Thursday, January 13, 2011

Hairballs, January 14, 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 Morris

You can make Duke’s and Vincent’s job easier 

We are the happy animals of Rikki’s Refuge
who so thank you for giving us the gift of our lives and the tools to build our Refuge.  We represent all the animals, the world over, whose lives have been saved by kind and loving people just like you.  Thank you for being an animal rescuer. 

Having a great New Year?
We sure are at Rikki’s Refuge.  Exciting new events bringing visitors, volunteers and donors every Saturday and Sunday!!!   Special events for the Holiday Weekend coming up.  Keep reading ....

If you want to keep up with daily happenings
at the Refuge sign up for Good Morning Good News Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org or check the blog for all the daily happenings and lots of fun stuff.
http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com .  You’ll know who’s out visiting, what projects are getting done, what the animals are up to and we’ve got special treats for you every day. 

Fun things like My Favorite Quotes; Live from Vincent Video; Fun and Inspiring Tidbits; Tails  of Trivia; Meet the Critters and Dear Vincent.

DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE TO DONATE?
I think most of us do.  I hear a lot of, “Oh I wish I’d win the lottery, I’d give Rikki’s ....”  Do you think it would be great it all you had to do was click a few clicks, key a few strokes, and somebody else would donate money to Rikki’s on your behalf?

We can make that happen.  I’m not kidding.  It’s not too good to be true. 

Contests, that are free for you to enter, and only require a few clicks a day - can pay out in big bucks.  In 2010 you voted in the Shelter Challenge for Rikki’s Refuge.  I know, it’s hard to remember every day.  Well the Shelter Challenge will let you sign up and get an e-mail to remind you every day - or subscribe to Good Morning Good News and Vincent will remind you as part of the update about daily life and fun at the refuge.  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Well did you know that all that voting you did paid out?  YES IT DID!  A total of FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS in 2010 !!!!  Just by clicking. 

And there’s more and more contests we can join IF we can count on your support!  Can I count on you?

SHELTER CHALLENGE VOTING


You can read the details of how it works here:

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

Your votes have already paid off!
We’re currently a smidge in the lead in Virginia and 9th on the planet!!

Go go go Team Vincent !!!  We CAN do it !!!!

Spread the Word - Tell Everyone to Vote!

Vote every day - you can vote from home, from work, from your phone - no matter where you are make sure you get your daily vote in!!!  Ask your family, friends and co-workers to vote too!

Do you have an adopted or rescued animal?
Would you tell me their story for $3,000?
Just a quick and simple story, 50 - 300 words, that’s real short and we’ll even help you with the editing!  Dedicate your story to Rikki’s Refuge and we could win up to $3,000 !!!  It doesn’t matter where you adopted/rescued your animal from.  they could be a Rikki’s Alumni or not.  Click here to read the details and instructions on how to submit your story.

Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 18th for Zoe Marie Spumoni
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click here to Vote for Zoe:
SHE COULD WIN $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge

Every week, for twelve weeks, one of my friends will be running.  I urge you to vote for each of them.  Help us all into the finals in the dreams that one of us will win!!!

Click here to read all the details about the Bissell Contest

Vote for Vincent and Friends
VOTE for VINCENT and FRIENDS
please help us critters win contests that help our worthy causes
all these are free to vote in, and quite simple and quick
help us make the world a better place
your vote makes a difference

I’ve set up one place where you can find all the animals running in contests to win money to help make the planet a better place for us all.  Please check in daily and vote in all the contests.  It’s a great way to raise money for Rikki’s Refuge without costing you a dime!!!  These are always free for you to vote in.

Click here to see what contests are running now:

Not all of these contests benefit Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. and their divisions Rikki's Refuge and Wild and Feral directly. A benefit to the animal rescue world is a benefit to all of us. For each contest I've told you who will benefit and how. We belive in working with others aiming towards our goal of a better planet for all.  If you're running in a contest and would like to be displayed here, send me the details Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

If you’re running in a contest, providing it benefits animals and it’s free to vote, send me the details and I’ll include it here too.

LIVE TOO FAR AWAY TO VOLUNTEER?
SHORT ON CASH TO DONATE?
BUT WANT TO HELP?
YOU CAN!
There is so much you can do from anywhere in the world!  Vincent needs your help.  Get on board with Vincent and make the planet a better place for animals everywhere. 

Here’s just a few ways you can help:

-- Be a Vincent Contestant.  You can enter contests on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge, just about anything works when part of the prize is a donation to your favorite charity.

-- Be a Vincent Lobbyer.  Urge folks to vote on behalf of Vincent.  Hand out flyers.  Print out Posters. 

-- Be a Vincent Cyber Assistant.  Help with spread the word of Rikki’s Refuge thru Social Media.  Facebook, Twitter, and all the new things I don’t even know about yet.  Post information.  Do it all from the comfort of your own home on your own schedule!

