HELPING ANIMALS AT OUR SANCTUARY AND AROUND THE WORLD!
RIKKI’S REFUGE IS A MULTI-SPECIES LIFE-CARE NO-KILL SANCTUARY
FOR THE MEDICALLY AND SOCIALLY CHALLENGED
SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS FROM KIND AND GENEROUS PEOPLE LIKE YOU !
.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’m dedicating today
to my goat friend Mike. He needs help.
Please help me till I can get back to work!
Mike was injured during the week of the earthquakes.
Perhaps, as the ground shook underneath him, terrified of the motion and the
roaring sound, he leapt without looking.
His right hind leg was broken. Very severely broken at the hock. After examination and x-rays, he was sent to
a specialist with the hopes of saving his leg.
Could they? Or would they have
to amputate? It took three tries to set
the broken leg and have it hold.
Poor Mike is on restricted movement, spending short bouts in
a small fenced area, much of his time in a dog crate. After three weeks the cast came off, more x-rays were done. The leg was healing!!! It looked like Mike would not loose his
leg.
Mike wanted to jump for joy, but the specialist said, “Not
yet!” Another cast went on, three more
long weeks of restricted movement. On
October 18th Mike will go back in to have the cast taken off, x-rays
done and then he’ll find out if he has to stay in a cast longer, or if he’ll
get to run and play!
Mike has really racked up the bills. Don’t you agree that saving his leg was
worth it?
Mike’s gotta pay off the current vet bills before he can go
back for his check up on October 18th. He cannot get a job
before he’s well.
Can you please help Mike Heal?
If you prefer to help by check
Rikki's Refuge
for Mike's Leg
PO Box 1357
Orange VA 22960
Thank you for making it possible for us to help the animals!
Come this Saturday October 1st - help prepare the trail in
the woods!!!! 9 am till 3 pm
Thank you
Barbara
We ran out of cat food after breakfast this morning. OUT.
Like in no more. No more canned
cat food. Oh No.
My friend Barbara is loading up her car, and she really
knows how to load up, in Waynesboro and driving over the river and thru the
woods - but the good cat food store don’t open till 9 am and she has to be at
work by noon - so mom’s gotta take MY truck and meet her half way. Thank you so much Barbara!!
Our beloved Candy usually puts on her pumpkin hat and takes
over! Unfortunately she’s wearing a
hospital gown this year and won’t be able to be the Pumpkin Coordinator. Please keep up your prayers for her
continued healing.
I need a Pumpkin Head Person
We got our first inquiry about picking up yesterday
I need some one to be in charge of the coordination -
coordinating site pick ups with the volunteers who can pick
up.
The Pumpkin Coordinator will talk with all the locations,
coordinate pick up times, broadcast this information to the drivers. The drivers will pick up and deliver to
Rikki’s.
The pumpkins save us thousands of dollars in feed every
fall.
WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP.
Hunting
Season Opens Tomorrow Too
and we need your help to keep the poachers away. We need help improving the perimeter
trail. ATVs and small off road vehicles
welcome. You can do it on foot too!! Please come out and help Joe patrol and work
on the path. Saturday and Sunday.
Yard Sale
At the intersection of 20 and Zion, by the Exxon known as
BJs 8 am - 3 pm Please stop in to help
Kim if you can. Bring items to sell on
behalf of Rikki’s. Thanks for your
support. Kim is working hard to make
money to buy food for the animals.
I hope you can come out to visit this weekend.
Saturday noon - 2 pm Donation Drop off at Rikki’s
yard sale at BJs Exxon rt 20 and Zion Rd 9 am - 3 pm
prepare the Haunted Forest Trail 9 am - 3 pm at Rikki’s
improving the perimeter trail 9 am - 3 pm
Sunday noon - tour
improving the perimeter trail 9 am - 3 pm
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
Mike was injured during the week of the earthquakes.
Perhaps, as the ground shook underneath him, terrified of the motion and the
roaring sound, he leapt without looking.
His right hind leg was broken. Very severely broken at the hock. After examination and x-rays, he was sent to
a specialist with the hopes of saving his leg.
Could they? Or would they have
to amputate? It took three tries to set
the broken leg and have it hold.
