Anybody have experience using a web cam with a cellular modem at events?
We haven't had a lot of success. Would love any tips.

Our Great Bend backhoe attachment for our tractor needs some parts.
They no longer carry that brand locally and mom's had trouble finding a
supplier on the web. Anybody know where we can get parts?


HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER? Would you like to see your
by-line and/or your photos in Reflections, my printed newsletter? I'm
accepting articles now! Send me your story about your visit to Rikki's.
What you like to do to volunteer and help. What you like about
animals. A story about your special animal. A story about an alumni
you adopted from Rikki's. A cartoon you'd like to draw. Anything you
think our readers would enjoy seeing. Please send your material to
Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


CHEST FREEZER - minimum size 4 ft x 2 ft x 3 ft.
If you have one you're not using and you'd like to donate, or if you see
an ad for an inexpensive one.

Pickup and strong people! Elizabeth ebw2s@eservices.virginia.edu has a
freezer she'd like to donate to Rikki's Refuge. It's about 4 feet long,
two feet wide and three feet high, so it's not huge, any size pick up or
even a small trailer should do. You'll need to take it out of her
basement at Lake Monticello, so you might want to take help with you for
lifting or check with her to see if she or someone else can help. Lake
Monticello is south east of Charlottesville. Please contact Elizabeth
if you can help.


INSTALL GOOD SEARCH BAR - costs you nothing, GoodSearch donates to
Rikki's on your behalf. Here's another way to help for FREE!! Would you
take a minute to help Rikkis Refuge win $1,000? GoodSearch.com is
sponsoring a contest that will give an extra $1,000 to each of the five
organizations that have the most toolbar downloads (and $100 to each of
the first 100 charities to reach 100 downloads!) With the GoodSearch
toolbar, every time you search online or shop at more than 1,500 stores
(from Amazon to Zazzle!), a donation will be made to Rikkis Refuge —
all you have to do is add our toolbar to your computer.

Instructions on our web site www.RikkisRefuge.org or ask mom
Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org

To date the GoodSearch search bar has earned $584.49 for Rikki's Refuge!!!
http://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/rikkis-refuge.aspx
You may ask why, it's the advertising on the search sites, folks are
paying to see their blips come up in hope it'll get you interested in
their products.

So YES it's worthwhile for you to install this search bar NOW!!


USE THE KROGER CARE CARD - it costs you nothing yet Kroger donates 5% of
your grocery bill to Rikki's!!! Start with a $5 Kroger gift car you buy
thru us (must come thru us to be coded for your % to come to us), reload
the card before you shop, pay at the register with your card and Rikki's
gets a check!! Real easy!! Tell mom if you'd like to get a card.
Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org
Gift Cards can be used at the Fuel Centers to purchase gas! And are
good at all Kroger affiliates nationwide: Kroger, Ralphs, King Soopers,
City Market, Dillons, Smiths, Fry's, QFC Quality Food Centers, Bakers,
Owens, Jay C, Hilander, Gerbes, Pay Less Super Markets, Scott's Food,
Kroger Fresh Fare, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer and these
convenience stores Turkey Hill, Kwik Shop, Loaf n Jug, Quick Stop and
Tom Thumb.


YARD SALE It's getting time to raise funds for the Pana Guatemala
Speuter Clinic that Dr Vargas will head up in December. She'll be
holding yard sales to raise the funds for this years clinic. If you can
help, please call the clinic 540-829-9085 about volunteering at the
sales, or when and what items you can drop off.

Any amount of change that you can spare this week will be a great help.
With winter coming we're all eating more and the warm bedding is being
bought. We can't buy ANYTHING without your help!! http://bit.ly/BeMyHero

Love and Purrs to YOU my HERO,
Vincent
10/1/10


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.

If you know others who'd enjoy reading about the exciting adventures at
Rikki's Refuge let me know and I'll be happy to include them. If you
are one of those strange humans who does not wish to laugh and cry with
us, simply reply with "REMOVE" and nothing but "REMOVE" in the subject
line.

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

Please VOTE daily to help Rikki's Refuge be the Top Shelter in the Nation!
We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.
Now we're going for the gold!!! Click here http://bit.ly/VoteVincent
and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA
click search, then vote, then identify your animal of the day for
confirmation
Please share this with family and friends, with the most number of votes
by December 20th, we'll win first prize of $10,000!!!

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY http://bit.ly/BeMyHero
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://bit.ly/BeMyHero

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. Only 4% of our income is spent on
fundraising and management, 96% is spent directly on the animals you
love. 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

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