Friday, April 29, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! April 29, 2011



I’m India D. Cow 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!  mail@RikkisRefuge.org


Hi there, India here.  That obnoxious Vincent
and his trusting little cohort Duke have been locked out of the office. 

WE are sick to death of hearing about cats and dogs.  Yahhh yahhh cats do this, dogs do that.  Everybody wants to help the cats and the dogs and NOBODY, but NOBODY seems to pay attention to us Farm Animals. 

YOU know Rikki’s supports TWENTY TWO species of animals.  But did YOU know that CATS and DOGS are only TWO of those species?  Yeah, just two, so MOOOO to that.   20/22nds of us are Farm Animals.  And WE should rule.  We DEMAND more say at Rikki’s Refuge.

You want to know why?  Well here’s just a few reasons.
We represent more species.
We are bigger.
Well most of us.
We are beautifuler.



We aren’t picky about our food.

We don’t have an attitude.

We stick together.

We don’t humiliate one another.

We respect you hoomans.

We listen and look out for one another.

We wait patiently for our 9th Life Center  rights.

We’d never mock you.

We’re lining up for our due rights!

If you don’t see this my way
If you are a spy for Vincent
If you love cats and dogs more

STOP
READ NO FURTHER

This is ONLY for
FRIENDS OF THE FARM ANIMALS

Hey, you?  Are you still supposed to be reading this?  I’m serious, if you’re not on board with us, if you don’t agree there’s just too much sensationalism about cats and dogs, if you don’t think we deserve equal time, turn off your computer RIGHT NOW.

Hello!!  To those of you still with me, THANK YOU.  And I’d like to invite you to join us in Rikki’s Refuge Underground!! 
Now you have to PROMISE not to leak a word to Vincent, or even to poor trusting Duke who will be instantly coerced into telling that sneaky Vincent. 

This is going to be OUR secret, ok?



WINNING THE SHELTER CHALLENGE FOR
RIKKI’S REFUGE
IS A WIN FOR FARM ANIMALS !!!!
Please vote every day thru Sunday June 19th
   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

Help us beat out the single species and the dual species rescues!!
We rescue 22 different species!!

 There’s lots of ways you can vote
as long as you remember to enter
Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
click on any of these and take it from there !!!!


Farmspirational Visions
Yesterday is like a dung heap,
you can complain about the smell,
or you can use it to fertilize tomorrow's garden.
And that’s just one more thing we are far more efficient at than the cats and dogs!  We make bigger and better dung heaps!  I don’t see any of you seeking out cat or dog poo to put in your gardens, now do I?  Want some good fertilizing dung?  Just ask, we farm animals are ready right now to supply you with all you need for your garden!  Today and always!

Let’s stop complaining about the cats and dogs of Rikki’s Refuge - let’s overthrow!!!!   Cows to rule the planet!!!!   Shut up Petunia, I’m still bigger than YOU!


Tails of Trivia
Sheep can recognize other sheep from pictures!

There are more chickens in the world than people.

A Holstein's spots are like fingerprints -- no two cows have the same pattern of spots.

Goat's eyes have rectangular pupils.

A 1,200-pound horse eats about seven times it's own weight each year.

The tongue of a pig has six thousand more taste buds than a human's.

There are more cows in the United States than Hoomans. New Zealand has more sheep than hoomans.

Boanthropy is a rare mental disorder that causes a person to think he is an ox. One of the first recorded cases is in the book of Daniel (4:33), which tells about Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian king who would eat grass.

Scientists believe that the closest living relative to the Tyrannosaurs Rex is the chicken.

Equinophobia is the fear of horses; alektorophobia is the fear of chickens; and taurophobia is the fear of bulls. There is no official term for the fear of cows or pigs.


On this Day
April 29th is National Arbor Day, a day we farm animals really love.  Resting under the shade of a tree is one of our favorite activities.  I sure wish the goats could refrain from eating the trees you hoomans try to plant for us!

I’d like to remind you that April is Appreciate Diversity Month, NOT appreciate Cats and Dogs month.  And that April is also Soy Foods Month, something we farm animals think is a really good idea.  The cats and dogs don’t give a hoot, be we farm animals want you hoomans to be healthy and eat soy, not us!

And last but not least I think it only right that I inform you that April 30 is Love Your Lawn Day.  Yes folks, it is.  And that’s official.  It’s NOT love your cat day.  It’s NOT love you dog day.  And it’s certainly NOT Vincent’s Birthday. 

Do not trust a word you hear from that rascally varmint 
April 30th is Love Your Lawn Day
give Vincent some fertilizer for his so called birthday!!!


DO NOT
USE THIS LAST CHANCE
TO VOTE FOR
VINCENT or DUKE
IN APRIL’S CATS vs DOGS
INSTEAD .... WRITE IN INDIA THE COW !!!!

No matter how much Vincent cajoles or Duke begs
absolutely do not click on their photos to vote for them


Vincent is in the lead and afraid he’s going to lose out, lots of last minute votes have been coming in for Duke.  Vincent could be a real looser this year!!!  I’m hoping you’re going to let this happen!  Please DO NOT click on Vincent to help him win. 