Poor Mike is on restricted movement, spending short bouts in
a small fenced area, much of his time in a dog crate. After three weeks the cast came off, more x-rays were done. The leg was healing!!! It looked like Mike would not loose his
leg.
Mike wanted to jump for joy, but the specialist said, “Not
yet!” Another cast went on, three more
long weeks of restricted movement. On
October 18th Mike will go back in to have the cast taken off, x-rays
done and then he’ll find out if he has to stay in a cast longer, or if he’ll
get to run and play!
Mike has really racked up the bills. Don’t you agree that saving his leg was
worth it?
Mike’s gotta pay off the current vet bills before he can go
back for his check up on October 18th. He cannot get a job
before he’s well.
Can you please help Mike Heal?
If you prefer to help by check
Rikki's Refuge
for Mike's Leg
PO Box 1357
Orange VA 22960
Thank you for making it possible for us to help the animals!
All proceeds from Rikki’s Haunted Forest will benefit
the animals at Rikki’s Refuge. If you dare enter the forest you will be walking
through woods on uneven paths with little lighting and possibly through water.
Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED PLEASE
CONTACT KATARINA AT KATARINAGALVIN@YAHOO.COM
RIKKI’S REFUGE IS A 367 ACRE , NO-KILL, MULTI SPECIES
PEACEFUL SANCTUARY SUPPORTED SOLELY BY DONATIONS OF KIND AND LOVING
INDIVIDUALS. The refuge is home to over 1200 animals of over 23 different
species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs,
emus, chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks, horses, and more. Rikki’s Refuge
provides a safe haven for sick, handicapped, abused, abandoned, and homeless
animals.
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! Have I missed you!!!!
Fall is such a busy time of year, I haven’t had a chance to
drop in and say HI.
How are YOU? I sure
hope all is well in your world.
I promise I haven’t forgotten you and I haven’t dropped you
from my friends list, it’s just been super busy. So sorry I haven’t answered each of you individually - I’m
working on it - honest - with thousands of emails a day it gets behind so very
quickly!!
Here on Planet Earth, Northern Hemisphere it’s turned into
autumn! I used to get up with the
chickens - now I have to get the chickens up!
It's spring in the southern hemisphere and you're getting more chicken
time there!! Which half are you in?
Anybody right in the middle on the equator?
My friend
Heba Cat Rady shares a quote
with us this morning: Basically we are all the same human
beings with the same potential to be a good human being or a bad human being
... The important thing is to realize the positive side and try to increase
that; realize the negative side and try to reduce. That's the way....." ~
Dalai Lama ~
Catnip
Candy
my wonderful friend, one of the most kind and loving people
you’ll ever meet. Cat lover
extraordinaire. Compassionate lover of
all animals and people. Always there to
lend a hand and help a paw. Always
smiling. Candy brings out the sunshine
just by her lovely happy voice on the phone.
My dear Candy has been extremely ill since before the cat
show. She’s been in the hospital, very,
very sick. Thanks to all of you praying
along with me, she’s starting to feel a little bit better and improving
daily. Please keep up the prayers for a
full and swift recovery.
The
National Capital Cat Show
was a wonderful success!!!!
I got to kiss about 43,863 fans!!!!
Thank you all for coming out!!!
And thank you all who came and volunteered, especially Melissa and Fred
who helped set up Friday night and worked all day Saturday and Sunday and Ron
who worked all day Saturday and Sunday.
If you got a picture of you and me - I’ll get them out soon!!!! I haven’t forgotten you !!!!
Teen CARE
Party
Thanking all the teens who volunteered (only a few could
make the party) all summer long to make Rikki’s Refuge a better place!!!!!
Charlottesville
Vegetarian Festival
Was lots of fun. Big
thank you to Laurie, Gussie and Ron for setting up and working our booth all
day. And purrzzz to all of you who came
by to love me !!!!!
Fall Furr
Festival
Date: October 15
Time: 1 PM - 5 PM
Admission: $3 in advance $5 at the door
Tours of
the refuge, games, face painting, tattoos, massages, hayrides, and much more
I’m gonna be quick and brief and I’ll give you details
soon. If I linger here typing too long
somebody’s gonna come and holler for me to go clean litterboxes!!!
