Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 26, 2011

I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy!  You are HEROES!  You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day!  Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things.  And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here!  All pawsitive all the time!  I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!!  Be kind and pass it on!  Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!!  After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org















VOTE TODAY
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
YOU voted Rikki’s Refuge #1 in Virginia in 2010
Let’s do it again for 2011
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

Team Vincent GO
go for the touchdown
YOU can do it Vincent HEROES
VOTE
we’re only 1.7% from 6th place
MOVE US UP
VOTE VOTE VOTE
spread the word
you know SOMEONE not yet voting!!!

TOGETHER we can WIN this race!





Bissell MVP Contest

YEAHHHH
YOU are real HEROES
YOU put Rockie Shirt Monster in 4th place
with 989 votes!
Running for Rikki’s Refuge
since she’s in the top 5
Rockie’ll go on to the finals and could win $10,000
for Rikki’s Refuge!!

Our third week runner is Jimmy Jet!
Vote daily thru Tuesday February 2nd for Jimmy Jet
I’m not sure who Jimmy is running for,
he may have his own rescue group,
will let you know when I find out,
in any case,
he’s my FRIEND and we’re backing him this week

Jimmy Jet was a stray kitten and lost his eyesight at 7 weeks old. Now in his furever home, he’s super happy and loves to go to schools and events and teach people that being specially abled is super cool !

Yahhhh Jimmy!

quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge



My Favorite Quote, Today
Courage
boy don’t we need that lots of the time!!!

Gees, this Good Morning was about ready to send out when the snow got heavy and we all had to go outside to work.  It looks just about like that around here.  Right now there are two happy souls here at Rikki's!  Beauty and KiKi.


Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.            
----Confucius

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.             
---Serenity Prayer  (I like the one mom had hanging up, something about the wisdom to hide the bodies!!!)

I do not ask to walk smooth paths nor bear an easy load. I pray for strength and fortitude to climb the rock strewn road. Give me such courage and I can scale the hardest peaks alone, And transform every stumbling block into a stepping stone.   
--- Gale Brook Burket

And of course, my favorite
Way down deep, we're all motivated by the same urges.  Cats have the courage to live by them.              
---Jim Davis


Refuge News

SUNDAY    January 30, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, help waterfowl rescue personal capture an injured goose who’s eluding them on a semi-frozen pond.  People who can follow instruction and who are willing to patiently work to help this goose are needed.  Contact Ken klicklit@valleyhealthlink.com if you can meet up in Winchester, VA and help.


Marella trained mom very well. When she wants to walk across the desk, instead of trampling across the keyboard, she walks up to the edge of the computer, looks at mom and waits for mom to shut the lid of the laptop so she can slowly walk across to the other side of the desk. She’ll then sit there for a few minutes, decide the desk is greener on the other side, turn around and repeat the act.


Update on Pegasus.  Kitty who was sick and injured that the speuter clinic sent to Rikki’s.  He’s doing fantastic!!!!  Eating like a true oinker.  Looking good.  Gaining weight.  On a massive worming program and what’s coming out would qualify in Parasitology 101 for sure.   He thanks you for helping to save his life.  He’s still hissing but mom can pat him when he eats and he doesn’t slap away a bowl if you set it down near him.  Still scared, but you can’t blame him.


Update on Anya:  Elderly doggy who was abandoned by owners and all matted and shaved down.  She’s staying close to home (and being watched very carefully) since her long trek in the woods.  Doing great.  She’s a really loving sweet dog.  If you’re home all day and would like a gentle collie gal leaning against you, she’s the one!!  Her fur is starting to grow in, about an inch long now.  Thank you for saving Anya.


Update on Patches:  Kitty hit by car in October.  He’s regained a little sight but not fully.  The sight began to come back long after there was any hope it would.  So we’re still hoping for more!!!   Every uneasy with hoomans, but loves his kitty companions.  So very happy to be learning his way about the 9th Life Center and curling up with 3 or 4 friends to sleep.  Thank you for saving Patches.

Click here to be a Rikki’s Partner, Saving Lives


Donna writes in:  Deloris and I trapped 16 cats on Saturday for Operation Catnip on Sunday.  We have been so busy.  We are working on a colony of 75 cats.  It is never ending - always so many cats/kittens that need to be spayed/neutered.


Thank you Donna and Deloris for doing your part to make the planet a better place!!!



IN SEARCH OF A NEW HOME

Just got a call on a 15 year old cat who’s owner has been placed in a nursing home.  No other info at this time.  9th Life is full and we cannot add anyone at this time.  Any chance you’d like a kitty for a few years???   Let me know.  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


Suster Mary is trying to help place a small beagle mix, Patty -- she is about a year old, very high energy although not enough toy drive to work in search and rescue; she can climb a 10' chain link fence and walk along the top rail (and has done so!) -- desperately needs a "job," training, and a home.  She gets along well with other dogs and with people (don't know about cats).  She is currently in Chesapeake City, MD.

