Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 23, 2010

If you find yourself stuck in the jungle .... you can still vote !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4726493051/
Everybody is working to help us win!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA


Good Samaritan is helping traveling cat make trip home
The tabby's trek took him from Albuquerque to Chicago during the eight
months he was missing.

Chicago — No one knows how a tabby cat named Charles traveled the
1,100-plus miles from his New Mexico home to Chicago, but he's set for a
complimentary flight home on American Airlines in a carrier donated by
an Albuquerque business. Charles disappeared about eight months ago
while his owner was out of town and a friend was caring for him. "Oh, I
was crushed. And I found out while I was away volunteering with Habitat
for Humanity, and I was so upset because I was in New Orleans so there
was nothing I could do," said Robin Alex of Albuquerque.

Then last week, Alex received a call telling her Chicago Animal Care and
Control had picked up her wandering cat as a stray. Staffers reached out
to Alex after finding that Charles had a tracking microchip embedded
between his shoulder blades, said the agency's executive director,
Cherie Travis. But Alex said she could not afford the round-trip ticket
to Chicago to bring Charles home, so she was afraid he might be euthanized.

Enter fellow Albuquerque resident Lucien Sims. Sims said he has a tabby
cat who strongly resembles Charles, and was moved when his mother sent
him an online story about Alex and her pet. Sims was on his way to
Chicago on Thursday for a wedding, so he said he would go to the
shelter, pick up Charles and bring him back to New Mexico. Sims has
made all the arrangements for Charles' return, including getting a
company to donate a cat carrier and American Airlines to waive the cat's
travel fee. Travis said Charles was ready for his next adventure.


You are signed up for the golf tournament and festival, aren't you!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4313928837/


They crossed a Malamute and a Pointer. The new breed is a Moot Point,
owned by....oh, well, it doesn't really matter. (from Walker)


I'm a pig again today !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214230/
Mom's snickering and making oink noises at me!
VOTE now - and today - tell three friends to vote.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA


A woman is walking in the park when she sees a man playing chess with
his cat. She says to the man "I can't believe what I m seeing, a cat
that plays chess, what a clever animal!!" The man replied "Nah lady this
cats not clever at all I m beating it 6 games to 1? (by Suzzie)

Only $300 to go !!!!
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day
If we can raise just $300 more before midnight tomorrow - we'll get the
bonus $1,000 !!!! Help us if you can !!!!


Jaguars Are Lured By the Smell of Calvin Klein Cologne
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters Life!) – Biologists tracking jaguars in the
Guatemalan jungle might smell nice but it's all in the name of science,
with researchers finding the Calvin Klein cologne Obsession for Men
attracts big cats.

Biologists Rony Garcia and Jose Moreira from the Wildlife Conservation
Society's (WCS) Jaguar Conservation Program say they use hidden cameras
as a primary source for observing and tracking jaguars in Guatemala's
Maya Biosphere Reserve.

But they also rely on Obsession for Men, a cologne known for its complex
scent, to help lure then research and hopefully ultimately preserve
jaguars in the Central American country.

"The method we are using to study the jaguars here in Guatemala is a
non-invasive method which is based on photographing the individuals by
using camera traps," Moreira told Reuters Television.

"It has been very useful using Obsession (for Men) to get the jaguars in
front of these camera traps ... and that allows us to estimate with
greater confidence the genders and the numbers that live in each studied
site."

The discovery that Obsession for Men acted as a magnet for jaguars was
the result of an experiment by the WCS's Bronx Zoo in New York.

The WCS was looking for ways to get cheetahs in front of camera traps,
and, after several years of testing with different fragrances, found
spraying the musky Obsession For Men near the heat-and-motion-sensitive
cameras drew the cats for longer than other scents.

They also tried out about 23 other fragrances but Obsession for Men kept
the cats' attention for longest with Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps coming
second.

The practice made its way down to Guatemala, where Garcia and Moreira
said they have been recording similar success in the wild since 2007,
allowing them to track jaguars and even record their mating rituals.