-- Be a Vincent Artist.  Duke and Vincent’s pictures at the beginning of this Hairballs were created by Wayne Morris.  Artwork can be used on note cards, calendars, tee shirts, fundraising material, newsletters and on line.  Any kind of work, works!  As long and it’s happy and fun, your art work can benefit the animals.

-- Be a Vincent Cartoonist.  We’re just waiting for our own comic strip.

-- Be a Vincent Video Master.  Do you have skills making videos, posting on youtube, can you make a Vincent Video go Viral?  Could you put together all the short segments of tours at Rikki’s and make one lovely 10 or 15 minute video of a flowing tour?

-- Be a Vincent Speech Writer.  Put together power point presentations geared to different audiences.  

-- Be a Vincent Speaker.  Give talks at events, schools, groups and organizations about Vincent and Rikki’s Refuge. 

-- What is your creative gift?  Tell me Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org and I bet I can tell you how to help me save animals!

Refuge News
Cindy Lou got adopted and is really really happy in her new home.  She’s a young very healthy cattle dog and lab mix.  Really nice.  She came to Rikki’s a few months ago hoping to be a mascot, run around doggy.  But she just couldn’t get used to the chickens so she never earned her running rights.  She got really fat the few months she had to live in a kennel and only go on walks with hoomans. 

Now she’s in a home of her own with a hooman who’s home most of the time and with a nice big back yard too.  Just get a progress report this morning and she’s doing great!!!!

Help us help others like Cindy Lou!  

Last weekend the pumpkin picker and turnip truckers did a fine job.  Despite the cold and the snow Katarina, Kathy, Kim, Melissa, Alan, Bob, Toni, Grace, Gabe, Alex, Chris, MJ, Bob, Cindy, Dennis, Ron, Mary, Rene, Anne and Mariza, all worked at these and other chores.

In all they hauled in 6 trucks of pumpkins, 4 truck of turnips, and 1 truck of mixed products. 

Bob’s handy dandy trailer, hauling in pumpkins.

Cindy gets kisses when she arrives to volunteer.

Katarina displays one of the giant turnips.

Our Goals for 2011
Rabbit Rotunda II finished
Quarantine Building finished
Cat Houses #1 Extension and Adoption area finished
Dog Trailer repairs
Roof repairs on the Tool Trailer and Gift Shop
Maintenance on Cat Runs (gates, latches, etc)
            Dog Clubhouses (roofs) and Fences (incomplete sections)
            Temporary Runs (roofs, gates, latches)
New Medical Treatment Room set up
Conversion of Old Medical Treatment Room
Outside Electrical System upgraded and usable May
Elderly Dog House built next to the 9th Life Center
Livestock Hospital Room built next to the 9th Life Center
Aviary with Pond built next to CH#10
Current Aviary converted to Cat House
Barn shelter built in Bovine Boulevard
Additional 9th Life Space
Generator Safe House near the 9th Life Center
Gutters and Downspouts on the 9th Life Center

See a project you’d like to help on?  Or one you’d like to design?  Or be in charge of?  Or do the fundraising for?  It takes all of us working together to make it happen!!!  Pick your project!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


Missing the Fun?
Are you missing the fun pictures and videos that used to be a part of Hairballs?  They’re now showing up in Good Morning Good News, which is a light, fun whimiscal way to start your day.  Also keeps you up to date on the day to day goings on at Rikki’s Refuge.  the funny animal stories.  The hoomans being outsmarted. 

Lots of you said, “Serious stuff only, please”, so that’s what Hairballs is mostly about now.  Tune into my blog http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/  or sign up for Good Morning Good News Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org for all the cool stuff!!! 

By giving you links, you can view just what you’re interested in and it makes this email shorter to go thru. 

Vincent’s Videos and Photo Stories
Meet the Original Rikki - Happy 30th Birthday Jan 13, 2011

Meet Mary Jane, Rikki’s Alumni

Meet Daisy, Rikkis Alumni

Meet Lena

Meet James

Meet Sean

Meet Boomer the Seeing Eye Dog

Meet the Chickens

Meet Daphne the Muscovie Duck

Meet Georgina the Guinea Hen


What YOU can do this weekend!

SATURDAY    January 15

ANIMAL ATTENTION DAY - Give some extra hugs to the homeless - take a dog for a walk, scratch a pig's belly, pat a cat.   11 am - 3 pm 

DONATION DROP OFF,  noon - 2 pm,  got something to drop off quick?  The gates will be unlocked.  No tour at this time, just drop off. 

FULL MOON WALK, Bon Fire, vegan bbq, pot luck 1/15, RSVP REQUIRED, we’re talking outdoors, after dark, so it’s gonna be cold and dark - please be prepared!!  Absolutely MUST RSVP.  May be cancelled due to lack of participation.


SUNDAY    January 16

SANDWICH DAY - On January 18, 1778 Capt James Cook stumbles over Hawaiian Sandwich Islands. Today you'll bring your most creative VEGAN sandwiches to the refuge for a judging. Noon.