If you have any ideas, or know of anyone who works with agility dogs, please will you let me know.  I will get a photo -- Patty is about 18-20 lbs, mostly brown.

Thanks,  Sister Mary   sistermw@bwave.com


Owner moving - 2 dogs. 
Turbo is an 8 year old neutered Minuature Pinscher. He is Black with Brown markings and a White Blaze on his chest. He is house and crate trained. When Turbo gets excited he starts to bounce and zoom around the room. He enjoys going for walks and having his ears rubbed. His absolute favorite thing is to snuggle under a blanket! He is well trained and is not underfoot all the time.  He gets along with kids.  He is up to date on all of his shots and receives a monthly dose of Frontline. Turbo gets along with other dogs males & females, as well as cats.  Along with Turbo comes: Crate, Leash, Harness, Bowl, Sweater, Coat

Callisto is named after a moon of Jupiter. She is a 10 year old spayed Pure Bred Siberian Husky. She is Grey and White with Baby Blue eyes. She is house and crate trained. When Callisto gets excited she talks as only a Husky can! She absolutely loves going for walks and having her ears and belly rubbed. She will sit there and let you pet her for hours but will also go lay down when told to. She is well trained and is not underfoot all the time. She will get along with kids as well.  She likes to find a spot and watch over everything that is going on. She is up to date on all of her shots and receives a monthly dose of Frontline.  Along with Callisto comes: Crate, Leash, Harness, Bed, Bowl, Dog Food Container

I am moving due to my job being eliminated and I am no longer able to keep my pets.
If interested, please contact Brandon Ward at (814) 450-8276 or phipsi151@hotmail.com.




Live from Vincent Video
Meet David Skinner - working on Rabbit Rotunda II Roof  






THE OASIS SANCTUARY

The Oasis Sanctuary in Arizona is 1.7% ahead of us in the Shelter Challenge. 

Do you know why?

It’s simple.

Because more of their supporters are voting daily than our supporters are.

Did you know that YOUR DAILY VOTE could change that?

Some of you have said, “does my vote REALLY count?”

Yes, YOU really count.  So VOTE !!!!

Oasis Sanctuary is another wonderful animal place.  Parrots are their primary species.  And they are true experts.  Sybil who founded and who runs the Oasis is a great lady.  Over the years, she and mom have talked and exchanged ideas. 

Look at this!  Saturday May 7, 2011, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Discover The Oasis 2011 is a full day of fun, food, silent auction, speakers and tours of the facility. Tickets are $75 per person for the full day.   (Ticket sales limited to the first 100 registrants)

What are we doing wrong?  Tickets to our Open Houses cost less than $1.  Just the price of a can or two of cat or dog food.  WHY?

Rikki’s is called an all species Sanctuary because our Sanctuary doors are open to YOU too.  Feeling down, depressed, sad about a loss of a loved one of any species?  Come for a visit!  You can’t stay unhappy when you look into the loving happy eyes of our 1259 residents of 22 species.  All who have found home and haven at Rikki’s Refuge. 

The most common things we hear on tours.
THE ANIMALS ARE SO HAPPY.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT SPECIES PLAYING TOGETHER.
IT’S TRULY LIKE EDEN.

And it’s true.  Our goal from day one has been happiness.  Life long happiness.  As a Sanctuary for animals rejected by society for one problem or another, be it mental or physical, we want nothing more than to give them happiness, acceptance and love for the rest of their natural lives.

And we do a pretty dog gone good job of it!!  Just come out on the next tour - Sundays at noon - and see the happy animals for yourself!

Animal happiness is our number one goal.  Do you know what our number two goal is?  Teaching hoomans to be happy and to respect animals and to help us make animals the world over happy.  We think this is very very important.  Every child we teach animal responsibility to will become a caring adult, passing on the message.  That’s all it takes to make the world a wonderful happy place.  Show the kids how.  Show them how it makes them happy too.  Seriously, that’s it!!

And that’s why we have so many programs for education and that’s why they are virtually free.  In the summer Teen Care Camp runs for 10 weeks, where our future leaders are trained in the art of caring.  And you know what it costs?  Just the carpooled trip to the refuge!  This gives kids from every walk of life a chance to learn and experience 10 weeks of unconditional love.

You’ll be reading more and more about our programs for hoomans as we share the huge report mom and Kathy put together for the CFC.




HUMAN HEALTH AND WELFARE PROGRAMS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIKKI’S REFUGE

Today we bring Section 3 to you. 

Melanie, you’re a star!




The Cats of Cod
Cod is a whimisical town where the animals of facebook who’ve taken on hooman personas live.  Wayne Morris is your artist and architect of Cod.  And now .....  your long awaited trip ....  we take you to Cod .....   I hope you enjoy your journey!    .....  go back to January 17th if you missed the beginning of the story.