Remember Chiquita?
The crazy rescue that had to beat Hurricane Irene. All is well and Chiquita is in her new home,
thanks to Martha, Jenna, Martha (another wonderful Martha), an airplane trip
and Tere. Here’s Chiquita in her new
home.
I’d say
she looks happy, what do you think?
Remember
Black Cat Appreciation day???
Five cats came to Rikki's - saved by those of you who care.
The older black kitten was adopted out asap. The two younger kittens, including
the little black gal who's picture drove this rescue, were a bit on the wild
side. Guess what? They've now been adopted together to a wonderful forever
home!!!!!
Mickey
Mickey is
all ready to go to a new forever home.
He’s
negative for leukemia, fiv, all fixed up and ready!
A real
loving 18 month old gray and white.
If he’ll
fit in at your home please let us know.
Big Boy
Big Boy is
all ready for a new forever home that’s not scared
Kiwi had lived at Rikki’s for several years before being
selected as Patty & Andy’s new special family member. Gibson came to Rikki’s so horribly injured
that it took 18 months and many, many surgeries to heal him and have him ready
for a new home. Now they share a happy
home together. With alumni doggy Starr
from Rikki’s and some other friends too!
It’s that
time of the month again !
Board Meeting, Saturday October 1, 4 pm. All you members submit your information for
the outline NOW!! Send it to mom at Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org Mary is our of town and mom is really
missing her !!!!
Answering
that age old question
CAN a cat
clean it’s own litterbox?
CLASSIFIEDS
AND HELP WANTED
Need a very experienced, very reliable, very compassionate
pet sitter? Between Gordonsville and Charlottesville Virginia, contact christiannrogersd@gmail.com Christiann and Sarah Rogers
Lovely piano instructor in the Gordonsville -
christiannrogersd@gmail.com Christiann
and Sarah Rogers --- friend of mine and wonderful person - great lessons,
reasonably priced.
Remember to send me your coke rewards numbers too !!!! We
get good things and even lots of things we can auction for $$$ to buy Fancy
Feast !!!! You can just send the
numbers in an email - real simple. No
postage required.
Remember to save Purina weight circles from cat and dog food
and mail to Rikki's Refuge !!!! We get lots of free nums for them!!! Thank you
!!!!
YOU wonderful voters gave Rikki’s the mostest votes in week
7 of the Shelter Challenge and that won $1,000 for us. Since you can only win one prize each go
round, you all then started voting for our friends at Frog Pond Farm Draft
Horse Rescue in OH. They thank you
tremendously for helping them to win $1,000 too. It’s really nice when we can all help each other out!
Mike the goat who broke his leg the week of the earthquakes
is doing great. He went in last week
for his check up. They removed the
cast, x-rayed and put on a new cast.
Next appt is four weeks and if he’s lucky the cast will be off. It was a very serious break and he had to go
to a specialist. He’s got at least two
more visits with the doc. And he’s not
allowed to get a job pulling carts till he’s all healed up. In the mean time if you could help with his
mounting vet bills we’d so much appreciate it.
www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
Do you have CFC or CVC at work? If you do, please consider
giving to Rikki's Refuge. We'll show up in your catalog as Life Unlimited of
Virginia, Inc and our CFC number is 77674, and our CVC number is 3163 - it's a
big help to know we have a check coming in every month!!! Thank you and please
share with all your friends.
Thank you Kathy for helping on the CFC. Thanks to all of you who provided
testimonies, stories and pictures. Most
of the work is done. A little more will
be required after the end of the year, but the main package is finished
!!!! This is the one mom is usually
fretting about and going crazy with the deadline in January!!
This Friday, Sept. 30, Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president &
CEO, will be speaking in Charlottesville and signing copies of his best-selling
book, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them. Wayne is an
eloquent, charismatic, and inspiring speaker - one of the great minds of the
animal protection movement. The talk will begin at 6pm at the UVA bookstore on
400 Emmet St South. For more info,
visit www.humanesociety.org/thebond
Hunting season is upon us.