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


MONDAY   January 17

LEE / JACKSON / KING DAY, the animals come first!  Bring yummy winter treats and help fluff up warm winter bedding.  11 am - 3 pm    

Stay In Touch
on the right under STAY IN TOUCH

the next four weeks - what to do at Rikki's Refuge
Will tell you all about upcoming events, also any cancellations and all the up to the minute stuff you need to know.  Check in often.  Sign up to follow the blog so you get updates when they happen.  A little further down on the right click on FOLLOW.

Vote for the Animals
Here you can vote in contests that will give money to save the animals, they’re all free and easy, so all you have to do is click and it’s like making a donation!

2011 Calendar of What's up at Rikki's
Here you can see the calendar for all of 2011, so you can plan way far ahead!!


Winky's Whimsical Kitties
Shannon Lobe’s delightfully Whimsical Kitty Paintings!  Original and unique paintings by this artist for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Rikki’s Refuge.

Take a look at these delightful paintings!
"Happy"
"Ferals are Fantastic"
"A Normal Day: The Bathroom"
"A Normal Day: The Laundry Show"
"Faceless Ferals: Over 60 Million Strong"
"Partners in Crime"
"Wet Paint + Cat ="
"Got Ferals??"
"Feral FeWines: Red Purrlot"
"Feral FeWines: Snipped, Nipped and Tipsy Too!"

Click here to view them all.


HELP needed at Feral Cat Speuter Clinic
The next VFA Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic will be  on Saturday, January 15th, just a little over a week away.  We still have several volunteer stations that are not fully staffed.  Can you help us on the 15th?  We still need  volunteers for:
**Anesthesia Transporter
**Surgery Prep (Shaving)
**Spayboards
**Afternoon Recovery
**Trap Cleaning
**Vet Assistant
**Friday the 14th Set Up from 4 to 6 PM
**Clinic Clean Up from 3 to 5 PM
**Laundry
We need your help!  Please let me know as soon as possible if you can volunteer on January 15th.  Dian  dian1021@hotmail.com  Also, we have a few available spaces at the clinic for cats from Charlottesville/Albemarle County. To make a reservation for these, please call:  434-979-1200.


With your help we're able to save ferals that end up in pounds and to help with TNR projects. 


Free Food Fridays
Every Friday send an email to Giveaway@freekibble.com with the subject "Shelter Giveaway" to enter PetCo’s drawing for a $50 PetCo Gift Card every weekend.  A winner will be chosen at random every Saturday.  It may as well be YOU!  http://www.freekibblekat.com/giveaway.asp


What we NEED this week
Metal Pitch Forks (2-4 of them, the plastic ones are breaking while shoveling frozen dung!)

Paper Towels (we need about 6 rolls a day, it’s more sanitary and sterile than sponges)

Canned Cat (we need 16 cases a day) - anybody near Waynesboro?  Barbara can get us stocked up on 5.5 oz cans of good food for only 25 cents a can.  Martins in Culpeper also has cat food at that price.

Canned Dog Food (we need 4 cases a day) Martins or Aldi in Culpeper has the best price

Laundry Detergent (we need to do 22 loads a day)

30 Gallon Trash Bags (we need 26 bags a day)

Dish Detergent (we need about 16 ounces a day to wash to wash 317 bowls, plates and platters)

Donation Drop off Noon - 2 pm every Saturday !!!


I’ve got a whole, great big, huge stack of $5 off coupons for Purina dry cat food at PetSmart.  Since a bag costs about $11.99 if you can spare only $6.99 I can get a whole bag full of nums!!!!   This is a real deal, for every $6.99 you donate, it’ll buy an $11.99 bag of Cat Chow!!!   I’ve got 21 of the $5 coupons so if 21 of you would each help me out with a bag ....  that’d only be $6.99 each .....  and it’d give me 336 pounds of nums!!!!  Thank you, very much.


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

LOVE,
VINCENT
January 14, 2011

PS: Please help me keep the Refuge Running. I need your continued support.





The Fine Print
Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 367-acre, no-kill, all species, peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations from kind and loving individuals just like you!   We help farm animals, domestic animals, and wildlife.  Over 1200 individuals of 22 different species now reside at Rikki's Refuge.  Please continue to help us help the animals.  To learn more about Rikki's Refuge go to http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/, http://www.rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/, and http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge . 