Duke: So these VOTES HELP Feed US?  Can I Vote for A Bone?
Vincent: No Duke, Humans can Vote ONLY!  By Visiting Rikki's Refuge They can Find OUT HOW!   AND IT IS FREE!!!!!



Black Cat: Hello Gents, Welcome To Cod!  Got any FISH
Vincent: Who in the World is this CAT?
Black Cat: Let me show ya around!  That’s the Bank of COD!


stay tuned to meet the other kitties of COD .......




Fun and Inspiring






Tails of Trivia
A skunk can spray its stinky scent more than 10 feet.

The glands that hold the spray can produce enough to hold 5-6 full powered sprays.

After a discharge it takes up to 10 days to replenish their supply.

Spotted skunks do handstands before they spray.

Skunks eat mostly insects, many of which are pests to humans.   They are therefore very beneficial to have around.

Chicago is derived from a Fox Indian term for 'place of the skunk' indicating that these animals were once abundant there




On this Day in
January 20, 1645 - the lowest recorded temp in US -70 in MT

January 25, 1915 - the first transcontinental phone call from Alexander Graham Bell in NY to Thomas Watson in San Francisco

January 26, 1875 - the electric drill for dentist patented

January 21, was National Hugging Day - here’s a great big cat hug to make up for me missing that!!!

January 21, is also Squirrel Appreciation Day - love them little guys!

January 22, was Answer Your Cat's Questions Day - Hmmm do they ask anything but, where’s dinner?

Today January 26, is Fun at Work Day - oh believe me, we’re having loads of fun in the sleet and snow!!!



Great Purrchases / Donations

WOW what a Valentine’s Gift !!!
I am selling a very expensive movie prop necklace I own to finance my bid to compete in June on my journey to become the next Mrs. United States. I am donating 10% of the value via eBay's MissionFish to Rikki's Refuge to help the shelter. 
If you are a Titanic fan and interested, please visit my eBay auction for the authentic J. Peterman 1998 "Heart Of The Ocean" necklace from the movie. A limited number of this Fox-authorized replica of Roses' necklace were released in 1998 and these will become rarer as the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic takes place next year in 2012. Definitely a unique conversation piece for any woman to own and WHAT AN AMAZING VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT THIS WOULD BE!

Click here to see the ebay listing

Please note 10% of the final auction proceeds will be automatically donated via eBay to benefit Rikki's Refuge of Orange, VA, a no kill rescue shelter. Listing can be found under item #230577185644, seller Thequeenscourt or under description J. Peterman Heart of the Ocean Titanic Necklace. Thanks!

Autumn-Skye Port, Ms. East Coast USA



Get your Tupperware NOW
Great selection and just about the last chance to have it benefit Rikki’s Refuge - this promotion will be closing soon,
so click for your rescue friendly Tupperware today!!




SPEUTER CLINIC - FERAL CATS - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
These are the folks who saved Pegasus, show your thanks by supporting their next clinic!

The next VFA Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic will be on Saturday, February 5th.  There are still many slots available for feral or stray cats from Charlottesville or Albemarle County.  We know there are plenty out there, so please spread the word!  Anyone wanting to bring cats from these areas to the clinic should call 434-979-1200 to make a reservation.

Although we are generally well-staffed with volunteers for the 5th, we still need help in  a few places, and we're hoping you'll be available to join us.   Volunteers are needed for:

**Admissions Transporters  7:30AM to approx. 9 AM. ( Carrying traps with cats from the CASPCA front entrance to the garage waiting area)

** Anesthesia Transporter 7:30 AM until early afternoon.(Carrying traps with cats from the garage waiting area to the anesthesia hall a few feet away) 

** Recovery Transporter 9:30 AM to mid- afternoon. (Picking up traps from the cleaning area  and carrying recovered cats in the traps to the garage)

**Trap Cleaning 9 AM to early afternoon. (Even if you  only have a couple hours to help, that would be appreciated too!)

**Afternoon Recovery 12:30 PM to mid- afternoon

**Clinic Set up Friday the 4th from 4 PM to approx. 6 PM.

**Clinic Clean up on the 5th from 3 PM to approx. 5 PM.

**Laundry:  Pick up a bag or two from 3PM to approx. 5 PM.

If you can volunteer for any of these or have questions, please let Dian know as soon as possible.  Please help us keep the good work going!   Thanks!  Dian dian1021@hotmail.com





Upcoming Events
SATURDAYS            DONATION DROP OFF,  noon - 2 pm,  got something to drop off quick?  The gates will be unlocked.  No tour at this time, just drop off.  Donation Drop Off will be available every Saturday from noon - 2 pm in 2011

SUNDAYS            TOUR THE REFUGE - NOON, mini tour, take a walk around and see the animal neighborhoods.  Every week on Sunday you can join a mini tour where you can walk around from animal neighborhood to neighborhood, from Piggy Paradise to Horsey Haven and see the animals.   One tour only, starts at noon.  Please be prompt.

