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
Happy St. Patrick’s Day ta ya !!!
May the luck of the Irish be with you all day !!
The Boys from Rikki's Refuge
Follow the Rainbow
You can be their Pot of Gold!
Please Vote and or Donate
Help and Care for Animals the world over
that would not have even a chance without you.
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, PLEASE HELP!!!!
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!
OH I CAN’T EVEN LOOK
THE DAWGIES ARE SO CLOSE
PLEASE VOTE SO I CAN HEAR MY FAVORITE SONG
ON MONDAY - WHEN YOU MAKE ME A WINNER !!
There’s lots of ways you can vote
as long as you remember to enter
Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
click on any of these and take it from there !!!!
We’re HOWLING for your vote!
Bissell MVP Contest
YOU did good!!!
Clover won first prize last week!!!
Vote daily Wednesday March 16 thru Tuesday March 22nd for Sugar
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Purr Angels
Click here to Vote for Sugar
Sugar is a therapy cat for my 12 y/o Asperger's Syndrome son. He teaches my boy it's ok to have emotions and taught him about body language. He is 4.5 yrs. old and neutered. His organization is PURR ANGELS.
Round the Refuge
Tribute to Rachel by Pat Phelps
My first meeting of Rachel was on a warm Fall day in 2000 at Rikki’s Refuge in Orange, Virginia. My friend and I wanted to see this all-species animal sanctuary that we had heard about. Rachel was one of the first residents to call Rikki’s her home. She was the official mascot and she took her job seriously. She greeted me by gently jumping up, her somewhat cloudy eyes full of life and her full plume of a tail wagging as fast as possible. Her white face and toothless smile were absolutely irresistible to this old-dog softie. I jokingly commented that I’d better not let Dan see her.
Rachel in 1999
I asked Kerry, the Director and Founder of Rikki’s, about Rachel, this old dog who would live out her last days at the refuge. Here is Rachel’s story. Kerry was driving down the road when she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She pulled over and found an emaciated old dog, barely alive, lying in the ditch. Kerry scooped up the limp body and knocked on the door of the nearest house asking if they had lost a dog, telling them about her find. "You mean that dead dog that’s been out there in the ditch for several days?," the occupant of the house said. Kerry wasted no time. Several vets said, "save your money, she’s beyond repair." Thankfully, Kerry wouldn’t take no for an answer, as she saw something deep in this aging dog’s eyes - a determination to live. Finally, one vet was willing to give this old girl a chance. With multiple infections, heartworm infestation and decomposing puppies inside her poor body, it would be a long road to recovery, if she were lucky enough to survive more than a few days. Back at the sanctuary, probably for the first time in her life, Rachel received much-needed love and care. She was hand fed for several months, then she was able to eat on her own, then she was able to stand on her own. Everyone at Rikki’s cheered the day this tough little dog cautiously ventured out into the world that would be her home for what little time she had left. Another used-up hunting dog, bred too many times to count, had finally found safety at Rikki’s.
A few months after my initial visit, Dan and I went to Rikki’s to deliver some donated supplies. As expected, Dan fell in love. He always said I set him up. It worked!! We couldn’t stop thinking about Miss Rachel, so we went back to Rikki’s the day after Thanksgiving asking if we could adopt her. Tears strolled down more than one face, as Rachel left on her journey to her forever home. She was soon greeted by the other senior dogs living in our house. She would soon claim the stuffed animals as her babies, and if she sensed excitement in the house, she would grab them, one-by-one, and carry them out in the backyard, as if to protect them from the ruckus. Vegetables and "babies" were some of Rachel’s favorite things.
Jeb and Rachel would soon become regular volunteers at the nursing home. Jeb went along with the idea, but Rachel thoroughly enjoyed visiting. Somehow she knew when it was Wednesday, and she cried with excitement during the car trip to the nursing home. Once there, she would actually prance through the doors, head and tail held high. She greeted the senior citizens with a little whine, and gently accepted treats from their arthritic hands, always making it known that she was glad to see them. Somehow she knew that she was giving back to her community.
I would have bet a lifetime of paychecks that Rachel wouldn’t live more than a year or two. Once again, she surprised us. Our household was privileged to have this wonderful, sweet dog for over 10 years. She was almost cheated out of those years. Thank you, Kerry, for rescuing this precious girl and allowing her to be a part of our family. She was a life worth saving. Rest in peace, our little angel Rachel. We’ll see you again.
Rachel in 2010
Opps Vincent did a Boo Boo
Opppsss I counted Walkers mom for bringing only 252 cans of nums during March Madness. (((((Covers face in embarasement.))))) I did that hooman thing - ASSUME - and you know what that menas. (((((Peeks out with one eye))))) You see it was 10 cases of cat food, what she brings lots of times on Saturdays, just about every Satruday unless the cat food ferry has come by. And I said ten cases, 24 cans in a case ..... but opppssss Walker’s mom is a super shopper and she buys 48 can cases, so ..... drum roll please ...... the real total for Walker’s mom is 492 cans!!!! Thank you Cindy you’re always so special and sweet to the critters. We thank you for all the nums you brng every week and all the hard work you do at Doggy Downs (and other neighborhoods) every Saturday and Holiday!!!!
