Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 17, 2013



Did you know I turned TWO YEARS OLD on August 4th ??  I’m a big grown up boy now !!!   If you missed my birthday, that’s ok, you can still send me a case of nums!!!  And did you know it’s only $9.84 for a WHOLE case full ??   And I promise to share too !!!   I love you !!

Please take a minute, or two, to Vote
You’re voting to feed the cats and dogs and everybody else at Rikki’s Refuge
Winning contests is a big part of our budget
Please help out !!
Your clicks translate into food !!!
You DO NOT have to use Facebook for voting --- you can use any EMAIL ADDRESS instead !!!

Remember to always vote “Rikkis Refuge, VA, USA” ... if you’ll please, please log in every day and vote for me you’ll be helping me to win food for the animals !!! 
THANK YOU
And THANK YOU Mosby Food Bank for THREE great big trucks full of canned dog food !!!!!   Thank you Paul, Jack and Mom for driving all the way to pick it up !!!

I just WISH it had been cat food ......      but I guess somebody’s gotta feed them dawggies too !!!!

Did you know that YOU can volunteer by driving to pick things up for us?  Sometimes it’s big heavy things like pallets of nums.  And sometimes it’s just small things somebody has donated .... like a case of Fancy Feast.   AND did you know that your mileage as a volunteer is tax-deductible?    And if you can’t fit great big loads in your vehicle, and if you pass our insurance company’s driving test, you can drive a Rikki’s vehicle for pick-ups?

Would YOU like to volunteer to be on the list of folks who want to know about pick-ups Rikki’s needs?  This is usually not real far from the Refuge, though Mike goes to Pennsylvania all the time to get nums for us !!!  Thank you Mike !!!!  

Just drop me a note Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org if you’d like me to tell you when I NEED YOU driving .... I’ll give you the details of the run and then you can let me know if you’d be available to help !!!! 

THANK YOU too to Dr. Megan McAndrew, Medical Director of the Washington Humane Society, and her whole crew who camped out for the weekend at Rikki’s Refuge and got to do all kinds of exciting things .....  lassoing sheep and goats, trimming hooves, worming and vaccinating !!!     I think everybody had lots of fun !!!!

They’ll be back for further investigations .... but it seems they may have found Big Foote’s hangout .... and have seen signs of a new litter ......

You too could have the chance to encounter Big Foote and his new kits ....  Full Moon Walk at Rikki’s Refuge, September 21, 2013, Saturday .... would YOU dare to walk into the woods .... in the dark ..... with the Full Moon over head ..... and the Emus booming .... and the Little Footes out romping about ??    Advance tickets required, Mail@RikkisRefuge.org for more info.
Be sure you take pictures of YOUR moon overhead Thursday night ... and send your best shot to me !!!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org  I’ll share them here !!!


Traveling to Florida?
This is an oxygen concentrator.  GGP has one that came from a company in Florida, and it’s on rental, and it busted.  They’d fix it, but not in Virginia.  It needs to go back to Florida ASAP so the rental STOPS !!!!  It weighs about 40 # and takes up the space of an average cooler turned on end.  So it will fit in the back seat of a car, back of a station wagon or suv.  It needs to end up in the Treasure Coast area and the company can pick it up from where ever .....  that’s from about Ft. Pierce down to Stuart ... east coast of Fl.  If you’re headed that way .... or the vicinity where someone near GGP’s home in Florida could come meet you on the way ...  please let mom know .... thank you !!!  Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org


All Dressed Up and Ready to GO !!!

We just need YOUR help getting there !!
Petunia wants to go to Events and Festivals with me .....  but when we got out the carrier that she arrived in .... it doesn’t seem to fit no more .....  I think Petunia grew lots more since she’s been here than I have !!!!!

It’s a whole TEAM EFFORT to get the CRITTERS OF RIKKI’S packed up and off to EVENTS AND FESTIVALS all over where they can meet the public and star in KISSING BOOTHS !!!!   And we NEED YOUR HELP to do it !!!

WHY ARE EVENTS AND FESTIVALS SO IMPORTANT?

These Events and Festivals bring in donations so we can continue to care for 1300 animals EVERY DAY.  By joining our team of Event Volunteers YOU can make our donations soar!!  We meet new Sponsors.  We meet new Volunteers. 

We’re educational; teaching kids (and grown ups) to love animals, to be kind and to be good helpful Planet Earth Citizens. 

Animals get adopted and find their furrever families. 

YOU make things happen and YOU make it a better world for EVERYONE !! 

Going to Events and Festivals is a lot of fun.  You’ll love working with other caring like minded volunteers.  You’ll make new friends.  We’ve even seen romances blossom at Events !!  Your mileage is tax-deductible.  And in some cases, YOU get free entry to the events if you’re a volunteer!  It’s VERY IMPORTANT work .... 

Please join our Events and Festival Volunteers TODAY !!!  Events@RikkisRefuge.org

What can YOU do to help ?