We survive on donations from kind and loving people, just like you.  We live on a shoestring and make it on less than one dollar per day, per animal.  So if you can spare a couple of bucks to buy a few meals, please go to http://www.paypal.com/ and use our email address of mail@rikkisrefuge.org .  We do accept checks, money orders, cash and stuff, too!  Thanks for your support.  Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Your donations directly support the Critters of Rikki’s Refuge.  Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation. Federal Tax-ID 54-1911042. We hold membership in all Combined Federal Campaigns in Virginia #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377, iGive, Benevolink, paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org), your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Meet Daisy - Rikki's Alumni


Daisy, a Rikki’s Alumni

Daisy is celebrating 2 years today (January 8, 2011) of being a part of our family.  She is not crazy about having her picture taken . . . she is a happy girl otherwise!!  ---Pat Phelps

Shelter Challenge Details - Jan thru March 2011


SHELTER CHALLENGE VOTING
Our check for $1,000 just came Saturday (January 8, 2011) for winning Virginia in the Shelter Challenge Contest that ended on December 19, 2010.  Yippee!!!!  It’s like magic!  We can turn $1,000 into food and caring for the critters in just about an instant.

And the voting starts again today, January 10, 2011!!!!  Please vote everyday!!!   Every day for 10 weeks.
This voting round runs from today, begins on January 10, 2011, thru midnight (PT) on March 20, 2011.

The Prizes Are:
Grand Prize:  One $5,000 grant for the shelter with the most votes overall.
State Winners:  Fifty-one $1,000 state grants for the shelter with the most votes for that state.
Weekly Winners  Ten $1,000 grants will be awarded, one for each week, for the shelter with the most votes that week.

Can I count on you to win? 

Get started now!  http://bit.ly/VoteVincent   Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
It seems to be the same as the last round, I just voted and my confirmation animal was a zebra.  Enter Rikki’s, search, vote, confirm your animal.  Remember it’s simple, no complicated stuff, just tiger, bear, zebra, penguin, dog, cat and so forth.
Vote every day - you can vote from home, from work, from your phone - no matter where you are make sure you get your daily vote in!!!

New Beginnings Story Contest -

Have a Great Story to Tell?
Enter the Shelter Challenge New Beginnings Story Contest and you can win for Rikki’s Too!!!

New Beginnings Story Contest - Grand Prize:  One $3,000 grant!
New Beginnings Story Contest - Runners Up:  Four $1,000 grants!

Share your rescued pet's rescue story with the world!
Welcome to the New Beginnings Story Contest portion of The Animal Rescue Site $300,000 Shelter+ Challenge of 2011 - with Petfinder.com.

Beginning January 10th, you can enter your "New Beginnings" rescue story and give your favorite eligible rescue organization (Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA) the chance to win a grant to help animals.

On February 28th and 29th, judges at The Animal Rescue Site will pick five story finalists, each representing a different organization.  So the more stories out there designating Rikki’s Refuge, the better your chances of winning another $1,000 or $3,000 for the animals!

Then, between March 2nd and 20th, everyone will have the chance to vote for their favorite stories - once every day! The top vote-getter will receive a $3,000 grant to help animals - and four runners-up will each receive a $1,000 grant.

Authors of the stories chosen as finalists will each also receive a $25 Reward Certificate to The Animal Rescue Site store.

The grand prize winner will be determined by the highest number of votes, and announced on March 23, 2011.

To Be Eligible, Your Story...
  * Must be between 20 and 300 words in length,
  * Must NOT contain graphic descriptions or photos of pain, abuse, or injury,
  * Must contain the Exact Name, City, State and Country of Eligible Shelter
            of course you’ll choose Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA 
            (you’re designating a shelter to receive the grant if your story wins,
            your animal does not have to be from the shelter)
    * Your photo should be 256K or smaller, a JPEG or GIF,
            and no wider or longer than 170 pixels.
    * Please do not post websites or e-mail addresses
    * Any solicitations posted here will be removed.
    * Stories deemed inappropriate will be removed.
    * Confirm your story from that e-mail and we will publish it on The Animal Rescue Site™
    * You will receive your own personal link to share with friends and family!

Need some editing help with your story?  Or need your photo sized properly?  Just send them to me, Vincent D. Cat,  and I’ll get that done for you and then send it back to you for submission.

Please send me stories and pictures for anyone you submit too so I can print them here in Good Morning Good News too!

Ready to enter?  Have your photo ready and your story in a file showing on your computer, you can cut and paste so you don’t make any mistakes typing!

Please click here, and follow the submission directions!

Be sure the first line of your stories says:
Representing Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA 

Meet Mary Jane

MEET MARY JANE
After an appointment yesterday (Jan 11, 2011) I was told that the guy who worked in the office next door wanted to meet me.  HUH?  Oh there’d just been some mention and he’d said something about Rikki’s and for me to come over and meet him.  So I was escorted over and this gentleman said, “Remember me?”  Now I’m awful with humans.  Give me 36 black feral cats and I can tell them all apart, but humans all look the same to me.   I admitted I didn’t.  He picked up a framed photo on his desk and said, “Remember her?  I think you called her Mary Jane.”

Oh my gosh!!!  Mary Jane! 

Mary Jane came to Rikki’s Refuge, rather unexpectedly, on June 15th 1999.  This was before Doggy Downs was built. When the doggy area was a section of the backyard fenced off between the 9th Life Center and the Cat Trailer.  We had a couple of small 10 foot by 10 foot pens for the dogs who didn't get along with the group.  We were still in the very early phases of just getting things set up. 

