RIKKI’S REFUGE
HAIRBALLS AND HAPPY TAILS
HAIRBALLS AND HAPPY TAILS
The newsletter of thanks from grateful animals to their beloved rescuers brought to you by
Duke Thomas Peabody and Vincent D. Cat
Building a Better Planet
One Rescued Animal at a Time
portraits compliments of artist Wayne Morris
You can make Duke’s and Vincent’s job easier
We are the happy animals of Rikki’s Refuge
who so thank you for giving us the gift of our lives and the tools to build our Refuge. 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.
Having a great New Year?We sure are at Rikki’s Refuge. Exciting new events bringing visitors, volunteers and donors every Saturday and Sunday!!! Special events for the Holiday Weekend coming up. Keep reading ....If you want to keep up with daily happenings
at the Refuge sign up for Good Morning Good News Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org or check the blog for all the daily happenings and lots of fun stuff.
http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com . You’ll know who’s out visiting, what projects are getting done, what the animals are up to and we’ve got special treats for you every day.
Fun things like My Favorite Quotes; Live from Vincent Video; Fun and Inspiring Tidbits; Tails of Trivia; Meet the Critters and Dear Vincent.
DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE TO DONATE?
I think most of us do. I hear a lot of, “Oh I wish I’d win the lottery, I’d give Rikki’s ....” Do you think it would be great it all you had to do was click a few clicks, key a few strokes, and somebody else would donate money to Rikki’s on your behalf?
We can make that happen. I’m not kidding. It’s not too good to be true.
Contests, that are free for you to enter, and only require a few clicks a day - can pay out in big bucks. In 2010 you voted in the Shelter Challenge for Rikki’s Refuge. I know, it’s hard to remember every day. Well the Shelter Challenge will let you sign up and get an e-mail to remind you every day - or subscribe to Good Morning Good News and Vincent will remind you as part of the update about daily life and fun at the refuge. Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org
Well did you know that all that voting you did paid out? YES IT DID! A total of FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS in 2010 !!!! Just by clicking.
And there’s more and more contests we can join IF we can count on your support! Can I count on you?
SHELTER CHALLENGE VOTING
You can read the details of how it works here:
Ready to VOTE? Click here!
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!
Your votes have already paid off!
We’re currently a smidge in the lead in Virginia and 9th on the planet!!
Go go go Team Vincent !!! We CAN do it !!!!
Spread the Word - Tell Everyone to Vote!
Vote every day - you can vote from home, from work, from your phone - no matter where you are make sure you get your daily vote in!!! Ask your family, friends and co-workers to vote too!
Do you have an adopted or rescued animal?
Would you tell me their story for $3,000?
Just a quick and simple story, 50 - 300 words, that’s real short and we’ll even help you with the editing! Dedicate your story to Rikki’s Refuge and we could win up to $3,000 !!! It doesn’t matter where you adopted/rescued your animal from. they could be a Rikki’s Alumni or not. Click here to read the details and instructions on how to submit your story.
Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 18th for Zoe Marie Spumoni
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 Zoe:
SHE COULD WIN $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Every week, for twelve weeks, one of my friends will be running. I urge you to vote for each of them. Help us all into the finals in the dreams that one of us will win!!!
Click here to read all the details about the Bissell Contest
Vote for Vincent and Friends
VOTE for VINCENT and FRIENDS
please help us critters win contests that help our worthy causes
all these are free to vote in, and quite simple and quick
help us make the world a better place
your vote makes a difference
I’ve set up one place where you can find all the animals running in contests to win money to help make the planet a better place for us all. Please check in daily and vote in all the contests. It’s a great way to raise money for Rikki’s Refuge without costing you a dime!!! These are always free for you to vote in.
Click here to see what contests are running now:
Not all of these contests benefit Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. and their divisions Rikki's Refuge and Wild and Feral directly. A benefit to the animal rescue world is a benefit to all of us. For each contest I've told you who will benefit and how. We belive in working with others aiming towards our goal of a better planet for all. If you're running in a contest and would like to be displayed here, send me the details Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org
If you’re running in a contest, providing it benefits animals and it’s free to vote, send me the details and I’ll include it here too.
LIVE TOO FAR AWAY TO VOLUNTEER?
SHORT ON CASH TO DONATE?
BUT WANT TO HELP?
YOU CAN!
There is so much you can do from anywhere in the world! Vincent needs your help. Get on board with Vincent and make the planet a better place for animals everywhere.
Here’s just a few ways you can help:
-- Be a Vincent Contestant. You can enter contests on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge, just about anything works when part of the prize is a donation to your favorite charity.