Once a month,  we’ll have an EXTENDED TOUR where you can visit the animals in their neighborhoods and have the chance to interact and give them treats.  These tours also start promptly at noon, and there’s only one tour for the day, so please be prompt.     1/30, 2/27, 3/27, 4/17, 5/22, 6/12, 7/4 Monday, 9/4 Monday, 10/31, 11/12 Saturday, 12/25


LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH            VOLUNTEER TRAIN SELF SERVICE 8 am - 1 pm, Learn to earn your Self Service Volunteer Badge.   1/29, 2/26, 3/26, 4/30, 5/28, 6/25, 7/30, 8/27, 9/24, 10/29, 11/26, 12/31


SATURDAY    January 29, GETTING READY FOR GROUNDHOGS - spend time sprucing things up for the bunnies and guines pigs

SUNDAY    January 30, CHICKEN CITY FEATHER FLUFFING - keep the bedding extra warm for our feathered friends, bring bird seed, cracked corn and berries



Love,
Vincent
PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved.  Scheduled as needed.  Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us!  Scheduled daily.  Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s!  Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377.  A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 25, 2011


I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy!  You are HEROES!  You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day!  Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things.  And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here!  All pawsitive all the time!  I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!!  Be kind and pass it on!  Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!!  After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org





VOTE TODAY
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
YOU voted Rikki’s Refuge #1 in Virginia in 2010
Let’s do it again for 2011
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

YOU ARE AWESOME PAWSOME
MY HEORES ARE HOLDING
at 7th place
VOTE and don’t let nobody beat us
!!!!


Everyone beautiful is voting for Vincent!!




Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 25th for Rockie Shirt Monster
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge

909 votes right now,
only a few hours to get her over 1,000
and into the finals
VOTE QUICK

click Rockie to vote

YOU can do it !!!!

VOTE




Refuge News
Sorry to be so short today.  Somehow the day just got away.  Valerie yelled, “Vincent, we’re just about out of food, what are YOU going to do about that?”  And so come mid morning I planned just a quick trip to town.  So I hook up the extra big 6 goat cart to go pick up a special order of 90 cases of food. Get there and they say, oh yes we have your BIG order, HOW many animals do YOU have. And they roll out a cart with 9 cases .... 9 .... not 90 ..... I'm like WHERE's the rest? They say REST? Oh I thought 90 was a mistake and it really meant 9.

So I had to load up a cart with all the rest of the food they had on the shelves.  And that was only a day’s worth.  And we trekked to the next store ... and loaded up more ... then the goats got hungry and tried to pull the cart off into the grass and tipped it over ... and all by my little self, I had to pick up all those cans and load the cart back up.  And then convince the goats to go to two more stores.  Feeding all these animals is hard hard work!

Gotta get back out there and unload this cart ‘fore it gets too dark to see what I’m doing ......


Meet some of the goats who helped me today, live on Vincent’s Video!



Love,
Vincent
PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved.  Scheduled as needed.  Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us!  Scheduled daily.  Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s!  Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377.  A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Monday, January 24, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 24, 2011


I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy!  You are HEROES!  You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day!  Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things.  And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here!  All pawsitive all the time!  I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!!  Be kind and pass it on!  Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!!  After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org








VOTE TODAY
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
YOU voted Rikki’s Refuge #1 in Virginia in 2010
Let’s do it again for 2011
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

HEROES HEROES HEROES
YOU ARE THE BESTEST
YOU put us back in 7th place overnight
we’re ahead of Best Friends
can you believe that?
Best Friends!!! 
the bestest on the planet
VOTE VOTE VOTE
and keep us there
!!!!


YOU can say YOU were Vincent’s HERO before he became famous!




Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 25th for Rockie Shirt Monster
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click here to Vote for Rockie
705 votes right now, we've only got today and tomorrow to get her over 1,000 !!!
YOU can do it !!!!
VOTE


Refuge News
Real brief again today.  Mom says she needs MY ‘puter to do her continuing education.  Poo on her.  I can get educated with out no classes!!   Why is all the deadlines in January?

I sure hope to be back on track with Good Morning in a day or two. 

Wanna see the CFC report I wrote for mom?  How Vincent and the other animals at Rikki’s helps da hoomans too!

It’s really really long, like way longer than my tail - so I’ll start this tale with just one section today .....

And is it any surprise that I’m the start of page ONE!!!



Seez you tomorrow - and hey, did me a favor, tell mom to butt off my puter!!!    She knows how to use a can opener - she’s educated enough!

Love,
Vincent
PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved.  Scheduled as needed.  Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us!  Scheduled daily.  Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s!  Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377.  A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 23, 2011


I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy!  You are HEROES!  You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day!  Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things.  And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here!  All pawsitive all the time!  I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!!  Be kind and pass it on!  Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!!  After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org





VOTE TODAY
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
YOU voted Rikki’s Refuge #1 in Virginia in 2010
Let’s do it again for 2011
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

Hey what’s up guys!!  And gals!!!  So I’m off a couple days and you let us fall back to 8th place?  Come on!!  No fair.  Get to voting and let’s reclaim 7th place!!!