We were working away building something that day, when my attorney showed up.  His son had come home from school with 125 pound, very strong, very unruly, completely untrained, American Staffordshire.  As he's explaining why the dog cannot stay in his house, Mary Jane burst through a partially open window in his car, and immediately had every dog on our property riled up.  She was in heat. 

We had no place whatsoever to put her, not even a lead we could tie her on for a while.  So my attorney sat on the back porch with leash in hand, trying to fight her back from getting to the other dogs, and keeping the neighboring, visiting, intact males away. 

Meanwhile, Kathy and I drove to town, to Fredericksburg Lowe's, to buy a dog pen.  That wasn't too difficult, we ran into the garden section, got it onto a cart, checked out and then asked for assistance loading it in the car.  Back then, the only vehicle Rikki's Refuge had was a little old Honda with a sunroof.  My acupuncturist had given it to us as the start of gift to Rikki's Refuge.  The nice man at Lowe's came out, looked at the six foot long box that the pen was in, looked at the Honda, and said you can't do that.  I said, yes we can, we have no choice.  And though he called us all kinds of crazy ladies, he helped us load up through the sunroof.  We prayed there was no law against driving around with something sticking several feet out of your sunroof.

Back at the refuge we put the pen together and got Mary Jane settled in.  Mary Jane dug out.  We put cinderblocks around the base.  Mary Jane threw herself against the gate until she opened.  We tied the gate shut in about six places.  That kept her in.  At least until it was time to go in and feed or clean.  Then, almost invariably, she would knock me flat, and take off a full gallop.  Every dog on the property would try to get up chase her.  Finally, I’d catcher and get her home. 

When we only had a small dog runs, every dog had to be walked every day, without exception.  Mary Jane wait more than I did, and was about 37 times as strong.  Our walks usually consisted of me holding on, while she drug me all over.  I saw my chiropractor on a very regular basis while trying to train Mary Jane to politely walk on a leash.  After several months, I was actually relatively successful.

Mary Jane would attract a lot of attention when we took her to adoption events.  She was a stunning dog.  Her beauty and her power made her desired by the wrong element.  Guys would walk up and say, “What a beautiful dog, I could make a fortune selling her puppies, how much you charging?”  And we'd say, she’s spayed.  And they'd say, “Why you go ruin such a good looking dog?” And walk away.  We wondered, what are really truly decent home ever come along?

Meanwhile, we built Doggy Downs.  First the playground.  Then the runs.  Kathy, Kim, Fred and I spent almost 24/7 between Christmas and New Year's 1999 building the individual runs.  Mary Jane and friends moved in.  Mary Jane was the first dog I ever saw go over a six foot fence.  We had to put a roof on her pen.  We feared for her life if she got off the property and ran up to a stranger.  Though she was the friendliest dog on the planet, she was a great big huge black dog, with an enormous grin that showed off her shining white teeth.  Wanting to meet everybody, she ran to you, jumped up, put her paws on your shoulders, and vigorously licks your face.  Most of us who weighed less than she did, ended up flat on our backs.  Most people who didn't know her, would assume she was going to attack.

On May 15th 2000 she met her new daddy, Allen Clark, who looked at her and asked, “has she been spayed?”  My first reaction was, “oh no here we go again”.  But his reply was, “great!”  They instantly fell in love and Alan adopted Mary Jane.

As I learned yesterday morning, Mary Jane's name was changed to Skye, and she became Allen's faithful companion for almost 10 years.  She went to work with him every day.  They were inseparable.  Allen had so many stories about her to tell me.  We talked for almost an hour.  Sadly, Mary Jane passed away last April from cancer.  Allen said he was so heartbroken he didn't know if he could ever own another dog.  But after 21 days without a companion, he went to the shelter and adopted another pitty.  Her name is Alley and she now goes to work with him every day.  I got to meet her and she's a lovely doggie!

One of the hardest things in the rescue biz, is getting an animal already for their new home, and then watching them leave, knowing you may never see them again, or know how it all went.  One of the best feelings in the world, is finding out how happy somebody was in their new forever home.

Bissell MVP Contest Details

The 2011 photo contest started January 12.  The winning cat or dog will get their picture on Bissell products and better still the winning pets win money for their favorite pet charity - Rikki’s Refuge, of course!

This contest runs for 12 weeks.  The 5 animals whose photo received the highest number of valid votes each week (Wed-Tues) will be weekly winners and a get $25 Visa gift card (for me to buy Fancy Feast).  The animal who gets the most votes each week also gets a BISSELL pet vacuum or deep cleaner (yikes I don’t want to be deep cleaned with no vacuum!).

They only allow residents of the US and Canada to participate, submitting photos or voting (if your registration indicates you live elsewhere, they won’t let you vote). 

