Good Morning Good News !!!! November 11, 2013

HAPPY VETERANS DAY !!!

Don’t forget to VOTE today !!!!!

Click on Vincent to cast your vote for Rikkis Refuge, VA, USA .....  be a winner for the animals !!!! 

Your daily vote is very much needed.

Please Come and Run for the Animals !!!!

Rikki's 5K Run/Walk will be held at Chancellor High School on Saturday, November 16, 2013.

The entry cost is $25.00 pre registration or $25.00 and a can of cat/dog food on race day.

Registration will be from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.    The race will begin at 9:00 AM.

Entry forms can be picked up at Virginia Runner in Fredericksburg.

For a mailed entry contact Dennis Bane at 540- 207-2829 or email request to bugbane30@gmail.com

Completed pre entry forms should be mailed to

Dennis Bane

32100 Constitution Hwy

Locust Grove Virginia 22508

Checks should be made to Rikki's Refuge.

All runners/walkers will receive a T-shirt and the top 3 in each age group will receive a medal.

Any questions please email or call. A special thanks to Virginia Runner, Ed's Awards, Patterson's equipment and The REACH Program for sponsoring the Race.

Nature Appreciation Day, November 16, 2013, Saturday

See every part of Rikki’s Refuge 450 acre no kill sanctuary in one day ....  rarely do all events fall on the SAME DAY !!!!

Tour: noon

Hike: 2 pm

Full Moon Walk: 5 pm

Sign up for one ... two ... or all three events  !!!

Must get ticket(s) in advance, limited space (can’t have too many hoomans in the porta potty at the same time), request your ticket application NOW ...   mail@Rikkisrefuge.org

THANK YOU PUMPKIN HAULERS !!!!!!

Huge thank you to all of you who picked and hauled pumpkins !!!!  We’ve got some happy cows, goats, sheep, pigs .......    You all hauled in tons and tons ... really ....  we thank you ... your hard work will feed good nutritious fresh food to the animals for weeks .....  and it’s saving lots of $ on feed bills right now !!!!  Yaaa hhoooooowwww  you ROCK !!!!!

RIKKI’S REFUGE AND THE IRAQ WAR VETERAN

by Opie, Rikki's Refuge Roving Reporter

It’s November 11th, and our nation is celebrating Veteran's Day, a day of remembrance to honor all who served in the military. Here is a story about one of the many brave soldiers who went to fight a war in a foreign land. One that sacrificed so much so the rest of us would not have to. And a story about a dog that helped him heal.

One of the long term benefits of animal sanctuaries such as Rikki’s Refuge is the powerful impact it can have on people’s lives. Volunteers at Rikki’s Refuge work hard to raise awareness of animal cruelty and neglect, and emphasize the need for a humane approach to all who live within our communities. Sometimes it is the animals themselves that tell the most unforgettable stories, just by being a shining example of kindness, compassion, survival and forgiveness.

A perfect example of how an animal can enhance the lives of others is a dog named Walker. Walker is a 10-year-old Treeing Walker Coon Hound/English Pointer mix that wound up at Rikki’s Refuge in 2006 after enduring a horrible ordeal.

He had been shot in the back and left in the woods to die. Luckily, he was taken to the Orange County Animal Shelter (OCAS) where the wonderful staff literally dropped everything to save his life. Once he was physically healthy, and the OCAS staff saw he was too afraid and nervous for adoption, he joined me and the 1200 other animals that have come to Rikki’s Refuge to live life in a safe, loving environment.

Walker settled in quickly at Rikki’s Refuge, making friends with all the dogs in Doggy Downs of the sanctuary. It didn't take long to see that this dog was meant to help others. The first person whose life was changed by Walker was Cindy, a regular volunteer, who fell in love with the beautiful, sweet Coon Hound mix with the soulful eyes.

Another person, whose life Walker change, was her brother, David.

Like many other patriotic Americans moved by the events of 9/11, David volunteered for Army service, and was assigned to the Maryland National Guard. In 2007, after President Bush announced a new approach in Iraq called "The New Way Forward", better known as "The Surge", that included the addition of 5 brigades under the Multi-National Force - Iraq leader General David Petraeus. David was deployed to Iraq in September, where he saw action during the difficult transition from British to US forces in the Al Basra and Umm Qasr region. He witnessed a lot of violence and destruction, escaping death several times due to good luck and fast action. When he returned home, he was a changed man; tense, nervous, unable to sleep or to relax for a moment.

That is, until he spent time with Walker.

The Coon Hound mix with the soulful eyes touched something deep in his soul; an immediate bond developed between the two. This bond led the Army sergeant to volunteer at Rikki’s Refuge, which created a healthy outlet for David to help others while he helped his heart to heal. After his first rigorous day volunteering at the sanctuary, tension melted away and he was able to laugh again. Rikki’s Refuge helped him work through the PTSD that had plagued him since his return from Iraq.

David often comes to Rikki's Refuge to work with the animals and to volunteer his time on special projects that keep the sanctuary in tip top shape. He also looks forward to the times when Walker comes to stay at his house, where the two share a bond of trust and love. And often they can be seen running together through Wheaton Park in Maryland.

The Coon Hound mix with the soulful eyes continues to enhance the lives of many people who have heard his story and seen his remarkable recovery.

Walker is a regular at animal welfare events across the Washington metropolitan area, and well known by the residents of Reston, Virginia where he currently lives after being happily adopted by Cindy, that Army sergeant’s sister. Now an Official Spokes Dog for Rikki’s Refuge, Walker has helped raise awareness for animal cruelty through his example of calm, affectionate outreach to the community.

Your kind and generous donations to Rikki’s Refuge www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate not only help dogs like Walker have a safe place for as long as they need before being adopted .... it helps our Veterans like David work thru their transition back into life in the states. 

Thank you for supporting us and helping us to help as many of God’s creatures as possible www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

At Rikki’s Refuge, we don’t care how long your ears are, or how many legs you have ....  we love you all !!!

Thank you for making a donation this Veterans Day in honor of YOUR favorite Veteran !!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME TO SAVE SO MANY LIVES

... with your support we’re able to help so many into their new furrever happy homes ....  and to give that life long home to those not quite so fortunate ...  Thank you for your support

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Without YOU none of us would be breathing today !!

Love you bunches,

           Opie

I hope you had a great Veterans Day !!