No matter where in the universe you are, get to a computer and VOTE!





Bissell MVP Contest
Last week, you helped to vote Zoe into second place, so that mean she's going to the finals, and has a chance to win $10,000 for Rikki's Refuge.  This week Rockie Shirt Monster is running for Rikki's.  Rockie currently has 541 votes, hurry and get your votes in, so she can break 1,000, and make it to the finals.  Vote for Rockie today, Monday and Tuesday.

Now running in Week Two for Rikki’s Refuge
Rockie Shirt Monster
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 25th for Rockie
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click Rockie to vote! 





Refuge News


Sorry I've been away.  I had to let mom use my ‘puter.  She had to work day and night to get the essays done for CFC.  I, of course, had to sit on mom's feet to keep her warm, and that's been a very difficult job these last couple of days.    

The Combined Federal Campaign is extremely important for funding Rikki's Refuge.  The report will also be used for the Commonwealth Virginia Campaign, CVC.  These programs allow federal employees and state employees to make donations through payroll deductions.  Donating just a dollar a pay period, will take care of an animal for a day.  If only 500,000 people made a commitment like that, one dollar a week, we be able to take care of everybody at the refuge!

Not quite that many people sign up, though many are much more generous than one dollar every paycheck.  And it all adds up to about 15 percent of our funding every year.  So it's really important.  Because if mom doesn't get her reports done, then we can't be on the list for CFC or CVC giving, and that means it would be my job to beg you for that extra 15 percent.

A great big huge thank you to Kathy who stayed up all nights working with mom, and spent every second she could during the days, and who is, at this very moment, working on making copies, collating, tabulating and binding. 

Kathy has been with Rikki's Refuge almost since the very very beginning.  Even before I came to Rikki's Refuge. The very first meeting of Rikki's Refuge and the planning for how to start cleaning up the property and preparing to become a sanctuary was on October 31st 1998 in Fairfax County Virginia.  Mom had said everybody should dress up as animals for the event, which was to be held in a public library.  Fairfax County cable TV was very excited, and wanted to come out and film the meeting.  But when they arrived at the meeting and found that most everybody had refused to dress up they lost interest and left.  So just think, if everybody was as crazy as my mom, Rikki's Refuge might've been on TV from day one!

Anyway, at that meeting is scheduled workdays was planned. The very first work day would be November 7th, 1998.  Dozens upon dozens of people said they would show up to help.  Mom passed out directions to the farm, 86 miles away, that was to become Rikki's Refuge.  Three people ended up calling mom to ask if they could ride with her, to Tamaki, Janet and Mickey.  Once they arrived and began to look around at the rundown property in the yard filled with trash, Joe popped out of the cornfield and said, “Is this the place to become the Cat Farm?” 

At first Tamaki, Janet, Mickey and mom thought he was a squatter who was probably gonna kill them all.  But it turned out he'd heard about the refuge from a friend who worked with someone who had come to the meeting, and he was there to help.

A few other folks straggled in during the day.  Some of them looking at the 30 some odd old appliances in the front yard, the trash and junk strewn all over the place, the rundown, falling down barn filled with junk, the acres and acres of corn; and they began to laugh, and said, “You can never do anything with this place!  You'll never be able to do anything here!  Why bother trying?”  And they left. 

Well, the ones who stayed, manage to clean all that up and go on to build what you know today as Rikki's Refuge. 

Many years after Rikki's was running, one of the day one quitters wandered down the driveway. He asked if it had ever become an animal sanctuary and mom said take a look around.  He said, “WOW, I was here for the first work party, and I saw so much work ahead but I figured nothing would ever happen, so I left.  I'm really amazed you guys stuck it out and built something here.”

Well anyway, to carry on with the story of Kathy.  She wasn’t there for the first work party in November of 1998.  She hadn't yet heard of the farm that was to become Rikki's Refuge.  She was worried about a contained feral colony that was in Stafford.  The owner of the land and the colony was moving, selling the property, and wanted the cats gone.  About 30 feral kitties.  Kathy had been volunteering to help clean and take care of these kitties, and was now really worried about where they would move to.  She prayed for an answer.

St. Anthony came to her in a dream and said Ricky will look after your animals.  She had no idea what that meant and she had never heard of Rikki's Refuge.  She began searching on the Internet and found some reference to Rikki's Refuge and feral cats.  She picked up the phone and called.  By Christmas of 1998 Kathy was an active member, on the Board of Directors and had begun the planning of Cat House Number One. 

Once we got possession of the farmhouse, by politely convincing the tenets that came with the property that it really was time for them to move on, Kathy was one of the few people who would spend days or weeks at the refuge to ensure that Rikki's Refuge was off to a successful start.  Sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor in the only remotely usable room in the dilapidated farmhouse, whose only source of heat was a falling apart wood stove that would burst out great gulps of black smoke, whose broken windows were covered with newspapers, whose roof was leaking, and which had no hot water, no phone lines; we were talking serious rustic here.