You must register the first time you’re voting this year.  Even if you were registered last year, you have to do it again now.  They did not retain any information about you.  You have the option of getting their monthly product news email.  As far as I know, I received no junk mail from or because of them last year.  Must be 18 or older.

Last year you could vote for any number of animals each day, but any one animal only once during the day.  The rules this year are saying only one vote per email address per day.  But somebody wrote and they said it’s the same as last year.  So we’re gonna just have to see how that works when it starts.  So more details on that later.

This repeats for each of the 12 weeks with a total of 60 animals going into the Final Judging.  That is all done by the judges at Bissell.  But the more animals representing Rikki’s Refuge, the better our chance of winning are. 

When the judges decide on April 13th, this is what could happen!

Contest Grand Prize:
    * $10,000 to favorite pet charity  (Rikki’s Refuge!!!!)
    * $500 pet shopping spree
    * BISSELL pet vacuum or deep cleaner
    * Pet's photo on BISSELL box

2nd Place:
    * $5,000 to favorite pet charity  (Rikki’s Refuge!!!!)
    * $250 pet shopping spree
    * BISSELL pet vacuum or deep cleaner
    * Pet's photo on BISSELL box

3rd-5th Places:
    * $1,000 to favorite pet charity  (Rikki’s Refuge!!!!)
    * $50 pet shopping spree
    * BISSELL pet vacuum or deep cleaner
    * Pet's photo on BISSELL box

My facebook friends and I are working out a schedule so we don’t compete against each other this year.  I’ll be running in week 5 - the week of Valentines!  Some of my friends will be running for Rikki’s Refuge.  Though it’d be nice if everyone did, some of my friends work at other shelters and they’ll be running for their shelter, though we’re all voting for them too!!!  We’re all very important in this world and we gotta work together!

Stating today, and running Week 1 on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge is my beloved friend

Zoe Marie Cuppiecake Peanut Spumoni, who I introduced to you on Monday.

Please give her a hand, and your vote today and daily thru next Tuesday!  Thank you.  It could mean $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge.

Zoe



Happy Birthday to the Originak Rikki

January 13, 2011 is Rikki’s 30th Birthday.  Not Rikki’s Refuge.  The original Rikki the Cat’s!
Rikki, born Jan. 13, 1981, was a new breed - a Balinese, a  Siamese mutation, same body shape, grace & disposition, but with silky long hair.  My daughter gave Rikki to me in April 1981.  He was greeted by our 11 year old Siamese, who let Rikki know, “I’m top cat.”  Rikki, who was always happy, was satisfied to be “bottom cat”.

The only thing Rikki ever regretted was not having wings!  He would climb the drapes, walk across the valence and look for something high to jump to, like the top of the china cabinet.  He darted this way and that in perpetual motion.  My husband said, “He darts around like a mongoose”.  So Rikki was named after Rudyard Kipling’s Indian mongoose story, “Rikki Tikki Tavi”. 

Rikki was 4 years old when the Siamese cat died at the age of 15.  Rikki was lost.  Who could he follow around?  Rikki needed a companion cat.  My husband suggested a kitten - so “Rikki could be boss for once.”  When the kitten cried for its mother, Rikki laid down and the kitten suckled Rikki’s paw while Rikki washed him.  Although Rikki was a bachelor, the kitten could not have had a better mother.  The kitten grew up to be “top cat”.

Rikki would get up on my knick-knack shelves, and with a graceful paw movement would push a cat statue off, then lean over and watch it fall to the floor.  This was great fun and Rikki would stop only temporarily when I said, “NO NO”.  Rikki always hated water far more than the typical cat.  One day while playing this game, I wet my fingers and tiptoed near enough to flip my fingers so a few drops of water hit him.  He never played that game again!

My children grown and gone, my husband’s business keeping him out of town, Rikki was my loving, loyal, joyful companion.  With me almost always - he slept with me, sat on my lap if I read or sewed, rode on my shoulder out to get the mail.  Rikki never did a mean thing to a person or another cat.  He was all softness and love.  All he ever wanted in life was to be hugged and loved.

Rikki died in my arms in September, 1996 of kidney failure.  He had become like a toddler in his illness - never letting me out of his sight.  My grandson said, “Rikki was all love without a mean bone in his body.”

I still grieve for him, crying as I write this.  What could be a more fitting memorial for Rikki, always so full of kindness & love, than to give comfort & love to homeless and unwanted animals.  So I donate this land for Rikki’s Refuge as a perpetual memorial to Rikki for the love and happiness he gave me for 15 years.  And so others, less fortunate than Rikki, may know love in their lifetimes.  I know Rikki would approve. 
       ------Rikki’s Refuge’s Benefactor, Louise A. Hilliard, August 14, 1998

Celebrate Rikki’s Birthday with a Gift

Winky's Crafts

Crafting for Critters's Photos - Craft Items For Sale
by Shannon Lobe


These are one of a kind original art work by Shannon Lobe.  Check in for availability of an item before purchase.  Payment to be made thru Shannon Lobe’s paypal account (not thru Rikki’s).  She’ll give you instructions when you contact her at slobe@vcu.edu

Shannon donates a portion of her proceeds to Rikki's Refuge!