-- Be a Vincent Lobbyer. Urge folks to vote on behalf of Vincent. Hand out flyers. Print out Posters.
-- Be a Vincent Cyber Assistant. Help with spread the word of Rikki’s Refuge thru Social Media. Facebook, Twitter, and all the new things I don’t even know about yet. Post information. Do it all from the comfort of your own home on your own schedule!
-- Be a Vincent Artist. Duke and Vincent’s pictures at the beginning of this Hairballs were created by Wayne Morris. Artwork can be used on note cards, calendars, tee shirts, fundraising material, newsletters and on line. Any kind of work, works! As long and it’s happy and fun, your art work can benefit the animals.
-- Be a Vincent Cartoonist. We’re just waiting for our own comic strip.
-- Be a Vincent Video Master. Do you have skills making videos, posting on youtube, can you make a Vincent Video go Viral? Could you put together all the short segments of tours at Rikki’s and make one lovely 10 or 15 minute video of a flowing tour?
-- Be a Vincent Speech Writer. Put together power point presentations geared to different audiences.
-- Be a Vincent Speaker. Give talks at events, schools, groups and organizations about Vincent and Rikki’s Refuge.
-- What is your creative gift? Tell me Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org and I bet I can tell you how to help me save animals!
Refuge News
Cindy Lou got adopted and is really really happy in her new home. She’s a young very healthy cattle dog and lab mix. Really nice. She came to Rikki’s a few months ago hoping to be a mascot, run around doggy. But she just couldn’t get used to the chickens so she never earned her running rights. She got really fat the few months she had to live in a kennel and only go on walks with hoomans.
Now she’s in a home of her own with a hooman who’s home most of the time and with a nice big back yard too. Just get a progress report this morning and she’s doing great!!!!
Help us help others like Cindy Lou!
Last weekend the pumpkin picker and turnip truckers did a fine job. Despite the cold and the snow Katarina, Kathy, Kim, Melissa, Alan, Bob, Toni, Grace, Gabe, Alex, Chris, MJ, Bob, Cindy, Dennis, Ron, Mary, Rene, Anne and Mariza, all worked at these and other chores.
In all they hauled in 6 trucks of pumpkins, 4 truck of turnips, and 1 truck of mixed products.
Bob’s handy dandy trailer, hauling in pumpkins.
Cindy gets kisses when she arrives to volunteer.
Katarina displays one of the giant turnips.
Our Goals for 2011
Rabbit Rotunda II finished
Quarantine Building finished
Cat Houses #1 Extension and Adoption area finished
Dog Trailer repairs
Roof repairs on the Tool Trailer and Gift Shop
Maintenance on Cat Runs (gates, latches, etc)
Dog Clubhouses (roofs) and Fences (incomplete sections)
Temporary Runs (roofs, gates, latches)
New Medical Treatment Room set up
Conversion of Old Medical Treatment Room
Outside Electrical System upgraded and usable May
Elderly Dog House built next to the 9th Life Center
Livestock Hospital Room built next to the 9th Life Center
Aviary with Pond built next to CH#10
Current Aviary converted to Cat House
Barn shelter built in Bovine Boulevard
Additional 9th Life Space
Generator Safe House near the 9th Life Center
Gutters and Downspouts on the 9th Life Center
See a project you’d like to help on? Or one you’d like to design? Or be in charge of? Or do the fundraising for? It takes all of us working together to make it happen!!! Pick your project! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org
Missing the Fun?
Are you missing the fun pictures and videos that used to be a part of Hairballs? They’re now showing up in Good Morning Good News, which is a light, fun whimiscal way to start your day. Also keeps you up to date on the day to day goings on at Rikki’s Refuge. the funny animal stories. The hoomans being outsmarted.
Lots of you said, “Serious stuff only, please”, so that’s what Hairballs is mostly about now. Tune into my blog http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/ or sign up for Good Morning Good News Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org for all the cool stuff!!!
By giving you links, you can view just what you’re interested in and it makes this email shorter to go thru.
Vincent’s Videos and Photo Stories
Meet the Original Rikki - Happy 30th Birthday Jan 13, 2011
Meet Mary Jane, Rikki’s Alumni
Meet Daisy, Rikkis Alumni
Meet Lena
Meet James
Meet Sean
Meet Boomer the Seeing Eye Dog
Meet the Chickens
Meet Daphne the Muscovie Duck
Meet Georgina the Guinea Hen
What YOU can do this weekend!
SATURDAY January 15
ANIMAL ATTENTION DAY - Give some extra hugs to the homeless - take a dog for a walk, scratch a pig's belly, pat a cat. 11 am - 3 pm
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.