We are still working on the perimeter trail at the refuge. Please come out to help us clear paths and
post signs and build fences. Most any
time works, just let us know so Joe’s on hand to show you where to work. Got an atv or small off road vehicle? You can use that!
Mom was able to pay some of the bills today and that leaves
the bank account pretty much empty.
We’re behind on a number of items.
And it’s time to start stocking up for winter. Food consumption is already up.
Can you possibly spare a few bucks for food, medications, vet visits and
hopefully to fill that propane tank before we need the heat real bad? We need every bit of help you can possibly
spare. Thank you so much for skipping
that cup of coffee today, and giving to the animals www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
Thankfully we’re ok with dry cat and dog food. Thank you Purina.
Every other shelf in the pantry is about bare. We’re in dire need of canned cat food,
canned dog food, produce, especially oranges for the guinea pigs.
When we can scrape up the cash to buy daily laundry
detergent, dish detergent, hand soap, bleach, paper towels and trash bags, we
do, we have no cash to stock up. Some
days we've had to go without. These
items are so simple, yet so important to the welfare of the animals.
If you’re visiting this weekend - please grab something to
bring with you.
Pumpkin Season is here !!!
Our beloved Catnip Pumpkin Candy is in the hospital and unable to
coordinate picking up pumpkins right now.
We’re praying that she’ll be back in time for the big runs after
Halloween. In the mean time, if you
know a pumpkin stand that will donate to us, or you can help load pumpkins,
drive pumpkins (in your truck or van or suv or car), or unload pumpkins at the
farm - please let Pumpkin Fred know fred@z9a.com
Hope to see you this weekend!! Saturday Donation Drop Off noon - 2 pm. Sunday Tour at noon.
I’ll try to keep better caught up so I can stay in touch
more!!!
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
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.
My
friends, let’s bow our heads in memory of 9/11
Everyone, of every species, at Rikki's wants to thank the
brave men and women of every species who help keep us free day after day. It’s a hard job and you put your life on the
line for us. Thank you! Thank you everyone.
It’s hard to believe it’s the 10th anniversary,
isn’t it? My, how time flies. How
thankful I am for all of us who’ve been safe.
How sorry I am for those who haven’t.
Regardless of their species.
Click on Vincent on the Label of Fancy Feast above,
and be sure to vote EXCELLENT! You do
that by clicking the cheezburger furthest to the right, the five cheezburger
rating of excellent, you should see EXCELLENT when you hover over the right
most cheezburger.
Tell ‘em what you think of Vincent and Lou Gato’s
creation !!!!
Help Vincent tell Purina
Fancy Feast - NOT just for Fancy Cats !!!!
First round being pressed now!
Get your very own CD "Label
of the Fancy Feast" delivered right to your door step. $20 donation (foreign addresses please add shipping) http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
or mail to
Vincent the Rock Star
PO Box 1357
Orange VA 22960
...... Hurry this is a
LIMITED edition !!!!
Be the first to own a first
edition Vincent sings along .. Label of the Fancy Feast .. most sought after karaoke
song!
When
Disaster Strikes
Will we be
ready?
The earthquake in Mineral, Virginia was only a few
miles away.
It was a beautiful day, everything was going smoothly, we
had no clue what was about to happen.
Suddenly a huge deep and loud growling sound erupted out of the
earth. We were all shaken up. Real shaken up. The humans and the animals alike.
near the epicenter
damage great
and damage small
We are still being rattled by aftershocks. 27 times so far since the “big” one - we’ve
been shook up. And the fear of what
comes next has crept into our bones. more about the aftershocks
The building next door to Studio C, where Vincent had his
Bissell photos taken, was damaged beyond repair. watch the Levi Building coming down.
Two of our employees had damage to their homes. Roads were blocked off by debris. Grocery stores closed. Post Offices closed.
What would we have done if our local grocery and feed stores
had been damaged bad enough to be closed?
With virtually no food, no supplies in reserve, living each day hand to
mouth and hoping for enough donations to put food on the table ..... one day, just one day of not being able to
get to the post office, to the bank, to the store ....... would mean certain disaster.
And then came Irene
Thankfully the refuge was spared. Moderate rain and heavy winds.
