It’s back to school time !!
Me and Timmy, we turn-ed BIG
FOUR this Summer !!!
Sylvestra didn’t come with no birf certificate, but she’s bout as smart and me and Timmy, well not quite, she’s a girl ya know ... heee hee hee .... but mom said she’s gonna be BIG FOUR too and so wez all go to skoolz together.
Wez get to go to Head Start
now ... so mom, she said we could take the summer off ... no readin and no
writin all summer ... we could just
work on the farm here .... but ya know
what? Workin on dis here farm is REALLY
workin !! It be real hard. Yes it is !! So wez tired and ready to go to skoolz !! Well most of us !!
Iz No Wanna Go Skoolz !!!!
Duke had a birfday too and he
turnn-ed NINE !!
He’s a really big guy
now. He’s still gettin lost walkin down
the big long driveway to the skoolz bus ... but now me and Timmy and Sylvestra
can help him.
I hopez your summer was as
citing as ours !!
There’s so much
to do at Rikki’s !!!
We never get
bored !!!
Oh, that’s Grace Kelly. She had to go to the doctor. She broke her leg. It’s a really bad break.
And she’s not a young lady. The
docs have been very worried it wouldn’t heal.
But after six weeks in the
cast just a little bit of bone growth was starting to show in the x-rays.
I had to drive her over the
river and thru the woods and cross the mountains lots of times to get more
x-rays, and get the cast changed. She
hasn’t liked all of this. And she’s had
to live inside the barn all summer so she doesn’t run and doesn’t get the cast
wet or real dirty .... and she hasn’t
liked that.
She wanted to roam with
everyone and eat fresh grass .... sometimes she gets grass clippings when da
hoomans are mowing ... but mostly she
gets hay in the barn.
She’s had a friend in the
barn with her all the time, cuz she was scared to be alone. So a different friend would come in and stay
for a while.
Did you know that it’s just
cuz of YOU that ladies like Grace Kelly get to stay alive? It’s been really expensive taking care of
her. And YOU have been the one there to
help her, and all the rest of us too.
Grace Kelly needs to see the
doc a lot, and she needs a new cast every month and special nums to help the
bone grow. If Grace Kelly wasn’t here
and if YOU didn’t care and love her just like we do .... I think she might not have had this chance
to get well. Thank you .... If you want to help her out .... you can
click on her picture and give her nums or help her pay her doctor bills. We go back for another cast change next
week.
I gotz to admit ... National Donut Day just might a been my
favorite day all summer long !!!!!
Of course the peacocks were in full bloom and strutted around
letting everyone know how beautiful they are.
And the pigs wallowed
!!!
Wilbur says there’s no place like
a muddy place !!!
Petunia always gets the biggest
mud hole
Louise wallows in bliss
All these pigs,
and more, have had a second chance all cuz of YOU !!!!
Just click a pic to help them
out !
And of course there are chores that have to be done every summer
....
Like shearing sheep
Who’s Next?
Don’t make fun of my new woolcut -- you’re gettin one too !
Is that my FRIEND in there?
In Summer, shade coverings go
up everywhere .....
Oh you give me trampoline to play on !! A nice sun deck to snooze on !! Thank you,
hooman !!
Lots more bath time and
grooming ....
And lots of
hooman work time.
There’s always
lots of projects going on.
Remember the Office Trailers
we’ve bee talking about for ages and ages ???
Well guess what .... thanks to
a few very very hard working hoomans .. they’re all DONE !!!
Electricity hooked up, hvac
working, skirting up .......
Yahoooo All legal and ready to
use !!!
And there’s a work party
scheduled in September to come out and tear up carpet and put down vinyl, and
to paint and caulk windows and put on a roof coat ....
Another volunteer built a
bench overlooking Rainbow Bridge complete with lovely wind chimes ..... and a great place to sit and remember
friends who’ve moved on to the next plane.
Would YOU like
to do projects at Rikki’s?
They can be big or small
.... washing dishes .... or roofing .... and everything in
between. Let us know if you’d like to
help out .... Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org
Summer is just a
good time to hang out with friends.
The Vincent D.
Memorial Life Center is our Educational Facility.
Our volunteers are thinking
up more and more wonderful ideas for this space. Education is really important.