Garcia said the results will be invaluable to conservation efforts.

"These camera traps help us to identify how many jaguars are living in
this area ... (and) helps us to have control over the population and
lets us say to the government, to the public, that Laguna del Tigre
still deserves conservation," he said.

The WCS said it tentatively plans to expand the use of the cologne in
programs in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador in coming years.


Be my HERO !!!!!! VOTE EVERYDAY !!!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA


Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what
we get, but we make a life by what we give. ---Norman MacEwan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225574/


Who's HERO are YOU going to be today?

Love, 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

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.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
HOLY COW !!!!
And along with summer comes FUN FUN FUN ......
WE'VE GOT SO MUCH GOING ON
Remember - life is subject to change
Gotta write a "What I Did This Summer" composition in the fall?
Don't say you don't have enough time.
JULY 4TH IS THE NEXT TOUR
JAN GAVE A WONDERFUL TOUR ON THE 13TH!!!!
We celebrated Carolyn's 84th Birthday!!
Things I've Learned The Hard Way, No. 3,575
AUGUST 15TH BIRTHDAY BASH OPEN HOUSE!!
MOM WAS ENTERING STUFF ON THE COMPUTER THIS MORNING.
GOLF TOURNAMENT AND FESTIVAL JULY 16TH FRIDAY
I'm looking for three more on MY team
The excitement is piling up every day
Is this like gorgeous, or what?
VERY IMPORTANT
D'artagnan's new home
SUMMER OF YOUTH STARTS THURSDAY
OK .. SIT ... STAY ... TAKE A TEA BREAK
IS ALL THIS HEAT MAKING YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ON THE WATER?
Got Five Bucks for a Boat???
Do you LIKE Music? LOVE Music?
WANT TO LEARN NEW SKILLS?
MAKE RIKKI'S BEAUTIFUL
RABBIT ROTUNDA II IS GOING UP!
DOUBLE YOUR DONATION
Make YOUR critters as famous as ME !!!!
I'M ON TV AGAIN
SO YOU KNOW THE OFFICE HAS A LOFT.
Nobody messes with Snickers.
So Sam is up in the loft snoozing.
Hiss snarl, kaboom..clatter..clunk
Voting EVERY DAY is really important
Do you know what money means at Rikki's?
You are my HERO
MY BROFUR SPIDER WENT TO RAINBOW BRIDGE
Some of you may think this is bad new.
Live long and prosper, all my leukemia friends!!!
$47 a month provides the total care for one kitty!!!!
FROM THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE READING THIS
EVERY MORNING??? WOW THAT'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.
If you're not getting Good Morning Good News
FUN AT FUNLAND FEEDS THE FATCATS
World's Best Pet Parent Photo Contest
CHILI COOK OFF
OUR CURRENT NEEDS
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS VINCENT ?
THANK YOU
THE FINE PRINT


HOLY COW !!!!
We're on the shortening side of the summer solstice!!! Doesn't it seem
like just a few short weeks ago we were trying to dig out from
underneath the snow!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727311656/


And along with summer comes FUN FUN FUN ......
And voting every day to win money for Rikki's http://bit.ly/bDLKJY
Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA


WE'VE GOT SO MUCH GOING ON
at Rikki's - I sure hope you can join us.


Remember - life is subject to change
without notice - make yours change for the better !! Get involved.
Save a life !! Have the best summer ever with Rikki's Refuge.