Be OUR HEAD HONCHO HERO for an EVENT,
     plan the shift schedules for the Event Volunteers,
     help coordinate getting it all together.  
Can I count on YOU ???  Raise your hand NOW !!  Tell me you’ll be in charge Events@RikkisRefuge.org

Be an EVENT VOLUNTEER !!!  Here are some of the tasks YOU can do, depending on the shift you’d like to take. 
     Help set up Rikki’s booth ! 
     Talk to people about Rikki’s ! 
     Hand out brochures ! 
     Sell merchandise like our Vincent Tshirts and Magnets ! 
     Help people put their Donations in the collection cans ! 
     Snuggle Opie when he needs a break from the kissing booth ! 
     Walk Duke when he needs to stretch his legs ! 
     Be the Companion and Friend to an Adoptable Animal while they meet potential families ! 
     Help take down our display !  But not till the shows over, Please !!
     Drive items and critters to the Event, or home to Rikki’s after the Event ! 
Sign up NOW to be an Event Volunteer Events@RikkisRefuge.org

Be a PRE-EVENT PREPARER !!! 
     Help get the critters ready for their day out !! 
     Clip claws, give baths, clean carriers and show cages, make sure collars, leashes, food and water bowls, litter boxes,     
          clean up supplies are ready and packed.  Oh and don’t forget the nums !! 
     Make sure the posters and handouts and collection cans are all packed and ready to go ! 
This is great behind the scenes work to support Events if you don’t want to do the public thing !   Sign up now to be our Pre-Event Preparer Events@RikkisRefuge.org

HOW DO I SIGN UP?
It’s EASY !  Just sign up here Events@RikkisRefuge.org to be an Event Volunteer ....  tell me if you’d like to be a Head Honcho Hero, an Event Volunteer, a Pre-Event Preparer for our wonderful Events and Festivals  !   I promise you’re gonna have a blast !!


We’re Going Places !!

WHAT:                   Fredericksburg Pet Expo
WHERE:            Fredericksburg Expo Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
WHEN:              Saturday, September 21, 2013, 10 am - 5 pm   AND
                         Sunday, September 22, 2013, 11 am - 4 pm
WHO:                      Rikki’s NEEDS Event Volunteer and YOU to come visit Opie at our Booth  !!
                        We will have 2 shifts on Saturday, Sept. 21:   10:00 until 1:00  and 1:00 until 5:00. 
                        On Sunday, there is only 1 shift:  11:00 until 4:00,
                        but your help will be needed after 4:00 for taking down the booth and getting everything back to my car.
                        The goal is to tell everyone about Rikki's, and sell lots and lots of stuff!
CONTACT:         Melissa at dogslife24@comcast.net


WHAT:                   Rikki’s 15th Visit at the 17th Annual Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival !
WHERE:            Lee Park in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. 
WHEN:              Saturday, September 28, 2013, 11 am - 5 pm 
WHO:                Rikki’s NEEDS Event Volunteer and Pre-Event Preparers and
                         YOU to come visit Opie at our Booth  !!
CONTACT:          Ron at topcat@cstone.net
MORE INFO:      http://cvillevegfest.org/


CAN’T COME?            You can still be MY HERO .....  it takes only $1 a day per animal to keep Rikki’s Refuge running .....  our hard working Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors make sure that each meal costs only 25 cents ....   yet with 1300 critters .... those dollars and meals go mighty fast !!!!   Would you donate $5 to care for 5 animals today .... or to serve 20 meals ???  Thank you !!!  It’s kind and wonderful people like you that make Rikki’s Refuge a place that continues to save lives.              http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php



Sometimes in the Animal World
.... well maybe most of the time, you should expect the unexpected !!!!  

It’s like working at Rikki’s Refuge .....  In the beginning folks think of all the fun things ... patting the animals, watching the happy animals eat, walking the dogs ..... they don’t think of the daily power struggle between the hoomans trying to do the best possible for the animals .... and the animals’ own strong wills and ideas of what might be more fun !!!!  

Try pushing a 1,500 pound cow away when he’s leaning on you to scratch his giant head up and down your back and you’re plastered against the barn wall ......  kind of like being between a rock and a hard place !!!!

If you’d like to have exciting and challenging events like this to break up the monotony of your work day .... apply to work at Rikki’s Refuge ....  see details below.


Dog Owners - Please take Caution
Everybody loves going out with their best friend.  But sometimes is best to leave Rover home and safe.  From time to time various epidemics spread up and down the east coast.  Sometimes it’s a dog disease, sometimes a cat disease.  When this happens, all shelters go on high alert.  We have to be so careful not to get any possible contagion that would harm our residents.

Right now there is a dog illness, two actually, one that’s been identified as canine influenza and the other as of yet unidentified, that is spreading and killing dogs.  Vaccines certainly help, but often new strains evolve and until our vaccines evolve your dog may not be fully protected.

The state of Maryland has issued an epidemic warning.  When a state does this, it means it’s severe and really dangerous and they are hoping to prevent thousands of deaths.   I’m also hearing of illness in North and South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  It’s often the shelters who hear of these things early on ....  cuz we’re always talking about what’s happening and working to help each other out.  I’d only heard of a few unexplained issues that looked like they could become epidemic when Maryland announced an epidemic warning.