Girl Power
Hey Joey, Jessie and Napoleon! You’re boys! Howd you get in that picture?
Girl power was rockin the refuge Yesterday! Girl scout troop 3121 helped us so much! First they did a fantastic donation drive for us and showed up with lots of nums and cleaning supplies. Then they pulled out bags and bags of homemade Snickerpoodles which are doggie treats. All the dogs went crazy for them! The goats, chickens, and even a few cats got to enjoy these tasty treats. That wasn't all they brought. They made these super cool dog tug toys for us to sell at events to raise money. Can you believe they did all that before they even got to the refuge?
So what did they do at the refuge you ask? Well first they got a tour and learned all about how Rikki's saves the differently abled animals. Then they got to work scrubbing litter pans.
With 60 big and 30 small litter pans to scrub every day ......
... it’s a never ending chore.
After that they cleaned 3 whole cat houses top to bottom! They cleaned all the walls, scrubbed down the doors, and mopped up all the floors. It was really hard work because you can’t hose down over the winter. The houses looked all sparkly and new by the time these girls were done! The girls favorite part was petting all the cats after the work was done.
Spring cleaning at Feline Fields is a big chore. The kitty nesting boxes come out, the climbing trees, the litter boxes, the food, everything out. Then the kitties get some loving ......
..... and the scrubbing begins!
Guess what? They are going to continue helping us animals even after this visit. They want to bring vegetable plants out later in Spring for us to plant to grow our own food.
These 8 girls were so awesome. We can't wait to see them again! Thank you Emma-Marie, Kylie, Kristina, Anne, Katelyn, Morgan, Colleen, and Kara! Thank you also Ms. Hauser and Ms. Weber for bringing your troop and teaching them to help rescued animals!
Katarina Galvin
The Cats of Cod
Artwork by Wayne H. Morris of New York
photography and art
visit to see more of his spectacular work
Wayne loves to study an animal and capture their essence which he then turns into a whimsical work of art depicting them at work or play. Your pet’s whimsical custom portrait available for only $300 (donated to Rikki’s Refuge). Contact me and I’ll put you in touch Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Prints available, 8” x 10”, on heavy stock, suitable for framing, $25 each, resolution may vary so you may want to ask first. Specify which print you want and shipping address. http://bit.ly/WayneMorrisPrint
Vincent the Dietician,
always there to make sure everyone
has a healthy snack.
Live from Vincent Video
Meet Summer
Meet Swamp Fox
Great Purrchases / Donations
Jan dug up some wonderful deals!!!
Bottom Dollar from 3/16/11 thru 3/22/11
Hannaford chunk light tuna - 5 ounces in water or oil - 2 for 88 cents!!! - WOW!!!
we use a lot of tuna to entice sick kitties to eat
Smart Option Paper Towels (8 rolls per pack) - 4.88 each
I need lots of paper towels for my “special needs”, I can’t help it, it’s from my accident
Smart Option Dish Detergent - 25 ounces - 79 cents
Yup, lots and lots of dishes to wash every day!!!
Giant from 3/18/11 thru 3/24/11 may be Martin’s too
Companion Cat food - 5.5 ounces - 10 for $3.00 (or 30 cents a can).
and we like this kind, so stock up
In addition to the things listed above - we’re in need of
Garden hoses and nozzles, brooms, laundry detergent, dish detergent, trash bags, paper towels
Chinchilla food and chinchilla dust bath
Produce for the rabbits, green things and wood chip bedding for the ones indoors
Oranges for the guinea pigs
Swimming pools, Dollar General has some purrfect ones, $8 and about 4 feet in diameter
Outdoor Pooper Scoopers
These are ideal, they sell for $15 at Tractor Supply, 14 inch Jumbo Debris Pan by Harper Brush Works, item# 63497-1, we a dozen or 15.
Too Hot For Spot
We were blown away when we saw this product. Why had no one thought of it before? So obvious! So needed! It will save countless lives. Could it be for real? So we tested it, and tested it. And it’s wonderful! We’re now making it available to all dog owners! Check it out!!
This is one of those products you can’t believe hasn’t been on the market for years. Too good to be true. And only $12.90 including S&H. If that saves the life of just one dog it’s worth it many times over. We’ve tested it under different conditions and we’re convinced, it’s going to be the best life saving device in 2011. Check it out and tell us what you think? Too Hot For Spot - Safety Device
We have a limited supply, so if you want yours in time for summer, grab it now!!
Take a look at what’s on ebay!!
It’s GREEN for St Patties Day!!
2 Beanie Babies frogs - click for more info
Vintage postcard - Cute Cat Couple (she’s dressed in green)- click for more info
I LOVE YOU
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