Gotta write a "What I Did This Summer" composition in the fall?
Make it great. Have experineces like lassoing goats, training dogs,
finding forever homes for pound puppies and kittens, dancing with emus,
full moon walks in the wood, being surrounded by the endless purring and
love of 600 kitties, learning to paint, to build, to remodel rooms, AND
MORE !!!! There's no better place to spend your summer than at
Rikki's. Get involved NOW: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


Don't say you don't have enough time.
You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to
Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da
Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.,
author of Life's Little Instruction Book


JULY 4TH IS THE NEXT TOUR
at noon, one tour and one tour only - so please be prompt. Sun hat and
all that good stuff - it's out side, and right now anyway, it's hot hot
hot !!!!! Gates open at 11:30 am and admission is 14 cases of Fancy
Feast per person. (((-----VINCENT .... What have I told you about
sticking to the rules????-----))) Ok ok so it's only two cans of cat
food per person - but you COULD be extra generous and bring me 14 cases
of Fancy Feast.


JAN GAVE A WONDERFUL TOUR ON THE 13TH!!!!
Everybody had lots and lots of fun!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699876012/

Of course me getting love and pats is the best part of any tour!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699075745/

Look at all the food donated to ME !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699076623/


We celebrated Carolyn's 84th Birthday!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699077219/
Happy Birthday to you !!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6x2heewrI4
Birthday cake by Katarina's mom who's a professional cake maker!!! Yum
Yum Yum. Want a deliciously beautiful cake for any occasion - ask us!
Fredericksburg Va area.


Things I've Learned The Hard Way, No. 3,575
No matter how tempting it looks, DON'T lick velcro.
Posted by Waldo A. Cat


AUGUST 15TH BIRTHDAY BASH OPEN HOUSE!!
Rikki's Refuge will be 12 years old. Just like me!!! Larry will be at
the grill again. Is it my imagination, or does he really outdo himself
every time ??? And the Wonderful Greg Allen Band will be there to
entertain you while you eat!!! Put it on your calendar NOW. August
15th, rain or shine, heat or snow!!! Noon till 4 pm!!!


MOM WAS ENTERING STUFF ON THE COMPUTER THIS MORNING.
She uses a voice thing to talk to the computer. I don't get it, it
won't work for me, no matter what I say all it types is MEOW MEOW MEOW -
anyway, so Mom's entering this data, and it has dates and she's reading
it off 6 slash 21 slash 10 - and being the stupid hooman that she is,
can't figure out why Snickers keeps reaching around the computer and
slapping her, with claws fully extended!


GOLF TOURNAMENT AND FESTIVAL JULY 16TH FRIDAY
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4313928863/
This is going to be so much fun. Every year it gets better and better
and this year we've added SO SO SO much more to the program. It's gonna
be a whole day of fantastic fun for everyone. Golfers can start the day
off on the greens, for the rest of us it's visiting with the spokes
animals, vendors with wonderful things, a live auction, door prizes,
raffles and a great buffet lunch. Please let me know if you're
coming!!!! I'll save you a spot.


I'm looking for three more on MY team
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727311700/
who'll help me chase a little white ball thru the grass. Lots of rest
stops with lovely clean white sand !!!!!! PLEASE come play with me
!!!!! Email me for your tickets!!! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


The excitement is piling up every day
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4313928837/
- more and more fun is being added. There's something for everyone !!!
PLEASE get your tickets early BEFORE they sell out.


Is this like gorgeous, or what?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4715196914/
This print will be on auction at the July 16th Golf Tournament and
Festival. We've got lots of new fun and excitement added for the event
this year, including a live auction. Keep watching this site:
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Golf2010.html to see what's coming
your way.

Keep up with the added excitement here, be sure you buy your tickets in
advance, the price goes up at the door.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4311478541/

Greg Allen is our featured performer for this event. You'll love him as
much as I do!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E35dIPAq3j4


VERY IMPORTANT
I have lots of animals signed up to help at the Golf Tournament - I NEED
- DESPERATELY NEED - at least SIX more HOOMANS - if you walk on two and
use the other two to carry things around - can speak reasonably decent
hooman talk - and can follow at least a few simple commands - PLEASE
HELP ME !!!! Sign up now, I beg you Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Ok I did
it. I begged. I feel like a dawg.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4314665344/


D'artagnan's new home
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507170/
Having a little lunch watching the World cup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507414/
Look close if you want to find him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507622/

A great big thank you to Ken, Gina for giving D'artagnan a wonderful
forever home and to David for donating housing!!!!