Nothing like our friends 50 miles away in Richmond. Or in New York
Huge swaths from Virginia to Vermont were without power for
over a week. Many of our facebook
friends kept up until their cell phone batteries died, then we waited to hear
that they and their pets were ok.
Grocery stores were closed.
Where do you go to buy the days food for almost 1300 animals when trees are
down, roads are closed, electricity is off, stores are closed? Where?
What would we do?
Days Later Rain and Wind Whipped Through
Tearing Down Trees and Damaging Fences
Monday night an unexpected storm cam thru, dumping 3.4
inches of rain, causing huge rivulets of runoff, scouring out holes under
fences and buildings, damaging the driveway.
50 + mph gusts of wind blew down trees, damaged fences, toppled climbing
toys and shade covers.
The Need to Plan Ahead
These events of the last couple weeks have really driven
home how urgent it is for us to plan ahead.
Especially as we’re headed into winter with possible snow and ice storms
coming.
It’s just not OK for us to always be in a state of need, a
state where, if donations don’t come in one day we’re short on supplies, a
state where we worry terribly every month .... will we make it .... or will
this be the month we begin to slide down hill on the way to closing like so
many other sanctuaries, shelters, rescues are doing each month.
Thankfully the animals don’t live in fear every day of not
having enough to eat, not having enough for medical care, of the fear of having
to close.
Summer is always tough with donors and volunteers on
vacation, busy with their own lives, not enough left over for their regular
donations. This summer has been
particularly tough. We have huge bills
waiting that are demanding payment.
We’ve barely made a dent in the Wildlife Legal Defense and Survey Fund. Wouldn’t it be a shame to lose the land and
the lives of the animals we fought so hard for because we can’t pay the
bills? A small fraction of the 1,000
people we’ve asked to contribute only $28 have been able to help. Is there any chance you can help today? Contribute Now
It costs $570 a day just to buy the food for all the
animals. Close to 1,300 animals of 22
species. That’s a lot of eating. No one’s being overfed. We rarely have enough donations to have more
than a day or two in stock. I can
hardly dream of the comfort I’d feel if we had a two week supply on hand in
case of disaster. Not just a two week
supply to use up in two weeks. But to be
able to always have that two week security blanket.
A two week Security Blanket for all the animals would
cost $7,980. Do you have the means to
survive two weeks without help? Without
your daily help, we don’t. If you could
spare even ONE DOLLAR to help us put that SECURITY BLANKET over the
animals it would mean the world to us.
Only $6.14 would cover one animal with love and warmth for two
weeks!
Please help the animals, if it’s possible for you to spare
even a little.
Thank you, thank you so much for every cent you are able
to spare to help the animals.
Tommi’s
Last Chance
Tommi was a shy and socially awkward 8 month old puppy when
she came to Rikki’s Refuge.
Dogs like Tommi rarely survive in the world of rescue. They’re the sad stories. The ones nobody could help. The ones never chosen. The ones left behind. The ones never loved. The ones left to die, to be put to death,
and thrown out on the garbage heap.
Rikki’s Refuge is set apart from the rest because we exist
to give dogs like Tommi another chance.
At Rikki’s, our dogs don’t have to perform for adoptors, they don’t have
to “prove” their worth, they don’t have to die when no one takes them home.
At Rikki’s, dogs like Tommi live out their natural lives in
comfort, peace and happiness, loved every day by our staff and volunteers.
Judged only as a living being who deserves respect and life.
Tommi passed away Sunday morning after spending all but a
few months of her 13 years, happy and loved at Rikki's Refuge.
She originally came as a group of four from the
Fredericksburg SPCA, shy puppies, not able to be adopted. Until a week before
her death she lead a very happy and healthy life. Though she rejected (wanted
to eat) any roommate and had a kennel to herself, she seemed happy and enjoyed
running and playing in her run and the playground.
Being half short lived giant doggy, St. Bernard, and half
long lived smaller dog, beagle, 13 years was probably an expected average. She passed away from cancer.
Not one to remain idle, as soon as Lena returned from the
burial, she said, "More doggies, please?"
Knowing what a struggle Beth's having at the Orange County
Shelter in these times of little money and many animals being dumped and doing
her darndest to remain no-kill --- and because we fully believe in working in
our own backyard --- Lena's dreams were soon fulfilled.
