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.
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
Without YOU none of us would
be breathing today !!
Love you bunches,
Opie
I hope you had a great Veterans
Day !!