Together we DO change the world!!!! You are D'artagnan's HEROES!
You've taken him from the streets of DC where he was being bumped and
banged about to a wonderful luxury home where his every need will be met.


SUMMER OF YOUTH STARTS THURSDAY
A 10 week long course for youth and those young at heart. You'll be
learning all about the animals of Rikki's Refuge - all 22 species !!!
Helping to feed and clean, train dogs with a professional, fundraising,
and all kinds of fun fun fun. Make your summer COUNT!!! Ask me how you
can join us !!!!


OK .. SIT ... STAY ... TAKE A TEA BREAK
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

I'll stick with Fancy Feast but mommey would sure love some of these if
anybody wants to reward her for opening my Fancy Feast !!!!
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=ToppingChaiSugarOrganic
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=WhiteDokeJasmine
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=BlackVanilla
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=ChaiMasala2Organic


IS ALL THIS HEAT MAKING YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ON THE WATER?
Always wanted to be able to hook up that boat trailer, head out to your
favorite lake and just laze around on the water? What's stopping you?
$ ka-ching $ ka-ching$ ka-ching Oh!! Yeah!! That hooman money thing!!!
Where are YOU going to get the $s to own your very own boat - and
trailer too????

Got Five Bucks for a Boat???
Yeah!! You heard me right!! At Rikki's Refuge $5 could buy you a
boat!!!

The boat is a 14 foot aluminium 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 $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!


Do you LIKE Music? LOVE Music?
Mike made us a fabulous 20 minute slide show. We want to have a cd of
music to play along side it. maybe more than one!!! Can you come up
with a cd of your favorite tunes that portray a feeling of love and
compassion and feeling? Something uplifting, joyous, inspiring, happy.
I'd like to hear your choice. Send your cd to Vincent, Rikki's
Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960


WANT TO LEARN NEW SKILLS?
Join us as we work on summer projects.
The new Quarantine Quarters needs exterior painting, interior insultion,
wall boards and ceilings, lighting, vinyl flooring - some and help out
and learn how to improve YOUR own home !!! Please bring an 18 pound bag
of cat food as admission to each class.


MAKE RIKKI'S BEAUTIFUL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225592/
Rene?
?? Nothing will ever beat Pana, but we can give her some
competition!!!!
Available: HUGE surfaces just waiting for murals!!!!


RABBIT ROTUNDA II IS GOING UP!
The poles are in. This Saturday is trenching so the fence will be
recessed for diggers. Chain link goes on next. Gates get installed. A
center structure / gazabo goes up, the roof goes on. Please bring 20
pounds of guinea pig or rabbit food as admission to work on this project !!!


DOUBLE YOUR DONATION
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day
This wonderful double your donation special is going on thru midnight on
the 24th. Not much time left. If we can reach $1,000 here - It will be
matched with another $1,000 !!! Please Chip In !!!!


Make YOUR critters as famous as ME !!!!
We're having a photo contest!!! And it's open now - 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 the same e-mail address on both so we can
link them up. Please limit photos to 5 x 7 inches and 72 dpi. We might
not be able to down load anything else.

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. The top 12
will be on the web site. The winner will be displayed in full size in
Reflections. The runner ups will be there but 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.....


I'M ON TV AGAIN
in Prince William !!!! Getting a massage from Ms. Virginia! Jealous
?????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rhXXbLqy0c


SO YOU KNOW THE OFFICE HAS A LOFT.
Snickers the evil office kitty has claimed this as HER domain! There's
a ladder and she can zip up and down at lightning speed. Especially if
she sees Lena coming. She hates Lena. Lena cuts her claws and gives
her icky worming medicine and puts stinky flea drops on her. She hates
Lena. the minute she sees Lena, she starts snarling and growling and
heads straight up her ladder.