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE ?

Exposure is thru contact, or from the air at close quarters.  Keeping your dog home is your safest bet.  Stay away from dog parks.  Don’t take your dog shopping at PetSmart.  Don’t bring them to the Pet Expo this weekend or any other places other dogs may be. 

Especially do not take your dogs where there are dogs up for adoption.  Dogs in rescue come from all over, traveling from state to state to find the best homes.  They often ride in vehicles with other dogs from other locations.  Responsible shelters have extensive quarantine programs and do not allow dogs to meet the public, their other dogs, or to go out to adoption events until they have been quarantined at least two weeks.  Not all shelters and rescues have the facilities or the budget to be able to do this.  They do the best they can .... but that could be putting your dog at risk. 

What if you’re ready to adopt a new dog?  If it will be your only dog ... no problem.  If you already have dogs take a bit of extra caution.  Make sure your dog is properly vaccinated.  That won’t ensure they don’t get sick, but it’s a huge step towards protection or at least reducing the seriousness of an illness.   Even when a dog looks perfectly healthy and is checked out by your doc, they can be incubating an illness and spreading it BEFORE they are showing any signs what so ever. 

You’ll want to make sure the dog has been isolated from any possible source of infection for two weeks before introducing him to your dog.  If you have separate facilities, you can manage the isolation.  Just remember that germs spread thru air ducts, so houses that are centrally heated and cooled can spread a disease in one room very rapidly to the next.  Check with the shelter or rescue you’re adopting from and see if they have exit isolation facilities.  Board the dog with your vet for an isolation period.

How long does my dog need to stay home?  Usually these things run their course during the summer.  This one is starting late this year.  It will probably end when the weather turns cold.  That makes it harder for germs to survive and spread.

What if I transport?  Just use caution.  Don’t take your dog along for the ride.  Be sure all dogs are always contained in a hard bottomed carrier or crate.  Something that will contain the three Ps ... puke, poop and pee.  Lots of contagions spared thru body fluids and if that gets in your car .... some diseases will last in upholstery or rugs and then your dog can pick it up on his next trip. 

What if I volunteer?   Good for you !!!  Keep doing it!!   Again, use caution.  Don’t take your dog with you.  If you get any body fluids - or solids - on your hands or clothes, wash up or change clothes, clean shoes off well ... before playing with your dog.  Few germs will live outside the body for long when they are not in a moist body temperature environment ... so it’s rare to take an illness home to your dog. 

And remember .. your dog IS your best friend and will always try to please you
just be very clear in what you are asking of him !!!!


This weekend at Rikki’s Refuge
Donation Drop Off - Saturday, noon - 2 pm - at our Education Center, 21410 Constitution Hwy, Rapidan, VA, 22733 (sometimes called “North”) - the gate is right at the corner of Rt 20 (Constitution Hwy) and Quarterhorse Ln.  Come on in the gate and up the driveway, stop at the Education Center on the right and a volunteer will assist you. 

Please bring Canned Cat Food, Dry Cat Food, Cracked Corn, Wild Bird Seed, Paper Towels, Trash Bags, the hoomans are asking for toilet paper but I don’t think that’s important, Laundry Detergent, Dish Soap and Bleach ... lots and lots of Bleach cus them hoomans got to sanitize everything for our protection!!

Job Interviews - Saturday at noon, please do not arrive late - at our Education Center, 21410 Constitution Hwy, Rapidan, VA, 22733 (sometimes called “North”) - the gate is right at the corner of Rt 20 (Constitution Hwy) and Quarterhorse Ln.  We’re looking for a few good folks to help with all that sanitation!!!

Fredericksburg Pet Expo - in Fredericksburg, see details above.  Saturday, September 21, 2013, 10 am - 5 pm.   Sunday, September 22, 2013, 11 am - 4 pm

Full Moon Walk - Saturday, September 21, 2013.  With sunset at 7:10 and moonrise at 8:22 .... We’ll want to set off on foot from the Education Center about 8 pm ... it’s a three mile walk thru the animal areas .... and should be good moon light by 10 or 10:30 pm.  Advance tickets required, Mail@RikkisRefuge.org for more info.


Thank you for working with us, hand in paw, day in and day out, to care for the critters of Rikki’s Refuge .... we couldn’t do it without YOU!!  Thank you for saving our lives.  http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Love you bunches,
           Opie

2013 is the Year of the Purr ....

Join the movement ... we’re adding purr to planet earth !
 Look! It's a great car magnet with the world's most loved cat -- Vincent Cat!!!!
"What Would Vincent Do?"
He'd "Purr More, Hiss Less".

Magnet is $5 each, plus shipping (65-cents for 1 magnet, $1.05 for 2 for U.S. addresses). For other shipping costs (international, or for more than 2 magnets) contact Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net  with your zip code and how many you want.     Purchase your magnet TODAY right here http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


Don't be the LAST person on your block
to have a PURR MORE HISS LESS magnet on your car!
Order YOURS today !!