Well you know the story from there, how all the volunteers worked hard, made the house livable, started to build animal areas, and now today we have the housing for 1250 animals of 22 species.  It's still pretty rustic, but the hoomans who've been here from the beginning, and to all of us animals, it sure seems pretty luxurious!



I really want to thank all of you who sent me stories and testimonies to use with our CFC report.  Soon I will start to get them up online, and share them with you, is altogether, it made a really lovely heartwarming story, all about what Rikki's Refuge does, not only for the animals, but for all sizes and shapes of hoomans too.

You especially made me purr when I read the stories about what Good Morning Good News means to you.  I am so happy that I am able to make so many of you smile, and have something to look forward to every day.  That's my goal in life, is to make everybody happy and smile! Well, and to make sure we all have Fancy Feast!

Did you know that Good Morning Good News just sort of started by accident one day? I was gonna say hi to my Facebook friends and I noticed so many people had such sad things to say. It was one of those bad earth days when some terrible disaster had happened, a terrible earthquake somewhere.  Other friends were said about different stories in the news.  And some had personal sad news.  It just seemed that everything was so sad and unhappy. 

And so I just put up a note saying Good Morning Good News, and a good thing happening at Rikki's and something good happening on the planet.  And everybody said thank you. And then the next morning people said, “hey Vincent, give us some Good News!”  Some of my friends who are on Facebook and on e-mail asked me to share with folks who were just on e-mail and didn't have Facebook accounts.  And I did.  And that's how it all got started.



Sorry to be so short today, back with more tomorrow!


I Love YOU
Vincent



PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved.  Scheduled as needed.  Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us!  Scheduled daily.  Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s!  Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377.  A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 19, 2011

I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy!  You are HEROES!  You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day!  Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things.  And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here!  All pawsitive all the time!  I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!!  Be kind and pass it on!  Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!!  After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org









VOTE TODAY
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
YOU voted Rikki’s Refuge #1 in Virginia in 2010
Let’s do it again for 2011
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

YES! We moved up to 0.86% of all votes
holding our place at 7th on the planet
Best Friends, right in front of us, has 0.91%
Come on Team Vincent you CAN do it!
Vote - get your friends voting
you must know someone else you can ask to vote

I'm warning you, you better be voting!


Zoe Marie Spumoni
Thank you for voting for Zoe
she ended her week of voting with 1,104 votes
weekly winners not announced yet
but that sounds like a winner to me!


Bissell MVP Contest
Now running in Week Two for Rikki’s Refuge
Rockie Shirt Monster
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 25th for Rockie
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click Rockie to Vote for Rockie

Hi From Rockie Shirt Monster
I was just a day old when I was found in the trunk of a car about to be shredded. I was born w/ corneal ulcers b/c I am missing parts of my upper eyelids. I wasn't supposed to survive. Thanks to my parents hard work & TLC -I am a healthy 10 month old!!My favorite place to be is with my mommy.... Especially playing "shirt monster" inside her t-shirts!  Thank you for voting for me.  I want to help the animals at Rikki’s Refuge!


 
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
---Confucius

Action is the foundational key to all success.  
---Pablo Picasso

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.   
---Anais Nin


Refuge News
Bill and Bill spent yesterday working on the Quarantine Building.   They weren’t able to get in to work till late cuz of the ice yesterday morning.  But they still got lots and lots of work done.  Soon Soon Soon

All the ice has melted and it’s well above freezing now, kind of drizzly. 

Sick hoomans today so we’re really short staffed.  If you’re a trained volunteer and can do dishes, laundry, or help with the regular cleaning please come on out.  Lena and Sean are both out sick with tummy bugs.  Billy was scheduled to be off today cuz his dad’s been sick and he’s taking him to the doc.  If you can’t make today, how about tomorrow?  We’ll be behind with the last pile of evening dishes to wash and left over laundry.

Mom and me went to Culpeper Pharmacy yesterday.  We needed insulin for Buster and Big Red. $48.20.  While we were gone the propane man came and left us a bill for $766.14.  YIKES, it’s costing a fortune to keep us safe and warm in the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center and hospital. It's been so cold this winter, with so many days not even above freezing, and no sunny days to help warm things up, so the furnace is running day and night nonstop.  We're starting to get behind on the bills again, we haven't even paid the last propane bill yet, if you could possibly spare a buck or two, I'd really appreciate the help.  http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

I'm trying to find a good recipe for Fancy Feast Muffins, so I can have a bake sale and raise some money.  What do you think? $10 for Fancy Feast Muffin, $25 if I promise not to send you one!