Nobody messes with Snickers.
This is what she does if you do.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4454539347/

Sam, 20 years old, has recently learned to go up and down the ladder to
the loft. Well up anyway. He does up really good. He's still a bit
awkward on the down part. Me? I don't do ladders!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4479881710/


So Sam is up in the loft snoozing.
Snickers is sitting half way on the ladder not yet decided if it's up
time or down time. She spends a lot of time just sitting on a rung of
the ladder undecided. Ancient Psycho Shadow comes in the office and mom
opens a can for him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4685189111/


Hiss snarl, kaboom..clatter..clunk
Sam hears that pop top and in a flash he's coming down the ladder - to
heck with Snickers in the way - trying to bound over her, around her, he
don't care he just wants down. Snickers, caught in the middle of some
commotion she's yet to figure out what, starts bounding up the ladder.
They collide and spat and hiss and slap. But lucky nobody falls off.
And Sam gets down to take the food away from Shadow.


Voting EVERY DAY is really important
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
Please make this a really serious campaign. Get every body you know to
vote. Invite just three new people every day to start voting. If you
will be willing to spend just a couple minutes voting for me every day
thru August 22, you can keep Rikki's as the top in the state and we can
win money.


Do you know what money means at Rikki's?
It means LIFE. Plain and simple. With out money we don't get to live.
Mom needs money to care for us.


You are my HERO
Thanks for voting every day !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4714244838/
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

MY BROFUR SPIDER WENT TO RAINBOW BRIDGE
It happened very suddenly the other night. It looked like he had a
stroke. He was a great big healthy long haired black boy. He had
leukemia, but had always been very healthy. He came here almost 6 years
ago, when he was only 12 weeks old. He had the longest gangly legs, and
he skittered all over the place, up and down walls. He was just growing
in long hair and looked all prickly and scraggly and that's why he got
the name Spider. He was always full of life and loved everything, his
human visitors, his brofurs and sisfurs. He'd love to greet new kittens
and play with them his whole life. Everybody was Spider's friend. He's
the guy in Cat House #2 who'd ride shoulders. Just the second you
stepped in he'd run for you and climb up to your shoulder and ride
around rubbing your face and purring. Every now and then he'd leap off,
do racing circles around the run and then climb back up again.

You have lots of friends at Rainbow Bridge Spider, I'm glad you had 6
years to love life.

Some of you may think this is bad new.
But I think it's good news. Spider had six wonderful years of
happiness, joy and fun. He never knew there was a thing wrong with him.
Did his leukemia kill him? It probably, at least, contributed to it.
But even hoomans in their 30's can suddenly die from something like a
stroke. I don't think Spider was ever sick a day in his life, at least
never anything more than a cold. But that blood test in a shelter,
those six long years ago, when he was just a poor little orphaned stray
kitten - was a death sentence.

If you were not there making Rikki's Refuge possible, not creating this
safe haven for animals society does not consider worth saving - he'd
have been dead 6 years ago. Instead YOU saved him and YOU allowed him
to live a wonderful life of joy for all the time possible, a full six
years.

The older a cat is when he contracts leukemia the longer they usually
live with the disease. A kitten born with it often only has months or a
year or two at best to live. Six years is fabulous!!!

Was his life worth it? It cost $3,384 to house him for six years,
provide for him, feed him, give him routine preventative medications,
vitamins and supplements, lots of yummy food, canned and dry and treats
and special nums, to give him clean litter, a clean blanket, to mow his
grass and keep his house in good repair.

I think that $3,384 was very well spent!! I loved my brofur Spider,
even though I wasn't allowed to play with him (cuz I don't have
leukemia). I know he thought it was worth it!!!! He was the purfect
picture of a kitty loving life.


Live long and prosper, all my leukemia friends!!!
We have donors out there who agree that your lives are worth it!!!!
No matter how long or how short - every day is worth it.


$47 a month provides the total care for one kitty!!!!
This is story time and not nagging time, yet if you can, would you help
us care for the kitties and the doggies and the goats and the pigs ....
here. It's really difficult this month, I think lots of folks are on
vacation and have forgotten to support us. The 'lectricity goes off on
the 27th and I won't be able to write to you anymore cuz the 'puter
needs 'lectricity. http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


FROM THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
Spider sent me a photo and I was surprised!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs347.ash1/29504_130714486946075_100000225729967_377839_4026602_n.jpg
He told me his home coming present was a brand new truck and a set of
keys! Bast pointed to the Rainbow Bridge and said, There my friend, on
the other side of the bridge is a kitty food store where the doors are
always open and you need no money! And off Spider zoomed .... he's
trying to find a way to send some back to this side !!!!!


OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE READING THIS
you get Hairballs and Happy Tails. This comes out about once a week ..
or when I can get my paws on the 'puter. Once upon a time, not so very
long ago, there was so much Bad News going around on facebook that
morning that I was getting depressed so I posted Good Morning Good News
and told a couple happy stories. I needed to smile and feel good. I
work better when I feel good. When I smile I remember why I work my
paws to the bone saving my kindred spirits. When I get sad and
depressed I think I'm just getting no where and then I don't do such a
good job.

I was so surprised when lots of my friends wrote and said WOW thank YOU
for making my day. I was drying and when I read your post, I smiled and
I was able to get back in the swing of things and do good. Please send
me a note every morning!


EVERY MORNING??? WOW THAT'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.
But I decided to do it. One of my very important jobs is to make YOU
happy. When YOU are happy, when YOU feel empowered, it's easier for YOU
to be somebody's HERO !!!!

Soon some of my Hairball friends heard about how happy my face book
friends were and they asked to get a subscription to Good Morning Good
News and so it began. I had my special list of my VIP friends who help
out at Rikki's a lot and they start their day with a smile thanks to
Good Morning Good News.


If you're not getting Good Morning Good News
I'd be happy to give you a subscription. Can you guess what the price
is? Oh I know, you're thinking that sly kitty, he's gonna ask for
something like Fancy Feast. But you're wrong!!! I'm gonna ask that you
smile and that every day you try, just one little bit of a few minutes,
to be somebody's HERO. That'll make you smile too.

If you want to start getting Good Morning Good News tomorrow just put on
a big smile and tell me !!! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


FUN AT FUNLAND FEEDS THE FATCATS
And everybody else too !!!!

YOU get to PLAY and have FUN - WE get to EAT !!!! Now what better deal
is there?
Have Fun and Help the Rikki's Animals

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/funland%20day.html --- print your
flyer here, you MUST have this flyer in hand when you buy your entrance
wristband to get this SPECIAL PRICE and to participate in the FUNDRAISER
FOR RIKKI'S. Print out a dozen and take all your friends.

Somebody come pick me up - I wanna ride a bumper car !!!!!

Print out hundreds of flyers and pass them out everywhere - Funland will
donate $5 to Rikki's for every participant on July 24th!!!!

Central Park Fun Land
1351 Central Park Boulevard, Fredericksburg (540) 785-6700
www.centralparkfun-land.com
Saturday, July 24, 2010 2:00 PM-10:00 PM
$20 Unlimited Rides & Attractions (For an additional $5, receive $10
in arcade tokens! Games are 1 or 2 tokens each.)
For every wristband sold Rikki's Refuge will get $5

You must present this flyer when purchasing the wristband for this
special price
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/funland%20day.html
so print out a dozen and keep them in your car!

TONS OF FUN INDOORS AND OUT!!!
40,000+ square foot facility, over 4 acres, arcade games, food, rides,
and attractions, Two Go Kart Tracks, Bumper Boats, Batting Cage, Laser
Tag, Rock Wall, Bumper Cars, The Frog Hopper, The Himalaya, The
Jett-Star indoor mini roller coaster, HUGE Soft Play Maze for the kids,
Billiard Tables, Over 100 Video and Arcade Games, Pizza and tasty
treats, Miniature Golf, Water Wars NEWEST WATER BALLOON WARZONE!