FULL MOON WALK, Bon Fire, vegan bbq, pot luck 1/15, RSVP REQUIRED, we’re talking outdoors, after dark, so it’s gonna be cold and dark - please be prepared!! Absolutely MUST RSVP. May be cancelled due to lack of participation.
SUNDAY January 16
SANDWICH DAY - On January 18, 1778 Capt James Cook stumbles over Hawaiian Sandwich Islands. Today you'll bring your most creative VEGAN sandwiches to the refuge for a judging. Noon.
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.
MONDAY January 17
LEE / JACKSON / KING DAY, the animals come first! Bring yummy winter treats and help fluff up warm winter bedding. 11 am - 3 pm
Stay In Touch
Check my blog http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com
on the right under STAY IN TOUCH
the next four weeks - what to do at Rikki's Refuge
Will tell you all about upcoming events, also any cancellations and all the up to the minute stuff you need to know. Check in often. Sign up to follow the blog so you get updates when they happen. A little further down on the right click on FOLLOW.
Vote for the Animals
Here you can vote in contests that will give money to save the animals, they’re all free and easy, so all you have to do is click and it’s like making a donation!
2011 Calendar of What's up at Rikki's
Here you can see the calendar for all of 2011, so you can plan way far ahead!!
Winky's Whimsical Kitties
Shannon Lobe’s delightfully Whimsical Kitty Paintings! Original and unique paintings by this artist for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Rikki’s Refuge.
Take a look at these delightful paintings!
"Happy"
"Ferals are Fantastic"
"A Normal Day: The Bathroom"
"A Normal Day: The Laundry Show"
"Faceless Ferals: Over 60 Million Strong"
"Partners in Crime"
"Wet Paint + Cat ="
"Got Ferals??"
"Feral FeWines: Red Purrlot"
"Feral FeWines: Snipped, Nipped and Tipsy Too!"
Click here to view them all.
HELP needed at Feral Cat Speuter Clinic
The next VFA Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic will be on Saturday, January 15th, just a little over a week away. We still have several volunteer stations that are not fully staffed. Can you help us on the 15th? We still need volunteers for:
**Anesthesia Transporter
**Surgery Prep (Shaving)
**Spayboards
**Afternoon Recovery
**Trap Cleaning
**Vet Assistant
**Friday the 14th Set Up from 4 to 6 PM
**Clinic Clean Up from 3 to 5 PM
**Laundry
We need your help! Please let me know as soon as possible if you can volunteer on January 15th. Dian dian1021@hotmail.com Also, we have a few available spaces at the clinic for cats from Charlottesville/Albemarle County. To make a reservation for these, please call: 434-979-1200.
With your help we're able to save ferals that end up in pounds and to help with TNR projects.
Free Food Fridays
Every Friday send an email to Giveaway@freekibble.com with the subject "Shelter Giveaway" to enter PetCo’s drawing for a $50 PetCo Gift Card every weekend. A winner will be chosen at random every Saturday. It may as well be YOU! http://www.freekibblekat.com/giveaway.asp
What we NEED this week
Metal Pitch Forks (2-4 of them, the plastic ones are breaking while shoveling frozen dung!)
Paper Towels (we need about 6 rolls a day, it’s more sanitary and sterile than sponges)
Canned Cat (we need 16 cases a day) - anybody near Waynesboro? Barbara can get us stocked up on 5.5 oz cans of good food for only 25 cents a can. Martins in Culpeper also has cat food at that price.
Canned Dog Food (we need 4 cases a day) Martins or Aldi in Culpeper has the best price
Laundry Detergent (we need to do 22 loads a day)
30 Gallon Trash Bags (we need 26 bags a day)
Dish Detergent (we need about 16 ounces a day to wash to wash 317 bowls, plates and platters)
Donation Drop off Noon - 2 pm every Saturday !!!
I’ve got a whole, great big, huge stack of $5 off coupons for Purina dry cat food at PetSmart. Since a bag costs about $11.99 if you can spare only $6.99 I can get a whole bag full of nums!!!! This is a real deal, for every $6.99 you donate, it’ll buy an $11.99 bag of Cat Chow!!! I’ve got 21 of the $5 coupons so if 21 of you would each help me out with a bag .... that’d only be $6.99 each ..... and it’d give me 336 pounds of nums!!!! Thank you, very much.
Thank you for your love and support.
Together we’re making a marvelous world!!!
LOVE,
VINCENT
January 14, 2011
PS: Please help me keep the Refuge Running. I need your continued support.
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.
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