Culpeper Pharmacy
(540) 825-7576 • 261 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper, VA

Culpeper Pharmacy has been providing for our furry families’ prescription and home care needs since 2003 (and before that when they had a pharmacy in Orange). Located in the Southgate Shopping Center, next to the Culpeper Regional Library, Culpeper Pharmacy has been proud to help Rikki's Refuge and all their other customers with a full range of home health care needs. From prescriptions and diabetic supplies to Power Wheelchairs, Lift Chairs and more. How can they help you today?

Bill Morris and Gordon Atkins have been taking special care of the critters in the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center for almost as long as Rikki's Refuge has been here.  Sometimes it's filling a normal prescription.  Sometimes it requires research to find the right variation of the medication our veterinarians want for us.  Sometimes it's adjusting the dosage for us little guys.  Sometimes it's answering our questions.  Always it's researching to find us the best possible deal and placing special orders for us.  

Bill and Gordon and Culpeper Pharmacy are one big reason we're able to take care of so many on such a short little shoestring.

And, this Christmas, they stretch their shoestring even further.  They donated just about a whole month's worth of pharmacy supplies to Rikki's Refuge, all the routine things used by the patients of the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center.  That amounted to a whole lot of money, hundreds of dollars, and a great big huge help to us at Rikki's Refuge.

Thank you Bill and Gordon for taking care of me and all my special needs and for running such a wonderful business and being so kind and compassionate to all your customers.  If everybody knew you, there wouldn't be any other pharmacies for 100 miles around!

Culpeper Pharmacy is good people running a good business.  Tell ‘em Vincent sent you!


Live from Vincent Video
Meet Betty the Cat and Ron Herfurth


Fun and Inspiring
A porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills.  The quills are specialized hairs and are inter-dispersed with its normal hair. They have a light, spongy center and are tipped with microscopic barbs.  It is hypothesized that the quills are lightly-colored in contrast to the animal's otherwise black fur in order to appear striking and serve as a visual warning to potential predators.  Baby porcupines are born with soft spines, which harden within an hour. I'm sure mother porcupines appreciate this. Porcupines do not shoot their quills. They do not have this capability. Physical contact with a porcupine is needed in order to be stuck with its quills.


You can take the kitty off the street, but you can't take the street out of the kitty!


Tails of Trivia
Murphy's Oil Soap is the chemical most commonly used to clean elephants.

160 cars can drive side by side on the Monumental Axis in Brazil, the world's widest road.

Lincoln Logs were invented by Frank Lloyd Wright's son.


Music and Motion
Stand on Me!


Did I do something wrong?
What?  Oh, Stand BY me!
Quack quack ... I thought you said ........


Meet Snowball
Snowball is a lovely mature lady.  She had skin cancer on her ears which required surgery.  That's why they are short and round.  Skin cancer on the ears of white cats is very common.  On kitties who have one white ear and one black ear, like Gideon, you will often see cancer on the white ear but not on the black ear.

Snowball has been with us for about a year and a half, she hails from George.  She prefers to spend most of her time inside now and is a resident of the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center where she has lots of friends.
 
Snowball says hi to her special friend, David, from Georgia



Good Times in the News

Meet Laz... the oldest donkey
at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon
We've been drawn to some recent press coverage about a donkey called Eeyore from Wilmslow who is thought to be the world's oldest donkey, at the grand age of 54!

Not far behind Eeyore is our oldest resident here at the Sanctuary, Laz. We believe he is now 51 years of age!

He came into our care in 2000 and was the 8,209th donkey to pass through our doors. Now living at Woods Farm, he enjoys a peaceful life surrounded by his friends and is given the expert care he deserves.

This very short video was taken last year when he'd just turned 50 and will introduce you to the wonderful Laz and his carer Nikki Hart, who describes his cheeky nature!





Majority of Americans Believe Pets Have Psychic Powers
by Josh Loposer
Do you feel like your pet always seems to know what's about to happen? You're not alone. According to a new poll conducted by the Associated Press and Petside.com, two-thirds of American pet owners believe their animal companions have a sixth sense that alerts them to future events or gives them insight into their owners.

That's not to say that owners think their pets are all-knowing. Poll participants believed that intuitive powers are limited to specific areas, and the frequency of reported powers varied between species. For example, of the 1,000 pet owners surveyed, 72 percent of dog owners said that their dogs had alerted them to bad weather, while only 66 percent of cat owners said they've received similar forecasts. Forty-seven percent of dog owners and 41 percent of cat owners said they've received a warning about bad news from their pets.

From Earthquakes to Anxiety
Nevada farmer Jim Fulstone says that his Pomeranian, Austin, can detect earthquakes and thunderstorms. "He'll run around in circles and look at you. If you sit down, he'll sit down with you. If you are outside, he will come up to you, run around, look off, sniff your leg, just kind of be there. He's a lot more active," Fulstone tells the AP. "For the quakes, he was very alert and started barking and doing his run-around routine." Fulstone says that Austin gives about a 15-minute warning before earthquakes and 45-minute warning before thunderstorms.