We like to offer programs for kids, for adults, for everyone. Humane education, basic first aid for your
pets, managing your animals in an emergency, Kitty Litterature to teach kids
the love of reading, animal friendly cooking classes, self improvement and so
much more ....
Is there
something you’d like to teach or share to help make the world a better
place?
Let me know Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org we
still have lots of time slots open for you to share your talent.
We also travel to
camps, scout groups and bible classes
in the summer so us spokes animals
can teach kids about kindness and compassion for everyone .... no matter how
many legs they have or how long their ears are.
And we travel all
over to events and festivals
to meet and greet and
hopefully spread the word about kindness.
It takes lots
of hooman volunteers to help us aminals get to events ....
and there’s before the show
prep work to do, travel, setting up, manning booths, talking to the public,
caring for the animals at events, and getting us home. If you’d like to help us ... just ask !!! We NEED you !!! Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org
It’s so much fun !!!! Come to events and sing along with ME !!!
Have YOU taken MY
pledge?
Sylvestra did .... and now
she’s an official Spokes Kitty too and gets to travel to events.
And summer time
is lots of hard work
Supervising hoomans to spread
grave and make the driveway nice after the winter weather
Doing lots of mowing
....
Unloading trucks full of nums
!!!! Yippie !!!!
You can help
and make sure there are always enough trucks of nums to feed us all by clicking www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe
Washing dishes ....
And somebody is
always slackin and just hanging around ....
Peek a boo ..... you not gonna get me out there washin
dishes with them dawggies ....
Ash arrived this summer. He tested positive for feline leukemia. He’s real healthy and we hope he stays that
way for a very long time. We have
special houses for the kitties with leukemia.
They can run and play and have friends and fun .... Sometimes they don’t have a long lives as
kitties without leukemia ... but even if they don’t ... it makes us really
happy to know that everyday God gave them to be on this earth is fun in the sun
and they weren’t just killed in a shelter who could not adopt them out.
If YOU agree
with us and would like to help them ....
just click on Ash and you’ll
see how !!!!
Mom and me gotted
in the paper !!!!
Don’t you think she looks
like she gotz a fat butt in this picture ??
I think she need diet too ....
I gotz a good summer shape
.... and it’s called ROUND .... so
there !!!
Iz just more of me to love
!!!!
We like summer
time cus it’s Jungle Time !!!
Gee why do we
have so many black cats?
To save their lives !! Did you know that many shelters don’t even
try to adopt black cats out? So much
superstition about them still abounds.
It’s really silly. Black cats
are just like the rest of us. But the
little black kitten in a litter will often never get chosen. We think it’s really important to spread the
good word about black cats !!
Wait a minute .... how’d YOU get in here in OUR jungle ?
Test driving Uncle Paul’s new
tractor !!!! He moved from the city
to live near Rikki’s last year and he’s learning the ropes of being an Orangite
!!! See his nice new tractor? He brings it over to Rikki’s to help out
with chores!!!
Boomer looks out wistfully
wanting to roam the woods ..... he and Jack earned running rights .... but then blew their curfew .... they ran off to visit neighbors on the next
street over ... and that’s just not safe ... so no more running rights for you
... sorry Boomer.
Duke, with the
help of his friends Dennis and Crystal,
have been running a booth at
the Minute Man MiniMall for years. Well
guess what? Duke got a new and improved
bigger and better booth !!! So he’s
expanded The Duke Thomas Peabody Shoppe.
It’s located in the Culpeper
Minute Man MiniMall, at 746 Germanna Hwy, Culpeper, VA 22701, That’s right at
29 & 15 & 522 & 3 ... the big interchange as you’re coming into
Culpeper.
Stop in and you'll find all
kinds of goodies selected JUST FOR YOU and just for this shoppe .... antiques,
cool animal things, and special Rikki's things !!! Hope to see you soon, Duke
We stock
outstanding items!
And YOU can visit Monday thru
Saturday 9 am - 6 pm and on Sunday noon - 5 pm. We appreciate donations too !!!!! But cuz of the set up there, you can’t just leave donations at
the shop. Contact us at mail@RikkisRefuge.org to arrange drop
off or pick up, or bring to Rikki’s Life Center, 21410 Constitution Hwy (rt
20), Rapidan VA 22733 between noon and 2 pm on Saturdays during Donation Drop
off, or leave at our Fredericksburg store Re-Tail, 3503 Lafayette Blvd,
Fredericksburg, 22408.