"Happy" 
an 11x14 original acrylic painting on a flat panel canvas by Shannon Lobe. 
Cost is $75 + $10 for shipping. 
$35 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Ferals are Fantastic" 
16 x 20 stretch canvas ($125) + shipping
The part of Vanna White is being played by: "Biff"


"A Normal Day: The Bathroom (#1)" 
11 x 14 Stretched Canvas ($75) + $10 for shipping. 
$35 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"A Normal Day: The Laundry Show (#1)" 
11 x 14 Stretched Canvas ($75) + $10 for shipping. 
$35 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Faceless Ferals: Over 60 Million Strong" 
11 x 14 canvas panel ($60) + shipping  
$25 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Partners in Crime"
11 x 14 canvas panel ($60) + shipping
$25 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Wet Paint + Cat ="
8x10 canvas panel ($35) +$5 shipping (USA)
$15 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


 
"Got Ferals??"
8 x 10 canvas panel ($35) + $5 shipping (USA)
$15 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Feral FeWines: Red Purrlot"
8 x 10 canvas panel ($35) +$5 shipping (USA)
$15 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.


"Feral FeWines: Snipped, Nipped and Tipsy Too!"
11x14 canvas panel ($60) + $10 shipping
$25 will be donated to Rikki's Refuge.

Good Morning Good News !!!! January 13, 2011

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


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


Yes yes yes your hard work at voting is paying off, we moved up to NUMBER ONE in Virginia overnight with 24.69% of the votes. 

We pushed up a notch to number nine planet wide with 0.83% of all the votes!!

Go go go Team Vincent !!!  We CAN do it !!!!

Spread the Word - Tell Everyone to Vote!


Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily thru Tuesday January 18th for Zoe Marie Spumoni
Running on behalf of Rikki’s Refuge
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click Zoe to Vote Zoe!
SHE COULD WIN $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge

Possibilities
It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. 
---Robert H. Goddard

Excellence is the result of caring more than others think wise, risking more than other's think safe, dreaming more than others think practical, and expecting more than others think possible.  ---Origin Unknown

Maybe this is what makes Rikki’s Refuge so special, my hoomans never stop dreaming, dreaming of a better refuge, bigger and better, a better world -- and they care enough to make it happen!


Refuge News
Today is Rikki’s Birthday.  Not Rikki’s Refuge.  The original Rikki the Cat’s!
Rikki, born Jan. 13, 1981, was a new breed - a Balinese, a  Siamese mutation, same body shape, grace & disposition, but with silky long hair.  My daughter gave Rikki to me in April 1981.  He was greeted by our 11 year old Siamese, who let Rikki know, “I’m top cat.”  Rikki, who was always happy, was satisfied to be “bottom cat”.

The only thing Rikki ever regretted was not having wings!  He would climb the drapes, walk across the valence and look for something high to jump to, like the top of the china cabinet.  He darted this way and that in perpetual motion.  My husband said, “He darts around like a mongoose”.  So Rikki was named after Rudyard Kipling’s Indian mongoose story, “Rikki Tikki Tavi”. 

Rikki was 4 years old when the Siamese cat died at the age of 15.  Rikki was lost.  Who could he follow around?  Rikki needed a companion cat.  My husband suggested a kitten - so “Rikki could be boss for once.”  When the kitten cried for its mother, Rikki laid down and the kitten suckled Rikki’s paw while Rikki washed him.  Although Rikki was a bachelor, the kitten could not have had a better mother.  The kitten grew up to be “top cat”.

Rikki would get up on my knick-knack shelves, and with a graceful paw movement would push a cat statue off, then lean over and watch it fall to the floor.  This was great fun and Rikki would stop only temporarily when I said, “NO NO”.  Rikki always hated water far more than the typical cat.  One day while playing this game, I wet my fingers and tiptoed near enough to flip my fingers so a few drops of water hit him.  He never played that game again!

My children grown and gone, my husband’s business keeping him out of town, Rikki was my loving, loyal, joyful companion.  With me almost always - he slept with me, sat on my lap if I read or sewed, rode on my shoulder out to get the mail.  Rikki never did a mean thing to a person or another cat.  He was all softness and love.  All he ever wanted in life was to be hugged and loved.

Rikki died in my arms in September, 1996 of kidney failure.  He had become like a toddler in his illness - never letting me out of his sight.  My grandson said, “Rikki was all love without a mean bone in his body.”