Click on ME and write in FARM ANIMALS RULE !!!!
Let’s see some serious changes at Rikki’s Refuge.
Love,
India and the Herd
PS You tell me what you want!  Email me at Mail@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications!  Subscriptions:    India’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





Thursday, April 28, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! April 28, 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





Only TWO days to my Birthday !!!!!
I’m getting so excited. 
Cats are in the lead ... YES !!!! 
All I want for my Birthday is to be voted in the Ruler of the Refuge!!
Who will you vote in as the Ruler of the Refug?

ME           
Click on my picture if you want the promise of Fancy Feast always on MY plate!!!!


or DUKE
Click Duke’s picture if you want loyalty, love and to be slobbered on



Well maybe there just ONE other thing I want for my birthday.
Would that be ok?
Just one more thing!

One more vote?
Please?
FREE, just your vote, just a couple minutes
Please vote in the shelter challenge
I’ve got a new short link you can use from tiny.url
click your favorite link and then enter
Rikkis Refuge in the USA in VA in Orange !





Oh!!  And just ONE more thing
for my Birthday!
Come visit me this weekend and bring me a can of Fancy Feast!!!!



Round the Refuge
You all be here Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  Lots of good things to do.  The framing is all done on Rabbit Rotunda II so now it’s just the net roofing and if YOU come help it could all get done!!!  Please Please come and help!!

Also Saturday and maybe Sunday too, Animal Artists!!  Come and help me finger paint.  Help Nanny Hoof paint!!  Lots of fun.

Saturday is my birthday and I’m 13 years old!!!  A real teenager!!!  I’m so happy!!! You think I’ve been trouble up till now?  Well you just wait to see what’s coming up next!!!

You don’t go believing nothing Jan’s been telling people either.  I heard her tell people it’s mom’s birthday.  Well Jan has it all wrong.  Mom’s too old to have birthdays.  She’s like almost 400 years old in cat years and that’s just too much.  So it’s ME, your dear lovable very hungry, Vincent D. Cat who’s having the birthday this weekend. 

And you know what I want!!!  I want to win Cats vs Dogs and I want to be #1 in Virginia in the Shelter Challenge and I want YOU to visit me and I want Fancy Feast!!!!  

If you have a lawn mower or a weed whacker that works please bring them out and help with the mowing this year.  We have one push mower that is sort of working.  It keeps cutting off and has to cool down to get it going again.  And we have NO week whacker.  It got busted cuz somebody put gasoline with no oil in it.  Booooo.

Well I gotta go, it’s really nice out and I’m gonna go lay in the sun.  I really hope you come visit this weekend!!  See you later.

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY            VOLUNTEER TRAIN SELF SERVICE 8 am - 1 pm, Learn to earn your Self Service Volunteer Badge.  

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY     CAT DAY CHANGING OF SEASON - Clean out the winter bedding and prepare for the warm weather.

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY            NATIONAL ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING - Donate or dig up and transplant a tree to provide future shade for the animals. We have plenty of small trees at the wood line that would love to be relocated. Bring just yourself and work gloves, we have the shovels.
DISCLAIMER - in order to plant trees anywhere around here you MUST fence them in with goat proof fencing!!!!! 

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY     BE AN ANIMAL ARTIST ASSISTANT - doing painting with the animals.  We have paints and canvases and picture mats and Christmas ornaments ready to go!  Oh, and lots of paper towels!  It's going to be messy, but fun. Wear your painting clothes and painting shoes, and let's paint with the animals!  The chickens, the pigs, the goats, the dogs, the cats, the sheep, and India the cow! Let's find out how artistic they are!  From 11:00 until we are done.  We need 2 or 3 people to help with each animal that paints. We will also need a photographer to capture it all!  Photos of the animal painting will help with making "certificates of authenticity" to go along with each painting.  We hope to have the paintings on display for sale at various locations, and will also sell them online.  Please RSVP to me, so that I will have an idea of how many supplies to bring.  Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net   PS: painting with the animals will be postponed in the event of rain on April 30th.


YARD SALE - the yard sale scheduled for the end of May as well as all collectiond ates for it has been cancelled.  If you have a location you can run a Yard Sale for us - please let us know!!




Vincepurrational Visions
What we think, we become.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world.
I think I’m going to be the well fed,
Ruler of the Refuge and
Number One in Virginia for my birthday!!!
YOU can make my dreams possible!!!


On this Day

Opps I missed getting this to you yesterday.  Did you know that April 27, is National Hairball Awareness Day.  I bet if you have a kitty you know all about hairballs.  And if you’re missing out on this excitement - adopt somebody today!!



Music and Motion



Something’s going on around here.  I keep hearing disturbances at Bovine Boulevard.  Last night there was strange noises in the chicken house and when mom went to check it out all the vegetarian animals were in there whispering.  I’m getting worried.  Something’s up out there ......



Because I Love YOU
Hoping you’re coming to visit on my
Birthday - Saturday, April 30th

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, April 24, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! April 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


Great Big Red Alert!!!!
Holy Cow, Duke just made giant strides in the Cats vs Dogs contest!!!  Jan challenged ... double your donations for dogs up to $1,500 ....  and I - yes ME lovable KITTY Vincent got more votes.  BUT today Cindy steped up and matched Jan’s donation!!  Yikes, so that’s 3,000 points on the dog side!!! 

HELP - we cats and cat people gotta stick together - don’t let the dogs win!!!  VOTE for ME ME ME

Click your favorite candidate to vote in Cats vs Dogs !!!


All we want for Easter
is YOUR VOTE
vote every day thru Sunday June 19th
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

There’s lots of ways you can vote
as long as you remember to enter
Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
click on any of these and take it from there !!!!



Round the Refuge
Yippeee Good News on Rabbit Rutunda II --- GREAT NEWS -- the roof framing is all up !!!  Now just the roof netting needs to go on.  If enough of you will come out to work next Saturday and Sunday on this YOU can finish the project!!!    Yeahhhh David!!!


The Easter day tour is headed from Horsey Haven to Feline Fields right now!!  I got to go out and do lots of loving before the tour started.  Sniff sniff I love rolling in the fresh grass of spring but it makes me sneeze!!  But it’s worth some sneezing to see the world turning green again.  I just love to watch the hillsides go from born to green in just a couple weeks!!!  It’s so beautiful!!!  Thank you Jan and Laurie for coming out on Easter to give the tour!


Yippee Good News!!  Valerie is adopting Mystique!!!  She takes care of her here and understands her special needs and care so she can provide all Mystique needs at home!!

Mystique was our first Animal Artist - pawtographing Easter Eggs.  A few are still avaialble on ebay.  Click Mystique if you missed out on getting one!

Me and others will be learning to do artwork next weekend.  If you’d like to help us out.  Wash fingerpaints off my pqws and such, please contact  Melissa dogslife24@comcast.net  she’d love some more help!


Melissa was real busy this weekend.  She spent yesterday at Booth Feed’s Staffort location at their liquidation auction.  Biding on cat and dog and horse and pig food and lots of other things!!  She was bidding on thing and somebody next to her kept bidding on them.  After a bit she turned to them and said -- Hey you, let me win something, I’m bidding for a rescue.  Ad the other bidder said, well so am I.  And Melissa said I’m bidding for Rikki’s.  And the other bidder said, so and I.  And so they didn’t bid against each other any more !!!!!

They had the 40’ trailer of a tractor trailer - and it went for only $125.  Not that’s a lot of good storage space.  We never have enough storage psace around here.  But the big problem was - how on earth could be get it to Rikki’s?  Melissa had called mom and mom had called everybody she could think of - and nobody was there to haul it.  And worst of all it was in a place where trees had grown around it and since it moved there a fence had been put up, so it was going to be really hard to get out of there. 

Melissa spent all day today, Easter Sunday, back at the auction block.  Today it was Booth Feed’s Fredericksburg store.  And today there were two much nicer trailers.  Melissa and Ed made phone calls and they found a towing company who’d bring one to us for $250-$350 depennding on various conditions.  Hmmmm  If they sold for only a couple hundred bucks this could now be worth while.  We were all excited.

And a little bit later Melissa called and sounded disappointed.  She’d been outbid by a guy who got both of them.  Oh well.  We can’t have all the deals!

And then later on Melissa called again and she was all excited.  She’d said to the man, aw I wanted one of those for an animal sanctuary.  And he said really?  So she told him about me and about Rikki’s and he said, so Vincent’s birthday is coming up?  And you really need a whole 40’ trailer to store his Fancy Feast?  Well tell you what, I’ll let you have this one for the $350 I paid for it and I’ll even tdo better!  If you let me meet Vincent, I’ll tow it to Rikki’s for FREE!!!!  YEAHHHHHH.  So now we have a nice dry 320 sqft of storage space for things like cat litter and food and all kinds of great stuff.  Aren’t you happy?

GOOD JOB MELISSA !!!!!

And her truck is filled with even more goodies she’ll be bringing out tomorrow.

Thank you Ed for leading the truck driver to Rikki’s.


By now you’ve probably figured out that it’s taken me all day to write this, and the tour’s been long over.  You know a cat’s gotta catch a nap here and there and it was a great day for napping in the shade.  Ahhh feels so good, nice and warm and a lovely breeze....  Ahhhhh


Robin came out and washed dishes and groomed KiKi and helped to rake out some of that big thick undercoat.  Thanks for working all day on Easter Robin!! 

And Jessica came and helped for a bit too, and brought nums for the hoomans to celebrate Easter!


Valerie’s sister brought Yetti back to visit.  He was adopted at the end of last summer.  He was just a little bit at the time.  Now he’s a great big boy with long orange fur and lots of toes on each foot.  That’s why he was called Yetti!!


Andy came out to meet some kitties that would like to live in his home.  He took videos of some of them.  Twisty aka Birdie and Gibson look like the top candidates.  Who’s going to win a real forever home?  And how many?  One or two or .....  His wife Patty will come out to meet them soon and I’m sure somebody will stand out as the purrfect one to take home!

They adopted Starr from Rikki’s many years ago.  She was a very shy doggie.  So scared and she’d hide in her doggy house shaking when anybody would look at her.  A little black and white gal.  Well they came looking for a companion for their doggy and their doggy picked out Starr.  So they gave her a chance and took her home on a trial. And it worked out wonderfully.  Now Starr is a happy doggy and very friendly to Andy and Patty.  Yeahhh Starr.  And she and her doggysib will be getting a kitty or two soon!!!  Yippee !!!!




Vincepurrational Visions
Most people would succeed in small things
if they were not troubled with great ambitions
One little step at a time.  Be a little hero today.  Lots of little hero acts, make you a great big hero!!!   YOU can change the world, one step at a time.  One animal at a time.  One dollar at a time.  One hour at a time.  Cut it up into small pieces so it’s not so overwhelming - and do one extra special good thing every day.  Do this every day for 21 days - on day 22 you’ll so be looking forward to being a hero - you’ll never stop!



On this Day
April 24, 1981 First personal Computer introduced by IBM - gee I wonder how kitties played around on Facebook before that?

April 24, 2011 Begins National Scoop the Poop Week - so come on out to visit !!!!  Every Week is Scoop the Poop week at Rikki’s Refuge.  We have over 300 pounds of poop to clean up EVERYDAY !!!!



Creature Feature

Miles hanging out hooman watching

Vista! Got Pill Poopper? I'm out of here!

Betty formerly known as Bitey

SureFoote aka Meanie, one of the psychos



Dear Uncle Sam

Dear Uncle Sam,
I received your nastygram of April 17, denying knowing of my existance.  This is preposterous.  EVERYONE knows who VIncent D. Cat is.  Everyone except apparently YOU. 

I am due a tax refund and I am due it NOW.  This is not fair.  All the hoomans are talking about getting one and I deserve a bigger one.  So there! 

I desperately need to cast MY vote for CATS in the April Cats vs Dogs event at Rikki’s Refuge.  Please send my a check immediately, Vincent D. Cat, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 or deposit my refund into my account for CATS

Sincerely,
Vincent D. Cat

PS hey hoomans out there - if YOU have received a tax refund, would you consider sharing with me?  Please.  I really want to beat the dogs in the Cats vs Dogs contest.  Have you really thought about this?  Do you want to be reading what blind Duke will be writing to you for the next year if you don’t elect ME?  Just think about that - then cast a vote for ME if you want to see Good Morning Good News coming your way for the next year!!

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

Friday, April 22, 2011

Hairballs, April 23, 2011

RIKKI’S REFUGE 
       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 H. 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. 


Table of Contents
The Campaigning is Going Crazy !!!
     It’s Cats vs Dogs
Does All That Voting Really Pay Off?
     $5,000 JUST WON
Village Farm Feed and Garden Center
     Helps Rikki’s Refuge
It’s Easter - Help the Future Rabbits of Rikki’s Refuge
     Meet Some of the Happy Residents of Rabbit Rotunda
SAVING THE WOODS AND WETLANDS
     for their Rightful Owners the WILD ANIMALS
Adopt a Doggie
Foster homes needed - kittens and Puppies
Bunny Bonanza - refund
Inner Circle
Help my Vet and my Pharmacist
Meet YOUR Friends!!
     Nanny the Oldest Goat on the Planet
     Sally the Fattest Goat on the Planet
     Napoleon, an Elderly Gentleman
Great Purrchases
     Paw Painted Easter Eggs by Mystique the Kitty Artist
     Too Hot For Spot - Saves lives
     Adorable Vintage Easter Postcards
     Royalty Paraphernalia
     Beanie Babies Frogs
     6 Beanie Babies One Price
     Graduation Time
Upcoming Events
Message from Vincent


The Campaigning is Going Crazy !!!

It’s Cats vs Dogs
Vincent D. Cat, long time ruler and ring leader of Rikki’s Refuge, continues to use every trick he can pull from his sleeve



to maintain a large lead.  Despite his, sometimes questionable campaign tactics, 
Vincent’s loyal constituents vow to keep him as the His Honorable Ruler and Lord High Potentate of Rikki’s Refuge no matter what it takes.

  









KiKi, the largest resident dog
of Rikki’s announced yesterday, a cat defector has gravitated to the “poor” dogs’ side.  Previously a big cat supporter, Jan, is heartsick at the poor dogs losing every contest they’ve ever been in to Vincent.  For once, just once, Jan said, she wants to see the poor underdogs win.

And so she tossed out a challenge to the dog people, and to any other defecting cat people.  Jan has pledged up to $1,500 in matching donations for Duke and the dogs’ team.  That could pull in another $3,000 into to dog court.  $3,000!!!  If, and only if, anyone will step up to the challenge and match that challenge. 

Would you click on Duke to toss a hundred bucks to the dogs to see them get two hundred?  Fifty to see them get one hundred?  Twenty five to see them get fifty?  Would you even toss ONE dollar to the dogs to see them get TWO?  Anyone? 

Amazingly enough there seems to be no one willing to take up the challenge to support poor faithful friendly blind Duke Thomas Peabody. 

But the challenge did spark some interest for Vincent’s side!!  That bright eye-ed beloved mascot of Rikki’s Refuge, the nose kissing, head butting, humane educator, racked up still more votes yesterday!  

So how  can this be?  Double your votes for Duke Thomas Peabody and the Dogs or single votes for Vincent D. Cat and all things purry - and yesterday’s votes were ALL cast in honor of Vincent!

Is Vincent really that cleaver?






































Where do you cast your vote?
Click on your Candidate, to vote for Vincent D. Cat or DOUBLE your vote for Duke Thomas Peabody!












YOU make the choice !
Who will be the next Ruler of the Refuge?



bvc bvc bvc bvc

On a Serious Note Now
Does All That Voting Really Pay Off?

$5,000

is what you won for Vincent
in the Bissell Photo Contest
!$!$!$!

And that’s nothing to laugh at!!  The publicity will be tremendous.  The folks at Bissell love the animals and want to help promote their cause.  Vincent has won a $5,000 grant for Rikki’s Refuge, and a $250 shopping spree at the local Fancy Feast dealer and a new Bissell Vacuum to help keep Rikki’s Refuge fresh and clean AND his face will be on Bissell boxes the world round for the next year!!!  

Thank you Deb Barrett for taking this prize winning photo of your favorite star, Vincent !!!

2011 MVP Winners

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2011 BISSELL Most Valuable Pet photo contest! These pets were chosen by our panel of judges from the weekly finalists based on condition of coat, expression and overall appearance.

Each of these pets will appear on a future BISSELL product box. Their parents will receive a donation to their pet charity of choice, a BISSELL pet vacuum or deep cleaner for their home and a shopping spree. We appreciate everyone who participated!

2ND PLACE
Vincent D. Cat
Bright-eyed and enthusiastic, Vincent D. Cat travels to schools and other groups to help teach humane virtues. His pet parents entered Vincent in the contest with the hopes of making a donation to Rikki's Refuge, an organization that supports 1,250 animals of 22 species, who saved his life.

When interviewed by Bissell and asked what his campaign methods to win were and what he intended to do with his winnings, Vincent replied:

I’m so proud to be in second place!  ME, Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes cat of Rikki's Refuge!

Last year my friend Rainbow Diamond of Diamond Dachshund Rescue Texas won second place.

I'm a real celebrity on Facebook and this year my friend Zoe Marie Cuppiecake Peanut Spumoni decided to help handicapped animals.  You see I only have three legs and that's why I came to Rikki's Refuge.

Zoe asked 12 of her handicapped cat and dog friends to run in the Bissell contest, one each of the 12 weeks.  Our goal was to raise awareness that handicapped pets deserve the right to live and not to be euthanized just for being different.

Zoe, who's blind, ran in week one.  My other friends Rockie, Jimmy, Guido, Grady, Timmy, Bela, Clover, Sugar and NeeNee all ran too.  Some of them were representing Rikki's Refuge and some were representing their own rescue organization or one they supported.  We all work together because we know all animal rescue places need financial help all the time.  And we know that any animal getting help, is good for all of us!!!   All of my friends placed first or second in their week and so they all made it to the finals!

I ran in week 5 of the contest - Valentine's Week and my campaign was
Vote for Vincent YOUR Valentine Varmint.  I placed second in my week and that meant I got into the finals.

My doggy brother and Rikki's Refuge's Spokes Dog for the Blind, Duke, ran in week 11.  Duke placed second in his week too so he made it to the finals with me. 



When we saw Bissell show up on caller id and started playing phone tag with them, Duke and I didn't know what to expect!!

Did Duke win?
Did I win?
Or did one of our friends representing Rikki's Refuge win!!

Well it turned out to be ME who won second prize.  This means Rikki's Refuge will receive $5,000 and I'll get a $250 shopping spree and a Bissell vacuum and I'll get my picture on Bissell boxes the world over for a year!!!  I'm so very excited.

You know what I'm going to do with my $250?  I'm gonna buy cases and cases of Fancy Feast - that's my favorite thing to eat!!!

You know what I'm going to do with $5,000 for Rikki's Refuge?

First my brofur Sydney is going to get eye surgery for a condition we've been managing with medicine, but the surgery will be a big help to him and he won't need eye drops every day.

Second my sisfur Marella is going to get an ultrasound and probably bladder surgery so she doesn't have recurring infections.

That still leaves me with enough money to buy one full month of flea and tic preventative for all 1259 of us.  Yes that's right, there are 1259 of us living at Rikki's Refuge, representing 22 different species and we each need specialized care.  So that's a lot of flea and tic prevention every month.

And still that leaves enough money left over for two new residents to join us.  Old Man Mac was left at a shelter, elderly and nobody wanted him.  He'd be put to death if he can't come here.  Now he has a place to spend his retirement in joy and surrounded by love.

The other new friend is a kitty with feline leukemia who can now live out her life in happiness.  Sometimes kitties with the leukemia virus don't live very long, but many live long and happy lives.  The leading cause of death for leukemia kitties is being euthanized in shelters cus nobody wants you.  At Rikki's Refuge, we have a special kitty house just for them!

Thank you Bissell Vacuum cleaners for helping me to clean up!!! 

Thank you all my FRIENDS for taking the time out of your busy days to vote, every day, day in and day out, and make wins like this possible!!!






Vincent hooks up the goat cart for a trip around the refuge and around town to thank all his friends for all the team work and effort they put into the Bissell Contest. It was 12 long hard weeks and YOU all ROCK!!! Thank you for putting me here!!! I'm so proud of you for helping to get $5,000 to save the lives of more critters.



KEEP THOSE CLICKS COMING IN
vote every day thru Sunday June 19th
http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, USA, VA, Orange
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1,000 - $5,000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

We NEED your vote to move ahead!
If we can win ONE contest a month we can keep the refuge running!
There’s lots of ways you can vote
as long as you remember to enter
Rikkis Refuge, USA, VA, Orange,
click on any of these and take it from there !!!!



Village Farm Feed and Garden Center
Helps Rikki’s Refuge
Lyle from Village Farm Feed and Garden Center stopped by to donate a whole truck load of grain for the herbivores yesterday!!!  Thank you Village Farm Feed and Garden Center!!

Be sure to stop in and visit them on your way to Rikki’s.  Tell them Vincent the cat sent you.  They’re right down the road, a great place to stop off and pick up some dog food to bring out to Rikki’s. We’re really low on canned dog food, so please stop in and bring some out.

Between Route 3 and 522 when you’re coming to visit us and headed out of Fredericksburg.  They’re about 10 miles away at 28284 Constitution Highway, Rhoadesville, VA 22542.  If you get a chance, stop in and say, “Thank you for feeding Vincent’s Friends!” and pick up something for your critters or bird food for our wild friends, or grab a few cases of canned cat or dog food or some Fancy Feast!!!     http://www.villagefarmfeedandgardencenter.com/    (540)854-8888


It’s Easte
Help the Future Rabbits of Rikki’s Refuge
Rabbit Rotunda #1 is at capacity with rabbits and guinea pigs and pigeons and a few handicapped ducks, chickens and geese and a pheasant.  Rabbit Rotunda #2 is under construction.  Today Saturday the 23rd you can help with the building.  The waiting list of animals seeking haven is long.  Please come on out and help us finish up with the building.  You don’t need to be skilled, just able to follow directions!!  Work progresses each weekend so if you can’t make 4/23, check in for the next supervised work day!!

Meet Some of the Happy Residents of Rabbit Rotunda


SAVING THE WOODS AND WETLANDS
for their Rightful Owners
the WILD ANIMALS
Yeahhhh thank you James and thank you Ellie!!!  Two weeks ago a lady came and said she had a right of way thru our woods, meandering up and down and all around, to get to her property and she wanted to cut a big wide trail so logging trucks could go and come and cut down all the trees on her property. 

Before I could pick my jaw up off the floor, I was thinking this is NOT a good idea.  I don’t think you can do this and I sure won’t give you permission to cut down trees on our property and kill the animals that live in the trees and in the creeks that would get run over and in the wetlands that would get filled in.  I needed help to figure out what’s what.  And so that’s where James the best surveyor in town and Ellie, friend to the animals lawyer, came into play.  And they worked hard, day and night, searching deeds and titles and saying is it possible ... And they dug up all the history they could for the last couple hundred years, and they said no, it’s not right, the lady can’t come thru the refuge to do that.  Yeahhh. 

And so the nice lawyers sent a letter to the lady explaining why she couldn’t do that and it started out like this.... the Refuge was founded in 1998 and has become very well know in Virginia as a preservation oriented, habitat sensitive, no-kill, all species, peaceful animal refuge. During 13 plus years of operation, the refuge has worked to preserve it’s land. For an animal refuge, you will understand, the sanctity of the land is mission critical ...

Isn’t that nice?  I hope the lady understands and isn’t mad.  We just can’t let anybody get hurt here at Rikki’s Refuge.

Please join our cause by clicking here.
Invite your friends to join, Wildlife Habitat, so little left, don’t let us lose any protected lands.

Surveying Rikki’s Refuge
Our survey, running more than six miles around the perimeter of Rikki’s Refuge has began.  It may surprise you to know we didn’t have this done when we first got the property.  The initial donation was for 330 acres.  We asked about a survey then, and being city folks and used to the standard fee for a ¼ acre and well documented lot, we were shocked at the cost and time it would take to do a full survey of 330 acres.  WHY?  Well for one, it’s a long, long way to go.  Secondly much of this rural land hasn’t been surveyed for hundreds of years, making it like a puzzle to find corners and referenced parts.  It takes a lot of research just to get to the point where you can even begin to walk the land.

James Luther, our surveyor, has finished the research and paper work and has started marking out corners and known points.  Next he’ll have to follow up and shoot lines form one point to the next.  When you’re going over hills and thru creeks and thru thick brush -- well, the job just gets harder and longer!

The time has come, to properly defend the wild animals who call our woods and wetlands home, a proper survey must be done.  Not only for the current issue at hand, but also to put an end to the poaching problem.  Without a clearly marked boundary, it’s hard to dispute in court, did you catch them here or ten feet back? 

This is how our deed describes our main parcel of land:

Three hundred thirty & 3/100 acres more or less, beginning at a cedar tree, corner to Jack Lee, and Mrs. Luck, thence S. 20 W. 3550 feet to a stake, corner to Frank Johnson; thence N. 29 3/4 W. 1584 feet to stake at foot of fallen down tree, corner to Frank Johnson, thence along branch to stump near forks of run, corner to Frank Johnson, thence S.34 W. 510 feet to stake corner to Wherton; thence S. 66 W. 1458 feet to stake corner to Jim Williams in J. E. Willis; thence S. 45 1/2 W. 74 feet to stake corner to J. E. Willis; thence S. 64 1/4 W. 160 feet to stake near a marked gum tree corner to John Camel and J. E. Willis line; thence N. 24 1/2 W. 700 feet to stake to corner to Alec Camel, thence N. 56 E. 560 feet to stake in line of fallen oak tree; corner to Clifton Turner and Alec Camel; thence N. 62 1/2 E. 1600 feet to center of Berry Run corner to Clifton Turner stake on South bank of run; thence along run to center of Berry Run opposite oak stump on North side corner to the Orange Realty Company; thence N. 60 1/2 E. 3640 feet to large white oak fallen down, corner to Orange Realty Company; thence N. 26 3/4 E. 947 feet to post in stump hole corner to R. E. Faulconer in Orange Realty Company's line; thence S.66 3/4 E. 1254 feet to point of beginning.

For real. That’s how they did it more than a hundred years ago.  So could you find your way around?  First off you have to research back and see who owned the surrounding parcels at the time this was written - or even more likely what parcel was being called this as it might be really old labels or nick names of the property or something.  Then try to find THE cedar tree referenced.  And THE fallen down log that the termites probably finished off around the turn of the century and I don’t mean the millennium!!! 

The other 37 acre parcel has a much more modern survey and will be easy. 

We will be clearing the brush for about a ten foot wide path around the perimeter. 

We will post frequent NO TRESPASSING / NO HUNTING signs, we will paint the silver marks that mean no trespassing.  Do you know why we have to do that?  The poachers constantly say they didn’t know they were on our property, it wasn’t marked, and then you find all our torn down no trespassing signs in a pile 20 feet away, or even in the back of their trucks!

They even try to peel the bark off the trees where the silver symbol is painted!!!  Amazing, but just look at some of the trees near the new fence that was put blocking the path the logging person wants to use.  It’s true!

In addition to the standard no trespassing, no hunting symbols, we will be putting three bright orange stripes around the trees.  This will give notice to all the adjoining landowners exactly where our property starts and where their hunting better stop.  We can then send them a plat, pictures of the markings, and a request to stay off the property.  Next hunting season when they are caught, our conviction rate will go way way up!

We need your help.  This project is huge.  It will take months and months of many of us working together to clear brush for the boundary line without harming any habitat.  Can you sign on to help?  Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org


Adopt a Doggie
April 23, SATURDAY            Ring Dog Rescue adoptions -  11 am - 3 pm. Wonderful adoptable doggies in need of forever homes!  South Stafford PetSmart, Store #1928, 27 South Gateway Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22406  540-372-1258

Foster homes needed
Spring has sprung as the saying goes and with it kittens and puppies are being born at a frantic pace.  This early in the year, we’re talking little baby fuzzies!  Newborns galore, some with their mothers and some without.  These tiny guys and gals can’t be vaccinated for several weeks and are at their most vulnerable in a shelter setting where strays and ill animals also seek refuge.  Foster homes are most urgently needed for mother cats and kittens right now.  As of today, we have two feline families who need a quiet corner of your home in which to nap, eat and grow strong.  We have wire dog crates, litter pans, bedding and all the supplies ready to loan.  Please spread the word and give the Orange County Animal Shelter a call at (540)672-1124 if you can help.  


Bunny Bonanza
We were really disappointed to have to cancel Bunny Bonanza cuz of the weather.  If you bought advance tickets please contact Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org for a refund. 


Inner Circle
Coming soon to a computer near you Vincent’s Inner Circle, learn the secrets, get behind the scenes.  My Inner Circle Club will be only for my closest friends who really care and love me and want to share my life even more intimately then we do now!!  Are you excited?  Do YOU want to join?  Keep watching here for details.


Help my Vet and my Pharmacist
they can be named number one in Culpeper
You only have to enter a name and email address. 
Go to Animal Care
and then Veterinarian
and enter Culpeper Animal Hospital
then down to Medical and Health
and then Pharmacy
and enter Culpeper Pharmacy
and then click “Submit” at the bottom
click here to get started



Meet YOUR Friends!!

Nanny the Oldest Goat on the Planet


Sally the Fattest Goat on the Planet
NO, she’s NOT pregnant!

Napoleon, an Elderly Gentleman




Great Purrchases

Take a look at what’s on ebay benefiting Rikki’s Refuge!!

Here’s just a small sampling of the Good Shopping!!
Click any item for details.

Paw Painted Easter Eggs
by Mystique the Kitty Artist
only $6




Too Hot For Spot
Summer is coming, it’s warming up.
Every car should have one
Saves lives


Adorable Vintage Easter Postcards
a wide range to choose from including


Many other selections: http://bit.ly/RikkisEbay


Royalty
These and other items!


Many other selections: http://bit.ly/RikkisEbay


Beanie Babies Frogs


6 Beanie Babies One Price


Graduation Time

Many other Beanie Babies to choose from: http://bit.ly/RikkisEbay


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.

NEXT TO LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH                 VOLUNTEER TRAIN BASIC 11 am- 3 pm, Learn the basics about volunteering at Rikki’s Refuge. Help with donation logging, washing dishes and liter boxes, socializing the animals and much more.   4/23, 5/21, 6/18, 7/23, 8/20, 9/17, 10/22, 11/19, 12/24

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

April 23, 2011                SATURDAY     Ring Dog Rescue adoptions -  11 am - 3 pm. Wonderful adoptable doggies in need of forever homes!  South Stafford PetSmart, Store #1928, 27 South Gateway Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22406  540-372-1258

April 23, 2011                SATURDAY     EARTH DAY GARDENING -  Pick a garden spot you can call your own and cultivate it into everlasting beauty. Grow a beautiful display of flowers, maybe one aimed at attracting butterflies or bees or birds. How about a rock garden? Veggies for the critters? We need to plant trees and ivy and grape arbors for future shade. What ever you like to grow - would like to grow at Rikki's! How about stopping by your favorite nursery and asking them to donate a plant or tree or shrub or some flowers or seeds for the refuge?

April 23, 2011                SATURDAY     RABBIT & GUINEA PIG BIRTHDAY PARTY - Celebrate for all the rabbits, help beautify Rabbit Rotunda - paint the rabbit house, bring a small can of your favorite color and a brush, donate or transplant a bush or tree or even a berry bush, build shade areas, donate and plant ivy or grape vines for natural shade cover, use your imagination and do something great for the rabbits.

April 24, 2011                SUNDAY          Easter Sunday - special treat for bunnies and chicks and all their friends, help give them fresh bedding

April 24, 2011                SUNDAY          MOMS & DAUGHTERS DAY - come out as a team and see how much you can accomplish in one day.  Who can do more?  Moms and Daughters?  Dads and Sons?  Moms and Sons?  Or Dads and Daughters?

April 24, 2011                SUNDAY          PHOTO CONTEST DAY - in honor of the first Polaroid camera being sold
April 21, 1948, come and get your best shot of your favorite critter - winner's photo on the web.

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY     CAT DAY CHANGING OF SEASON - Clean out the winter bedding and prepare for the warm weather.

April 30, 2011                SATURDAY            NATIONAL ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING - Donate or dig up and transplant a tree to provide future shade for the animals. We have plenty of small trees at the wood line that would love to be relocated. Bring just yourself and work gloves, we have the shovels.

April 30 & May 1, 2011             SATURDAY & SUNDAY            BE AN ANIMAL ARTIST ASSISTANT - doing painting with the animals.  We have paints and canvases and picture mats and Christmas ornaments ready to go!  Oh, and lots of paper towels!  It's going to be messy, but fun. Wear your painting clothes and painting shoes, and let's paint with the animals!  The chickens, the pigs, the goats, the dogs, the cats, the sheep, and India the cow! Let's find out how artistic they are!  From 11:00 until we are done.  We need 2 or 3 people to help with each animal that paints. We will also need a photographer to capture it all!  Photos of the animal painting will help with making "certificates of authenticity" to go along with each painting.  We hope to have the paintings on display for sale at various locations, and will also sell them online.  Please RSVP to me, so that I will have an idea of how many supplies to bring.  Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net   PS: painting with the animals will be postponed in the event of rain on April 30th.




Please help us if you can.   
No donation is ever too small.  Your dollar will care for one animal for a day.  We need YOU.  We need YOUR help.

Thank you for your generosity for the animals: http://bit.ly/BeMyHero




Thank you for your love and support. 
Together we’re making a marvelous difference!!!

LOVE,
VINCENT
April 23, 2011

PS: Please help me, I’ll try anything to keep the Refuge Running. I need your continued support.

Without YOU, I’d be out in the cold.  Thank you for paying my rent at Rikki’s Refuge.

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.