WOW something for everybody - no matter how young or how old you are -
this is THE place to be on July 24th. You PARTY - We EAT !!!!

You must present the flyer when purchasing the wristband for this
special price.

Have fun! Who's taking Vincent on the go-carts??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727204992/


World's Best Pet Parent Photo Contest
http://www.petfinder.com/best-pet-parent-contest
Enter the best pic of you and your pet, and a short essay on why you are
the best parent, before July 25th. Designate your favorite shelter as
Virginia, Rikki Refuge and if your picture is the best Rikki's can win
up to $10,000. EVERYBODY get out there and enter. All entries are
great publicity for Rikki's AND

I'll put your photos and essays in future editions of Hairballs too !!!


CHILI COOK OFF
Ahhh to hot for that -- but by October 17th from Noon to 4 pm when
Culpeper Animal Hospital has their fall animal fundraiser you'll be
looking forward to something warming!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225486/
Block that date off in your calendar!!!!


OUR CURRENT NEEDS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225538/

Money - gotta catch up on the bills, really critical right now, mom's
been making phone calls and begging to be allowed to get more food, more
time to pay up. Things had been going ok since Christmas and then
Summer can and I guess everybody's gone off on vacation and forgot to
help us out. We have no way of getting money except from you nice
hoomans. If you can help, please, please do -- if every one of you
just spared us $5 it'd keep us going another week.
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Need pickup in Aroda in early July - can you help?
John writes in: Hi. We live in Aroda, near Good Hope Baptist Church.
We're remodeling our kitchen and have a Kenmore 21 cu ft, Energy Star
(very quiet), bisque refrigerator that we want to give to charity. It
was purchased new in 2002 and is in excellent condition. If you're
interested, someone would have to pick it up the beginning of July. We
can be reached at 540-661-3275.
John and Linda Cann lcann.diabetes@gmail.com If you can help please
contact them. We're ok right now, but would feel very comfortable and
safe with a fridge in storage for the next disaster ......

Spare Newspapers? Recycle them here! We're saving bunches using them
instead of puppy pads!

Pray that the cat litter packaging factory will have an extra pallet to
donate soon!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4341980865/

Nice smelling stuff to put in the mop water - but no pine sol type stuff
as the pine oil is bad for us.

Cat food - how'd you guess !!! Canned and dry are really needed bad here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4685189111/

High protein high fat puppy food for Lucky doggy who desperately is
trying to gain some weight.
Hey doggies, get your mom or dad to make a $25 minimum donation for Feed
Lucky Fund and I'll send you a sample pack of dog treats !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4654847990/

Carrots, apples, spinich for the rabbits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/194806638

Paper Towels: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/3654855155

Oranges for the guinea pigs.

Romaine Lettuce for Nanny.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4311420679/

Cat food - anything, dry and canned needed - either that or take a cat !!!!!

17 sheets of a good quality tile board for the walls of the new
quarantine building. We're ready to insulate and then put up the
board!!! Wanna come help!!

Tarps for shade.

Small kids plastic swimming pools. No silly, the goats don't use them.
The ducks and geese do!

Trash bags.

Sandwich sized zip lock baggies - for meds.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4726579689/
YOU and your MOWER - come on out and get to work !!!!!!

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


WHERE IN THE WORLD IS VINCENT ?
Web: www.RikkisRefuge.org
Twitter: rikkisrefuge
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vincent-D-Cat/370191432578?v=photos&ref=ts#!/pages/Vincent-D-Cat/370191432578?ref=ts
Blog: http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/
TV: http://vimeo.com/11079648 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rhXXbLqy0c
Vote: http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA


THANK YOU
For saving our lives and giving us hope and love and comfort and care
every single day!!!

True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through
fidelity to a worthy purpose.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225672/
See you next week!!!!

Love, Vincent
6/23/10


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.


--
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