Other owners feel that their pets' sixth sense manifests in a more personal way -- their animals sense when they are sick or upset and actively try to comfort them. Anne Radley of Kansas is one such owner. Radley suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks. She tells the AP that when her anxiety is high, her seven pets sense it and all try to cuddle at once. "I have pets all over me. ... It gets a little crowded, but they all do it."

Possible Explanation
Scores of pet owners report similar warnings about weather events, earthquakes, bad news and health issues. But psychic powers may not be the cause; pet owners may simply be interpreting normal animal behaviors as extrasensory warnings. Scientists believe that animals may have the ability to sense changes in barometric pressure, thus alerting them to weather events. Likewise, dogs have clearly shown the ability to detect hormonal changes that signify an upcoming seizure or other kinds of health changes.



Labrador Retriever Comforts Kids in Court
by Jennipher Walters
Amos, a kind and lovable chocolate Lab in Michigan sometimes puts in long days at the courthouse. He's not sniffing for bombs or patrolling the grounds, but he is protecting and serving. Amos works as a canine guardian and comforter of sorts and helps reduce anxiety for children who have to appear in court.

Amos has been trained to sit patiently near children for hours as they either wait to take the stand or testify in court, reports The Detroit News. Recently he accompanied two young victims who each testified for more than two hours against a defendant in a sexual misconduct trial.

The dog is part of the Canine Advocacy Program (CAP), which was launched by Dan Cojanu, who had previously worked as a supervisor of the Victim Services Unit for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office in Michigan, reports the Detroit News.

The CAP is the first of its kind in Michigan and its services are offered at no cost to law enforcement or the courts. The program is funded by donations. Similar programs exist in California, Washington and Florida.

Amos originally came to the attention of Cojanu when it became evident that he wasn't the best fit for Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Mich. (Amos pulled too much on the leash.) Cojanu, however, found Amos to be perfect for the Canine Advocacy Program -- friendly with a calm disposition for children and the courtroom.

Despite the success so far, this program is very much in its initial stages and not everyone is as positive about the role of animals in the courtroom. One prosecutor cited concerns about jurors with allergies or a fear of dogs that could risk a decision reversal or children having to testify again.

But Conjanu (pictured left) is convinced. He tells The Detroit News, "Kids seem to feel better when Amos is around. ... The kids usually attach themselves to Amos, and we see the anxiety just plummet. They focus on this big, brown 'huggy' dog, and you can just watch the anxiety disappear."

Interested in learning more about Amos and his work? You can check out the Canine Advocacy Program on Facebook and follow Amos on Twitter.



Cat summoned for jury service
By Gaby Leslie Yahoo! News
A tabby cat has been selected for jury duty in the US after his owners registered him on a state census form.
The bizarre letter was sent to the cat, which was listed in the pets section of the census, by a court in Boston, Massachusetts calling on him for duty.

Cat owners Anna and Guy Esposito wrote to the court asking the family pet, named Sal, to be excused from service because he doesn't speak or understand English.

Mrs Esposito reportedly included a letter from her vet confirming that the cat was a 'domestic short-haired neutered feline' and not human.

However, the request for the cat's exemption was refused by a jury commissioner and Mrs Esposito was told that Sal 'must attend' Suffolk Superior Crown Court.

She said: "When they ask him guilty or not guilty, what's he supposed to say - meow?"

"Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up."

The Daily Mail reported that Sal could have accidentally ended up on the juror list when paperwork was misread at the last census.

According to the Massachusetts judicial branch website, US citizens who 'do not speak and understand English sufficiently well may be disqualified.'

If Sal's application for disqualification is denied, the cat is expected in court on 23 March.



Duke and Vincent’s Trip to Cod
Cod is a whimisical town where the animals of facebook who’ve taken on hooman personas live.  Wayne Morris is your artist and architect of Cod.  And now .....  your long awaited trip ....  we take you to Cod .....   I hope you enjoy your journey!    .....  continued from January 18, 2010 - read yesterday’s blog if you missed the beginning of the story.

Duke: Votes? Vincent can you EAT them?
Vincent: Yes in a sense you can, By Voting for our Refuge.


Duke: A Bone be Nice
Vincent: These votes, Support Rikki's Refuge and we Have so many Hungry Animals in NEED


Duke: So these VOTES HELP Feed US?  Can I Vote for A Bone?
Vincent: No Duke, Humans can Vote ONLY!  By Visiting Rikki's Refuge They can Find OUT HOW!


Be sure to vote for Duke and Vincent and the shelter challenge, they could win $10,000 which can easily be converted to delicious dinner!   Click here  http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   and enter  Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA   it's free, it's quick, it's easy, and it can mean up to $10,000 to help the animals of Rikki's Refuge.



Upcoming Events
Keep current on Vincent's blog!


You are my HERO and I Love YOU,
Vincent
Help me run the refuge! 

PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved.  Scheduled as needed.  Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us!  Scheduled daily.  Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s!  Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377.  A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge