Monday, July 25, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!!!!!!!! July 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


It was a way COOL weekend!!!

I love my tree house!!!!




VOTE for VARIETY!!!
Rikki’s supports 22 species of critters
..... and counting ....!!!!
Voting to win Prize Money for Rikki’s is just like Donating!
just FREE !!!
vote every day thru September 18th
in the Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
The shelter with the most votes wins the most money !!!
It’s a SNAP and it’s quick, simple, and free !!
Your daily vote can win $1, 000 - $5, 000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!


Tortoise gets wheel to replace amputated leg
by Howard Portnoy, Pet News Examiner
It’s not every tortoise that can do a wheelie. Gamera, a 12-year-old tortoise, can. The African spur-thighed tortoise recently had to have its left front leg amputated as a result of an injury, but doctors at Washington State University veterinary hospital came up with an ingenious solution to his mobility problems. They attached a swiveling wheel to his shell, and the 23-pound reptile is getting around just fine, thank you.

Charlie Powell, spokesman for the hospital, which is located in Pullman, Washington, told the Associated Press, "I don't know whether he'd pass the hare, but he moves around very well."

The wheel added three pounds to Gamera’s weight, but that has hardly slowed him down—especially when he is moving toward food.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Tortoise gets wheel to replace amputated leg - National pet news | Examiner.com


Yard Sales an Important Part of our Income
Kathy and Kim are working hard to help fundraise by doing frequent yard sales.  And they’re out of goods!!!  Got anything you can donate for our next sale?  Let me know.


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, July 18, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!!!!!!!! July 18, 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





It’s a snap to VOTE !!!
And it HELPS the Animals !!!!
Voting to win Prize Money for Rikki’s is just like Donating!
Just FREE !!!
vote every day thru September 18th
in the Animal Rescue Site Shelter Challenge
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
The shelter with the most votes wins the most money !!!
It’s a SNAP and it’s quick, simple, and free !!
Your daily vote can win $1, 000 - $5, 000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

YOU MAKE RIKKI’S REFUGE THE WINNING SANCTUARY
WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
Come on Larry, get them Hokies voting, last time you got them on board we soared to the top!!!

Voting Secret, please don’t read if you’re not MY Special Friend
It seems that sometimes the Animal Rescue Voting site lets you get two for the price of one!!  If you vote early in the morning, sometimes, just sometimes, it lets you vote again late at night!!!  Play around with this and see if you can figure out what makes it decide to let you do that??  I don’t know, but it’d be fun to know!


Nine Lives - Not Nine Times !
Opps Some of you said you got the last Good Morning Good News NINE times!!!  I don’t know how that happened and I’m very sorry.  I want nine lives but I don’t mean to send you the same thing nine times!!!  Sorry.


Puzzled Frog
First-Ever Picture of Rainbow Toad, Found After 87 Years
An adult female Bornean Rainbow Toad, also referred to as Sambas Stream Toad, was spotted by scientists in Penrissen, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, June 13, 2011. These are the first photographs of the colorful, spindly-legged creature, which hasn't been seen since 1924.


How well did you do on the puzzle challenge?  Our winner is Jenna at 29 minutes and 54 seconds.  Close runner up, Melissa at 31 minutes and 43 seconds.  Ron came in at 48 minutes and 2 seconds.  And Deb slid in with 63 minutes and 40 seconds.

That was a hard one wasn’t it?  I’m sorry the pieces were so small.  And I was disappointed I couldn’t get them to blow up on my screen, control + just wouldn’t do it.  I’m surprised we didn’t have any teenagers with great eyesight at the top of the list !!!!   And I do apologize for all the businesses across the globe that were shut down for an hour while their employees worked on the puzzle .......  Opppssss



Ohio City Says Hoomans are Guardians, Not Owners
City Council members in Parma, Ohio, have voted unanimously to change the city’s animal related ordinances to recognize pets as part of the family by adopting the term “guardian” instead of “owner.”

The move was initiated by high school student Brandon Yanak, and Councilwoman Mary Galinas worked with the city council to have the new language adopted.

“More people are thinking and acting as ‘guardians’ of their animal companions,” said Yanak. “I expect to see higher levels of animal care and appreciation, thus helping to end many animal-related problems such as people breeding animals and keeping too many in inadequate conditions on their property in Parma.”

In Defense of Animals (IDA) began the Guardian Campaign in 1999, and 18 cities have adopted its language into their codes and legislation. The campaign promotes an understanding that “guardian” denotes a higher level of responsibility, caring and respect toward the animals with whom families share their lives.


Funds-On Specials for Rikki’s Supporters
$99 For Laser-Tag Party for Ten People: http://www.fundson.com/RikkisRefuge/deals/details/94/



50% Off Dinner Or Sunday Brunch Cruise On Potomac River - Amazing Views!  http://www.fundson.com/RikkisRefuge/deals/details/131/


Humpback whale gives show after being rescued.
Click for fabulous video of rescue: http://www.wimp.com/humpbackwhale/



CAUSE YOU CAN !!!!!

A great big thank you to Amy Willing Madson and

Fred J. Friedman for giving their Birthday Cause Wishes to Rikki's in June !!!! Yeahhhh You raised $395 to help care for the animals!!!! Fred won the Critter Cause Contest for the Month of June by raising the most money!!!! Who's gonna win in July!!!

It's easy to help Rikki's Refuge with a Cause Wish - it can be a Birthday Wish, a Memorial Wish, or just a Wish to help the animals. You can pick "Wildlife Legal Defense and Survey Fund" or "Rikki's Refuge" or "Life Unlimited Of Virginia Inc" - spread it wide and far, to friends of friends of friends, to people who've never heard of us before .....

The more people we can tell about Rikki’s Refuge, the more people will help.  And the more people helping, the less the burden is on any one of use!!  So SHARE !!!!

Rikki's Refuge Critter Cause Contest - every month my friend who raises the most for Rikki's Refuge thru a Cause will win a pawtographed pawtrait of ME !!! Everyone hosting a Cause for Rikki's Refuge will get mentioned here, in Good Morning Good News and on my blog. The monthly winners, will appear in Reflections!!!! See the wishes of our July Critter Cause hosters........

Faythe Roberson Goldsmith wants to give presents to all the kitties for her birthday!!  You can help her do that with her Birthday Wish !!!!  Or with yours!

Denise Halderman - is asking for funds for Rikki's in lieu of Birthday Gifts for Herself !!!!

Patricia Luisa Howard has been a friend of mummy's for 3x longer than I've been born!! Happy Birthday Patti!! She's giving her Birthday Gifts to Rikki's Refuge!!!

Barbara Lowe is currently in the lead with the most collected so far in the July Critter Cause Contest ---- can YOU create a Cause to beat her? Causes can be for anything!! Birthdays, celebrations, or just cuz you have a WISH !!!

Dace Terapak just set up her Birthday Cause!!!!! She's a new volunteer at Rikki's who's taken on the responsibility of working every Saturday. She helps care for the dogs, horses, rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs.

Stacey DeGuire has a birthday this month!!!! And she's joining the Critter Cause Contest !!!!! Don't miss out on your opportunity!!!! Create a Cause or a Wish for any reason you want !!!!

Who's gonna raise the most in July ????   Will it be YOU?



Adorable Porcupine




Love,
Vincent
Not gonna nag today, but if you can spare a couple bucks today I’d really appreciate it.  All of us would.  All 1,269 of us here.  We need food everyday !! 
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, July 15, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!!!!!!! July 15, 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




What a beautiful day !!!
I do love living here on planet earth !!!!   It’s the greatest place ever !!! 

So what have you been up to?

It’s been super busy at the refuge!  More daylight and more hours to work, sometimes it’s 9:30 at night before we realize the day’s about over !!!   Love the early morning crowing. 

Early morning sounds are really wonderful in the new Rabbit Rotunda II - all the pigeons cooing.  Yes - we’ve gotten video - it’s just taking the time to sit down and down load it.

Hey!  Sorry if I haven’t answered your emails, messages, etc.  Got a great big huge pile I’m way behind on here.  If it’s really important and you can’t wait for me to catch up - holler or send another email. 

Both the trailers have arrived.  The decking needs to get taken apart and come on up too.  We were very surprised the trailer moving guy had equipment to lift the trailers up and pull them out without having to move the decking first.  Amazing what the right equipment will do!!!

So this is gonna be another fund raiser I guess!!!   First gotta go get the permits to set the trailers up.  Then we’ll need to get the money to put in the foundations and bring in more electricity.  This gonna be a big job. 

This needs to be the summer of fundraising I think!!!  Come on mom, I just want to play in the sun and nap in the shade!!!  Don’t make me work!!!!  Please ....

We got some great big vet bills we gotta pay.  Thank you Rebecca for putting a payment down at the hospital for us.  Most of our hospital news is good news and usually everybody recovers and lives happily ever after.  We had very sad news this week, beloved little Munchkin passed away very unexpectedly after two surgeries.  She was so looking good and we all thought she was out of the woods and going to heal and be with us a very long time.  Her doctor thinks she’d probably formed a blood clot that broke lose.  Our happy little girl, sitting with us, purring, eating well on her own, looking so good one minute and then within an hour gone. We’re all still very sad about this.  Though we gotta keep working for all the others that need us too.

Still working on the great big huge debt to save the Woods and Wetlands too.  They seem safe now and we’ve just gotta pay off what it cost to keep them that way. 

The survey is recorded and now we have let the attorneys work on the issues of neighbors who have some of our property fenced and such things.  Ellie, will be in touch, the days just keep sliding by.

Saturday, 9 am NEXT week the 23rd will be Clear the Perimeter Saturday.  Bring your boots, hats, tic repellant, gloves and your hedge trimmers and trudge off into the woods with us.



Flea Market
This Saturday - TOMORROW - Kim and Kathy will be doing another sale at the Locust Grove Flea Market to help raise money!!!  Can you help???  Have good things to bring??  Help at the booth??  Have a yard sale in your home town to help raise money. 


Saturday Fun
Donation Drop off noon - 2 pm

MOMS & SONS 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?

FULL MOON WALK, Bon Fire, vegan bbq, pot luck


Sunday Fun

TOUR THE REFUGE - NOON

ANIMAL ATTENTION DAY - Give some extra hugs to the homeless - take a dog for a walk, scratch a pig's belly, pat a cat.


Next Week and Beyond
Next Saturday 7/23
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


Birthday Party and Open House - August 14th noon - 4 pm
The biggest event of the year - get it on YOUR calendar.





CLICKS COUNT
PRIZE MONEY MATTERS
PLEASE VOTE TODAY
vote every day thru Sunday September 18th
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1, 000 - $5, 000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

YOU MAKE RIKKI’S REFUGE THE WINNING SANCTUARY
WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!



Yes, having a dog or a cat really is good for you

Well duhhh I’m living proof of that aren’t I?

Lots of research has indicated that having a dog or a cat can help people live happier, healthier lives. But it’s been unclear whether there really is a cause-and-effect relationship between pet ownership and better physical and mental health. Now, new research indicates that the benefits of having a canine or feline companion are real and broad.

Read more, by Rob Stein





Put the Picture Together
Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about this wonderful beautiful guy!!!

How fast are you?  The time it takes you to do the puzzle is in the top right corner!!  Tell me your time!!  Who’s the fastest at solving puzzles?  I’ll list your names and times here tomorrow!!

Online jigsaw puzzles from JigsawSite.com



Animal Art
Melissa has done wonders advertising and showing and selling our art work !!!!  Have you seen our shows yet??  We’re currently on display at the Salem Church Library in Fredericksburg and The Orange Art Center here in Orange County!!!!   I think you should visit and insist that they invite the artists in for a Meet the Artists Evening!!!!  Tell ‘em Vincent D. Cat sent you !!!

On display at Salem Church Library in Fredericksburg and The Orange Art Center here in Orange County are full sized canvases that us animals painted all by ourselves.  Well almost, Melissa poured out the paint for us.  Getting the lids off those jars requires opposable thumbs.

We’ve also painted some mats and Melissa has used them to frame pictures of us. 

Click on any of these for more details and stories about the artists.









I want one of these!
Solar Plant Generates Power for 24 Hours

Spain celebrated a huge milestone, based on the power of the sun.

This week a company in Spain celebrated an historic moment for the solar industry: Torresol’s 19.9 megawatt (MW) concentrating solar power plant became the first ever to generate uninterrupted electricity for 24 hours straight.

    The plant uses a Power Tower design which features a field of 2,650 mirrors that concentrate sunlight onto a boiler in a central receiver tower. The plant also utilizes molten salt as a heat transfer fluid that allows it to generate electricity when there’s no sunlight. Recharge News reported on the milestone:

        After commissioning in May, the plant was finally ready to operate at full-blast in late June and benefited from a particularly sunny stretch of weather, according to Diego Ramirez, director of production at Torresol. “The high performance of the installations coincided with several days of excellent solar radiation, which made it possible for the hot-salt storage tank to reach full capacity,” Ramirez explains.

    Torresol says that the plant will provide electricity for about 20 hours each day on average, with numerous days in the summer seeing 24 hours of supply. How does that compare with a similar-sized photovoltaic plant? The 21.2 MW Solarpark Calaveron in Spain generates about 40 gigawatt hours (GWh) a year. This smaller 19.9 MW power tower plant will generate about 110 GWh per year.


Who wants to be Vincent’s Alternative Power Hooman?
Seriously now.  I need YOU to talk to companies, write grants, see if you can convince companies to put up a working model at Rikki’s.  What company doesn’t want Vincent D. Cat advertising their product!!


Your Yard Work Can Help the Animals
Mowing? Save the clippings for the guinea pigs and rabbits.  They love your fresh clippings.  If you’ve used insecticide or fertilizer (other than natural) recently we’ll skip this meal !!!

Pruning fruit trees?  The rabbits and guinea pigs love to chew on the branches.  And it’s good for their teeth.  If they don’t chew, their teeth can grow too long.  They’d prefer to have good things to chew on instead of having Lena clipping teeth!!!   


RECYCLE
Remember to recycle all your metals at Summit Recycling in Fredericksburg.  Or wash your cans and bring them to Rikki’s.  Washed and tied tightly in bags please.  Separate aluminum from other metals and label please !!!  Thanks ...

And remember the best recycling of all .... ADOPT !!!!



I hope my Good Morning Good News helps to bring you a little quiet where there is chaos; light where there is darkness and put love in your heart.  Cuz I love you very much.

Love,
Vincent
Not gonna nag today, but if you can spare a couple bucks today I’d really appreciate it.  All of us would.  All 1,269 of us here.  We need food everyday !! 
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, July 08, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 8, 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



WOW WEEEE  Happy Dance Happy Dance ...

I got the bestest friends ever.  That’s YOU !!!!

I LOVE  YOU !!!!!!




Your votes yesterday put Rikki’s Refuge
#3 on the PLANET !!!
Keep up the good work!!!!
Keep Rikki’s in the Top!!!
Win money to help the animals!!!

CLICKS COUNT
PRIZE MONEY MATTERS
PLEASE VOTE TODAY
vote every day thru Sunday September 18th
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1, 000 - $5, 000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!


YOU MAKE RIKKI’S REFUGE A WINNER !



The Trailers
The church who’s giving them to us doesn’t want us to start taking things apart till next week.  They haven’t gotten all their things out yet.  So we’re on hold.  Probably ready to start taking the deck down Tuesday or Wed or Saturday ...  if you can help let us know.  So far three of you have volunteered to help.  The more of you who help the quicker it will go!!!

A guy named Ronnie came out today to look at our site and see where they can go.  He said GEEEE  you got so much room out here they can go anywhere!!!   Looks like mom’s decided to put them near the picnic pavilion.  They’ll be close to the hill looking down on the fields and woods.  It’s a real pretty place.  The two trailers will be side by side with 20 feet of decking in between.  And they picked a place where they can have a tree in the middle of the deck!!!!  That should be real pretty and give the birds a place to sit and poop on the hoomans on the deck!!!!

He’s supposed to call mom tonight and tell her a price for hauling them and for setting them all up.  Paws crossed it’s an itty bitty number and we can raise that much so this can happen!!!!




A Curious Being
We're all a mixture of science AND a soul.
Gina’s Blog


I’d like to introduce my newer friends to Rikki’s Refuge, an amazing organization located in Orange, Virginia.  I’ve had the privilege of visiting and volunteering over several years, and it is truly an experience not to be missed.  Over 1200 creatures are housed there.  Each has their own story of how they came to be rescued, but once they reach the refuge, they find a forever home.

continued ........   http://curiousbeing.com/


Art Show
Salem Church Library
Stop in and see the work of Rikki’s Animal Artists!

Here’s a report I had, “I was just at the library, and it was fun walking in and seeing 2 groups of people looking at the paintings!  The kids thought it was cool that "a pig painted this one" and "a goat painted that one" and "look at the one by the horse!".  They should get people talking, and maybe open some eyes.”

2607 Salem Church Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: 540-785-9267
Open 9-9 Mon-Thurs, 9-5:30 Fri and Sat and 1-5:30 Sun


You remember to VOTE now !!
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge

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

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! July 7, 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

I made this self portrait just for Wayne H. Morris for all the nice pictures he’s done for me!!!   Thank you Melissa for helping me a bit!! 

Our Art Show at Dog Krazy in Fredericksburg Friday was a wonderful success!!!!   I sure hope you can come to the next one in Orange!!



Good Morning ... Good Morning ... Good Morning ...
Good Morning ... to my best friends !!

It’s another beautiful day in paradise!

Have you Voted this morning?

CLICKS COUNT
PRIZE MONEY MATTERS
PLEASE VOTE TODAY
vote every day thru Sunday September 18th
  and enter USA , VA, Rikkis Refuge
The Animal Rescue Site - Shelter Challenge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote can win $1, 000 - $5, 000 for Rikki’s Refuge’s Animals!

It’s vitally important that you VOTE and help Rikki’s get ahead.  Those cockers are trouncing us and it’s only the 4th day of the contest.  They have 1.6% of the international vote, we have 1.29%.  They also have 35.29% of the state vote and we only have 28.4 -- come on you all RIKKI’S REFUGE is BIGGER, we have a lot MORE ANIMALS to care for, and our budget needs the BOOST - so PLEASE VOTE and please ask all your friends to vote every day!!!  Thank you!!!

YOU MAKE RIKKI’S REFUGE A WINNER !



I Snuck on mom’s Puter

Mom had to write an essay about why she got into rescue and how come Rikki’s Refuge came about.  I  stole the story off her ‘puter to share with you.

Rikki’s Refuge was the kind of place I dreamed about from the first day I volunteered at a Humane Society over 30 years ago. A place where the animals no one else wanted would be loved and cherished for who they were, no matter what their problems were.

My very first day of volunteering, I found out that animals that weren’t real friendly, ones that had health problems, ones that were older, were murdered. Just because nobody would love them and care for them.

My first day I took home a little foster kitty, Justin, who was the shy one in his family. His siblings were adopted and he was left behind just because he was scared. A little less then six months old, his life was going to be ended because his foster mom didn’t want “that unfriendly guy” back.

I was shocked and I took him home to foster. Justine made great friends with a kitty of mine, Monster. The next week when I went to adoptions I took Justine. He cried and whimpered and put his face in the corner of his cage and would not tolerate looking at the public. Of course no one wanted him. This was back in the days where there were very few private shelters and we all worked out of foster homes.

Needless to say Justine went home with me again. And spent another week in heaven playing with his best buddy Monster. Monster was a super friendly outgoing human loving cat. Justine would follow Monster, but shy back when petted by humans.

The next Saturday I put Justine in his carrier to go to adoption day. He whimpered and cried and Monster jumped on top of the carrier and howled and cried. Justine was terribly unhappy and upset all day at adoptions. And of course, nobody wanted him.

The next Saturday when I put him in his carrier, he reached his arms out and Monster came up and put his arms in and around Justine’s neck. They sat there, whimpering and crying.

And that was when I really realized how strong their emotions are. That they are no different than we are. They have family, they form bonds, they love, they hurt, they grieve. Soon I was crying too, and I’m crying as I write this remembering Justine and how he changed my life.

I opened the carrier door, went to adoptions empty handed, and signed Justine’s adoption papers that day.

He was the beginning of many many cats who’d come thru my door over the next 20 years. I took home the ones who couldn’t find homes. Some were shy. Some had other bad habits, biting, peeing somewhere naughty. Others were old and just needed a place to live with love and dignity for 6 months or a year or two. Some had health issues, diabetes, asthma, heart problems. I kept as many as I could reasonably manage in a regular home. Back then I worked for a living too so I had a full time house keeper who’s job was cleaning for the kitties.

I knew a few, very, few places existed, for animals like these. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah was one of them. I dreamed that someday there would be more and more places like that. I never really thought about running one, just planned to volunteer as much time as I could.

13 years ago Rikki’s Refuge was formed. In a way it just happened.  I’d never dreamed of running such a place.  I’d had dreams of buying a tropical island and retiring to a life of sunbathing and diving.  But it happened.  One day I saw the property for sale, had a vision of it being a sanctuary for every kind of animal, began talking about it, hoped someone else would see my dreams and buy it for the animals and ......  well someone did buy it, my mom.  She then donated the land to become Rikki’s Refuge and there I was ....   And here I am today.

Since Rikki’s inception well over 5, 000 farm and domestic animals have come thru these doors. These doors that have opened to a wonderful new life filled with love and respect. Everyone of them came from an environment where they were close to being put to death for no fault of their own. Elderly, handicapped, social issues. Some of these have been adopted out. But Rikki’s Refuge provides life care for the natural life of all the ones who need it. Everyday almost 1300 animals of 22 different species are treated with love and respect and cared for, no matter what their specific needs are.

Nobody dies because they aren’t loved or cared about. The oldest cat or dog or goat or chicken, is given the best and longest, happy and comfortable life that love and medicine can buy. They each have their own special needs and they get that from volunteers (I’ve always remained a volunteer, even though it’s now more than a full time job), staff and visitors.

Rikki’s Refuge is truly heaven on earth. Many people expect to see sad, crowded, frightened animals at a shelter. Yet at Rikki’s Refuge they are greeted by ancient dog hobbling over for a pat and tail wag on old arthritic legs, old kitties sleeping in the sun who are happy to wake up for a chin scratch and a purr, chickens who run to see what treats have been brought and goats curious and mischievous wanting to climb in their cars.

I think the most common comment heard by first time visitors is how happy it makes them to see such happy animals. Rikki’s Refuge is really a home for the animals and not just a shelter.

I want to see more animals given the chance to have such a happy home and really enjoy the rest of their lives and that’s why I want to win this grant for Rikki’s Refuge!!



Can YOU Solve My Puzzle ?



Online jigsaw puzzles from JigsawSite.com

But the real puzzle,
is how to get my muzzle
on the label of Fancy Feast!!!


I’ve been getting good on E-Bay
Keep up with what we have on e-bay.  http://bit.ly/RikkisEbay
Watch for my upcoming auction of Cool Critter Crafts and more .....  

Watch for us this Saturday at the yard sale at Locust Grove Town Center at the intersection of 20 and Zion Rd - where the new traffic light is!!!!  Oh my gosh, Orange is growing.  So many fans coming to visit me they’ve had to put in two new traffic lights on Rt 20!!! 

Got any good stuff for the yard sale????   We’re working really hard to pay our bills and we need your help.  Donate stuff, run your own yard sale and donate the $s, do a bake sale for the animals.



Need Help in Mechanicsville

I have a deal I don't want to miss out on.

In Mechanicsville, east of Richmond, Virginia, USA

A church has donated two 12' x 53' trailers and the decking between them to us.  
The church currently uses them for meeting and office space.  It will be ideal for office space here as well as more 9th Life Space for the especially needy cats and dogs.  This is space we desperately need.

The catch ---  we have to get it here.

There's two steps to this.

Step one takes ordinary folks, like you and me.  We need to remove the skirting and put it inside the trailers.  We need to remove the decking and haul it up here separately.

Then somebody needs to haul each trailer from there to here.  That requires a big truck.  Somebody who does this professionally and knows all the rules and regs about WIDE LOAD.  We fully expect this to be a paid job.

The wonderful guy who hauled all our trailers in the past, passed away last summer so he can't do it for us.

Can YOU help disassemble the decking ?  Our wonderful volunteer Bob will be working on this Saturday - will you help him?

Do you KNOW anyone who can haul trailers?




And don’t forget to Recycle at Summit

Can we raise enough money recycling to to get the trailers here and get all the necessary permits and get them all set up and running?  Come on you all !!  Let’s do it !!!



Patsy Shares a Deal
Hey Vincent, CVS has fancy feast 2 for $1.00 that's .50 a can, Food Lion is .55 a can.  Share this with your friends!

I went by CVS this morning, got you 17 Fancy Feast, they didn't have much, will check when we go to Charlottesville this weekend. It is on sale 2 for $1.00 and if people use their extra bucks and scan their red CVS reward card there at the coupon center, they might get more extra bucks, I got $5.00 extra bucks this morning at the coupon center. It would have cost me $8.50 but with my extra bucks it only cost me $3.50, that is what I call a deal, now I can buy you more.

People can also get rain checks at CVS to use another time if they don't have enough cat food for you.



Patricia Luisa Howard's Birthday Wish
I chose Rikki's Refuge because I already have everything I need except an Emmy Award and a World Series ring, and Rikki's takes care of over 1,000 homeless and HUNGRY animals of almost every species..

Please consider giving to my Birthday Wish, and together we can kick ass.. If you can't give now, I'd really appreciate if you'd share this page with your friends.

Happy Birthday Patti !!!!!


Denise Halderman's Birthday Wish
I chose Wildlife Legal Defense and Survey Fund because Rikki's Refuge is one of the most inspiring no-kill animal shelters I have ever visited. They are located in Orange, Va. And take care of any and all types of animals. They are amazing!!!!.

Happy Birthday Denise  !!!!

Barbara Lowe's Birthday Wish
I chose Rikki's Refuge because Rikki's helps so many special needs kitties along with 20+ species of animals find a safe harbor & loving care.

Please consider giving to my Birthday Wish, and together we can make the world a better place for these super special animals. If you can't give now, I'd really appreciate if you'd share this page with your friends.

Happy Birthday Barbara!!!!!


Join the Cause to Save Animals
Join Rikki’s Refuge - FREE
Share why YOU love the animals!!!

Judy Augustine shares: I have always loved animals, and have had many dogs in my life. Now I have one Yellow Lab named Izzy (Izabel) that we adopted, one female black cat names Midnight, also adopted, and one male Orange Tabby I adopted from a friend, and his name is Tigger. He also answers to Frank. To me, animals give us unconditional love, and are always glad to see us. Sometimes I think they are smarter than people.


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.