Five new hounds are now happily playing at Rikki's. Our runs
are huge, and though Tommi's personality necessitated she be the only occupant
in her run, they are certainly large enough to save several lives at once.
The most personable of the gang is Moose, a great big huge
adorable old bloodhound!! Just wait till you meet him.
All of these are candidates for adoption events. Mostly
older hounds, but very lovable. One is
younger and even has excellent training, but hates living indoors.
Some may even make the grade to mascot. I'd love to see Moose
running around. With a set of antlers around Christmas time ......
Your SUPPORT is what make it possible for us to save dogs
like Tommi and Moose! Thank you for
SAVING LIVES!
Did you know that the black cat is the last to get adopted
from shelters? Often they are not even
put on display, but instead, sent straight to the euthanasia room?
Why?
Superstition.
Fear. Culture. Lack of education.
At Rikki’s Refuge we believe all have a right to life,
regardless of their color, their species or their age.
And so we set out to do something to bring awareness to the world,
yes the entire world, about black cats.
Volunteer Wayne H. Morris (you’ve seen a lot of his art work
at Rikki’s) began a social awareness campaign Black Cat Appreciation Day.
Click on the black cat to join the event!
In record time, this event on facebook had 35,000 followers
and had been picked up worldwide!
People all over the planet were featuring black cats for adoption,
dispelling the myths about black cats, saving the lives of black cats.
Shelters the world over had special promotions on Black Cat
Appreciation Day, free and low cost adoptions, free or low cost speuters.
The event was promoted on facebook, on the news and here’s
Wayne H. Morris speaking about it on radio!!!
on by Black Cat Appreciation as in desperate need of a
home. She had “a short expiration” in a
gassing shelter.
You pulled together to save her and four of her
friends. Jenna drove most of the day
and brought two black kitties and three others to Rikki’s Refuge, arriving in
the dark of the night in the pouring rain, just so Rikki’s Refuge could save
their little lives.
Sherry read about the rescue on Black Cat Appreciation, and
came to Rikki’s that very night to adopt little black Jynx. She reports in, “Hi, Vincent figured I would
let you know how Jynx is doing. He seems to be doing really well, he loves to
talk, is very playful, and a little speed demon - he is a flash running all
over the place. Say hi to all the other animals for us (a special hello to
Velcro from Taylor)”
These kitties are safely at Rikki’s Refuge now and are
awaiting the purrfect adoptive home.
All the kitties are much happier now - these photos were
taken at the high-kill shelter they were in.
Mac and Cheese - a pair of sisters that will never be separated. Not after what they've been thru. And you'd agree with me if you saw them clinging together. Still a little on the wild side. In need of a loving, understanding home,
where they will be cherished forever.
Big Boy, the most gorgeous guy around!!! Look at those tom cat jowls!!! All “fixed” up and ready to go! Big Boy does test positive for FIV. Do your research - he’ll make a great
companion.
Mickey is just the absolute love bug. About a year and a half old, neutered male,
double negative.
In addition to the five kitties rescued by Rikki’s Refuge
thru this event, dozens of others were rescued by individuals and organizations
across the globe.
There are 6 fun designs to choose from! Black Cat
Appreciation Day! Get yours now! 100% of the profits go directly to Rikki's
Refuge in Orange, VA to help save more kitties!
They get the same bad rap as black cats, and we’re working
to help them too, click on the black dog to join the fight to save them.
You Ain’t
Nothin’ But A Hound Dog
To many dogs like Navigator, being an old hound dog and
being homeless is a recipe for not getting out of a shelter alive.
Lucky for Navigator and 40 dogs at a time, Rikki’s Refuge
doesn’t care who your mom or your dad were, they just care that you need a
home. Many of our dogs are old hounds,
many no longer “any good” at hunting or breeding. Considered worthless.
Dumped at pounds and shelters.
Left to be put to death.
The lucky ones, like Navigator, come to Rikki’s. Here they learn what it’s like to be loved
again. Or loved for the first time for
many. Many spend the rest of their
natural lives with us. A few are chosen
for adoption.