We love to hear
about Rikki’s alumni
Here’s Calvin and Rose who
now live in Pennsylvania. Did you know
we have an adoption room at Re-Tail in Fredericksburg? And you can meet other adoptable animals at
Rikki’s Life Center.
Summer time is
for Visitors ....
and we love visitors ...
Riley looks out a window of a
bed room at the Life Center waiting for this weekend’s visitor !! Rooms are available for out of town guests
and volunteers who are visiting. The
entire facility can be rented for weddings, family get togethers and more
!!!
We LOVE our
summer time Slumber Parties !!!
And I’ve been
busy too !!!
I’m working on
teaching hoomans how to eat Animal Friendly !!!
Join me at www.facebook.com/OpiesEdibles
Can you believe
Rikki’s Refuge has been here
SEVENTEEN YEARS !!!!!
WOW all the
lives you’ve made it possible to save ....
all the animals that have called Rikki’s Refuge home.
And to think, almost every
one of them would have been killed if YOU hadn’t made it possible for them to
have a place called HOME .... called
Rikki’s Refuge !!!
Thank YOU !!!!
Looked who joined
us this summer ...
Milo joined us after someone
rescued him from a pet a zoo as a sick and injured baby. Soon they realized it wasn’t much of a life
for him to live all alone in a small fenced area. So he come to Rikki’s Refuge where he gets to eat leaves and have
other goat friends. At Rikki’s Refuge
we believe nobody should have to live alone as one of a kind.
This is our sweet, tri-pawed
boy, John Kitty. If you remember, he came to live at Rikki's Refuge early this
year after being hit by a car and living in pain for some time. Once with us,
his leg had to be amputated and the real recovery began. We are happy to report
that John Kitty is THRIVING! He is sweet, stubborn and definitely has a mind of
his own and we wouldn't have it any other way!
We were there
for John Kitty because you were there for us,
won’t you help us save more
animals in need, www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
To read John Kitty's early
store with Rikki's, read this blog posting:
Taco is old, and as happens
to so many old dawggies .... his owners didn’t want him anymore. Somehow that almost seems the worst crime of
all, doesn’t it? They love you and take
care of you and think you’re cool. And
then when you get old and slow down and need more medical care .... they just
get rid of you. I wonder if any of
those people ever stop to wonder, as they leave the pound after dumping the old
animal, what the lesson is that they are teaching their kids, or grand kids, or
the younger generation. Getting older
is a part of life. Shouldn’t we all be
allowed to celebrate it with our family and loved ones?
Taco is
learning to love again.
Meeting new dawggie friends
and hooman friends. Some learn
quick. For other it’s a long hard road,
learning to love again when you’ve been dumped. YOU make it possible for Taco and others like him to have a safe,
loving environment to learn to love again!
There’s always SOMEBODY new showing up around here .....
But what IS the world coming to ?
Pete was found as a stray
wondering the country lanes. His hooves
had not had attention for ages, they had grown up and all around his feet. He was flea and tick infested. After pulling over 100 ticks off, we gave up
and had to use chemicals. Didn’t want
to cuz he was so anemic and so weak and passing several kinds off worms
too. He was the skinniest goat I’ve
ever seen.
It took over two months to
build his strength up and put some weight on him so he could get neutered. And until he was neutered he had to stay in
isolation. He might have been too weak
to do much ... but we feared what he might do if allowed to be with the goat
herd !!!!
Thanks to YOU
and your support,
Pete now has goat friends and
learning to trust hoomans again. Thank
you so much for saving poor homeless critters like Pete ..... www.RikkisrRefuge.org/Donate ....
every penny is one step in the right direction on the path of saving
lives.
Dillion had little hope of
making it out the shelter alive.
Testing positive for both leukemia and fiv his chances of being adopted
are just about nil. And very few
no-kills will take kitties with leukemia.
He’s still in his quarantine period here at Rikki’s where he’s getting
treated for worms. But he’s looking
healthy. We pray he has many happy
years in a special cat house here where he’ll have lots of friends.
When you provide
for ever after life care
to animals no one else wants
..... you know their lives here on
planet earth will some day come to an end.
It’s always a very sad time for all of here at Rikki’s Refuge. It can be hard to stop and remember that we
gave them years of happiness, we did everything that could be done for them,
and that ultimately we all must leave the planet, and that there’s only one way
off.