I still grieve for him, crying as I write this.  What could be a more fitting memorial for Rikki, always so full of kindness & love, than to give comfort & love to homeless and unwanted animals.  So I donate this land for Rikki’s Refuge as a perpetual memorial to Rikki for the love and happiness he gave me for 15 years.  And so others, less fortunate than Rikki, may know love in their lifetimes.  I know Rikki would approve. 
       ------Rikki’s Refuge’s Benefactor, Louise A. Hilliard, August 14, 1998

Celebrate Rikki’s Birthday with a Gift


Thank you Mary for working in the office all day yesterday to help mom out!!
Live from Vincent Video
Meet Georgina the Guinea Hen


Fun and Inspiring



Tails of Trivia
Today in 1930 Mickey Mouse comic strip first appeared.

January 13th is Penguin Awareness Day!

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time.  Do you know how much?  Tell me if you do Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org or comment here on the blog!  Winner gets their name in tomorrow’s Good Morning Good News


Music and Motion
Thieving Doggies!!!!!

Good Times in the News
Why Geese Walk
Delicious Reddit, HappyNews Columnist
Q: Why do geese walk across a road when they can fly, thereby not getting hit by a car?

Angelo, Staten Island, New York, USAA:
Geese certainly can fly across a road. Explorers report them flying even across Mount Everest. Migrating bar-headed geese routinely overfly the Himalayas. Migrating Canadian geese fly, in fair weather, up to 1.6 kilometers (a mile) high, reaching speeds of 70 to 100 km/hr (45 to 60 mph). So geese could fly across a road. There are exceptions: they can't fly while molting (mid June to mid July).

Also domestic geese have largely lost flying ability. Moreover, people often remove part of their wings (pinioning) to prevent domestic geese from flying away. Consequently, domestic geese only flap their wings furiously and maybe lift off a couple of feet.

So why don't wild geese fly across roads? Primarily because a goose is a grazing animal and grazers walk as they graze. Their legs are positioned to their bodies farther forward than either duck or swan legs. They can, therefore, "walk and graze on dry land," writes biologist Chuck Fergus in Wildnotes of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Walking uses far less energy than flying. Conserving energy for fleeing danger and long migrations helps the species survive.

Researchers (A.J. Woakes et al) at the Universities of Birmingham and Wales found that the rate of oxygen consumption was significantly higher for flying rather than walking geese. Geese tend to walk to their feeding site from water. "Because they are grazers, they will do more walking, but they don’t avoid flying," emails biologist Marion E. Larson of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

They fly to migrate thousands of miles. Also they fly from their nighttime home waters (river, pond or lake) to nearby fields to graze during the day, and then fly back to the lake for the night. Such forays may take them a few hundred yards or over 20 miles, depending on food availability. But food drives the flights, not predators. "Because they're big, strong and aggressive, geese are less subject to predation than most other waterfowl," Fergus says. Hawks and owls — airborne dangers — are about the only predators immatures need worry about. Few adults need concern themselves at all.

Furthermore, wild geese are smart and quickly learn where refuge-area boundaries are in regions where they are hunted by humans. Geese become accustomed to road traffic. Intelligent and wary with keen hearing and vision, geese easily avoid traffic. On land, they feed in groups and at least one goose always scouts for trouble. Indeed, the grazing flock multiplies a lookout's sharp senses. So, to answer your question, "Canadian geese prefer to walk or swim. They do not like to fly," says the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension. And they don't need to fly to avoid a mere car. Further Reading:


Dear Vincent
What about Diseases?
Lots of you have questions about Rikki’s Refuge.  I’ll pick one or two a day to answer here.  Ask your questions in the blog comments or sent to me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

QUESTION:  Yesterday you talked about why you don’t allow visiting animals on the refuge property.  Because you are afraid of either the visitor or the resident animals getting injured or killed.  What about disease?  Don’t you worry about that too?  Beth

ANSWER: Hi Beth.  You bet we do!  Many of our animals are elderly or have health issues that make them frail.  Any new disease could be life threatening to them.  All animals who are moving into Rikki’s Refuge must have been checked out thoroughly by a doc before they come and then they still must spend a minimum of two weeks in quarantine.  It’s bad enough it you go to a doggy park and your doggy catches a cold.  But imagine what a nightmare we’d have to deal with if all 43 of our doggies got a cold.  Or something worse.  Animals - and hoomans too - can be carrying a disease and spreading it before they even have any noticeable signs of it.  So, yes, Beth, that’s a real concern too.


Upcoming Events
on the right under STAY IN TOUCH

the next four weeks - what to do at Rikki's Refuge
Will tell you all about upcoming events, also any cancellations and all the up to the minute stuff you need to know.  Check in often.  Sign up to follow the blog so you get updates when they happen.  A little further down on the right click on FOLLOW.

Vote for the Animals
Here you can vote in contests that will give money to save the animals, they’re all free and easy, so all you have to do is click and it’s like making a donation!

2011 Calendar of What's up at Rikki's
Here you can see the calendar for all of 2011, so you can plan way far ahead!!


I really really love you,
Vincent

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

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

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

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