Navigator was one of the double lucky. After three years at Rikki’s Refuge,
Navigator was chosen as someone’s special doggy!!! He’ll be living happily after with volunteer Cindy.
Your donations are what makes it possible for us to care for
dogs like Navigator for three long years until their forever home is found!!!
Chiquita is a lovely gentle ten year old girl. Loved by her family for 9 ½ years, she was
foisted off on a friend when they moved.
The friend didn’t really want Chiquita, but took her in so her owners
didn’t worry about what was to become of her.
Little did they know ......
Chiquita fell in love with the man of the household. And he
with her. They were inseparable. But the lady of the house didn’t like
that. She was jealous of the attention
Chiquita got from HER man. She was mean
to Chiquita. Yes, to an innocent,
loving, gentle, little kitty.
It will take some time and love before Chiquita doesn’t
cringe when you reach to pat her.
Especially women.
The saddest thing in the world is to see an animal cringe
fearing she’ll be hit again.
Never never again Chiquita.
Chiquita’s rescue was a difficult one. We’d asked the owners to keep her until
Rikki’s Refuge had room available and while we looked for a new home. We found a foster in Norfolk and
arrangements were made to pick her up on a Friday. It turned out to be Irene Weekend and our volunteer and friend in
Norfolk had to evacuate with her pets and couldn’t make the trip to DC that
day.
She asked if the owner, who’d been threatening repeatedly to
kill poor Chiquita, would keep her until Tuesday. NO, was the instant reply.
It was after 1 pm on Thursday and if that “beast” wasn’t out of her
house by 6 pm that very day she’d kill her.
Impossible for our Norfolk person to make it to DC to save
Chiquita. Would this poor animal be
killed before Rikki’s could scramble and find someone else close enough to get
to her in time?
NO, lucky for Chiquita, Martha was in the DC area and leapt
in her car and rushed to save Chiquita.
As soon as the call came in that Chiquita was safely in Martha’s car,
the dozen of us working on saving Chiquita let out a deep sigh of relief!
Another kitty saved!!!
Chiquita is waiting transportation to Michigan to her new forever home,
where she will be loved and cherished for, we hope, another ten years!
I need your help. Mom's working on getting us approved for
International CFC and working on some other grants now too. We need YOUR
testimony.
How do you see Rikki's Refuge benefiting HOOMANS?
How do you see Rikki's Refuge benefiting the PLANET?
Finish the sentence, "To ME Rikki's Refuge means
....."
Answer all three or just one. A few words. A sentence. A paragraph.
A story. Tell me now!!!! Please email
me Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org.
Good Safe
Solid Reverse Mortgage
Need a GOOD SAFE SOLID reverse
mortgage, secured by HUD, no shenanigans, low interest rate, Bob will hold your
hand all the way thru.
You need to own your home,
be 62 years old or older,
and in the USA.
If you're in an area Bob can't
take care of you, he'll tell you who can.
Big thanks to Bob for making this
happen while my grandpa is sailing all over the world. If you or your parents
or grandparents need some money, the HUD secured Reverse Mortgage is the best
in the biz now and Bob Adams is the best guy in the biz!!!
Three cats desperately in need of a
place to stay until November!!!
Thanks to Rikki’s Refuge, these kitties are safe and sound,
being cared for by one of our friends!
One more way Rikki’s Refuge saves lives and provides Happy
Tails!!!
Animal
lovers
are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of
empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a
cloudless sky ~ John Grogan
Looking
for a job?
Orange County Animal Shelter (Virginia, right down the road
from Rikki's) is hiring two part time positions 540-672-1124 if interested.
Rikki’s Refuge is hiring one full time position,
540-854-0870 x8 if interested.
Learn how Martha
the Pig got HIS name?
Artist, composer and musician Leon Thompson of Leon's Auto
Parts in Leon, Virginia (near Culpeper, best parts place around!) tells why he
outbid everybody to win the Name that Pig contest!!!
Despite being a boar (boy pig) Martha loves her name and
comes when called!!
I'm on my way to the Cat Show - I hope you are too!!!!
LOVE,
VINCENT
September 8, 2011
PS: Please help me, I need YOU to keep the Refuge Running.
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.