BeeBee and her husband Bub
came a few years ago when their owner died leaving behind her two ancient and
beloved donkeys. BeeBee had a number of
health issues that she’d had for years.
Every doc and farrier who looked at her said .... seriously? You want to put money into this donkey? Well, YES, we did .... as long as she could
live a happy life, you bet we do. Her
hooves needed maintenance every couple weeks.
They required a special trim to make it comfortable to walk. The docs managed her condition with frequent
x-rays and a variety of expensive medications and supplements. She even needed special boots with extra
padding on the soles that cost over a hundred bucks.
BeeBee and Bub were
inseparable. He’d try to protect her
when he didn’t trust what a doc was doing.
Like when she had to awkwardly stand on three feet while one was being
worked on. He’d try to get between her
and the x-ray machine. He loved her so
much.
We worried so that when she
passed, what would become of him? Would
he die of a broken heart? Thankfully he
did not. He said good-bye, and very
quickly chose a goose as a best friend.
Now they roam everywhere together.
Bless you BeeBee, we’ll never
forget you and we thank you for spending your final years with us here at
Rikki’s Refuge. You’ll always be a part
of the soul of the refuge.
Our Baby Elliot has gone to
the Rainbow Bridge .... he was certainly showing some age .... but seemed to be
going strong .... he didn't come for breakfast the other day .... he was in his
favorite summer sleeping spot still looking sound asleep .... he's now running
with Vincent at the bridge ....
Baby Elliot was an icon at
Rikki's .... he spent many many years loving to roam the refuge by day .... spending
summer nights out .... he didn't mind the rain .... but when the weather got
chilly he headed for the 9th Life Center and stayed inside ... even though he
grew a spectacular winter coat .... he always hated cold weather and stayed in
all winter long ....
He was well into his upper
teens ... ha came to Rikki's Refuge because he tested positive for FIV .... so
much mythology about that .... but it means most who test positive die in
shelters instead of living a full life like Baby Elliot did ....
We miss you Baby Elliot ....
Mr. Mister is missing his
best friend, Baby Elliot, too. Mr.
Mister is a few years older than Baby Elliot.
We know Mr. Mister is at least 21 years old. He’s been struggling with a number of health issues the last few
years. About this time last year we
didn’t think he’d be with us much longer.
He’d gotten so terribly skinny.
As winter came, Mr. Mister’s
favorite season, we couldn’t let him stay outside. He’s always loved the outdoors and having free range of the
Refuge. Like Baby Elliot, Mr. Mister
tests positive for FIV. In all the
years that he’s been with, a few more than Baby Elliot was, he was never sick,
until he developed age related issues in recent years.
No matter how cold or how
much snow is on the ground, Mr. Mister wants to be out in it. He loves to romp and play with the Kiki and
Beauty, the big white snow dogs, on the worst of blizzard days. He hates to be confined indoors and screams
and claws at the door.
Yet last winter he was so
skinny and his fur had gotten so thin, we just couldn’t honor his wishes and
let him be out much. And gosh was he
mad all winter long. Trying to escape
every chance he got.
By spring of this year he was
looking pretty good. His meds had been
adjusted and he’d gained weight and his
fur had grown nice and thick. He got to
come back out around summer time!!! And
he’s been so happy. He and Baby Elliot
would often be seen strolling or sleeping together.
One thing you learn real
quick at Rikki’s Refuge is that the animals have the same feelings we do. They love, they make best friends, and they
grieve when their friends leave us.
YOUR support is
the only reason we can give kitties with FIV,
and elderly dogs and cats and
donkeys the chance to live out their natural lives in peace and happiness. Thank you for helping us help them www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Summer time is
for just hanging out .....
August 17th
is a date we look forward to all year round.
It’s Black Cat Appreciation
Day !!! A special global event started
by Rikki’s and our wonderful volunteers five years ago to bring the plight of
Black Cats out in the open.
I did not know how bad it was
out there for black and mostly black cats until a rural shelter had asked
Rikki’s Refuge to take one cat and one dog to save it’s life. I drove over the river and across the
mountains to pick them up. When I got
there, they were crazy busy and said, oh they’re in the euthanasia room, just
go in and get them. It’s the long
haired dog and the pregnant calico.
But when I went in, there
were 12 other cats hollering in their cages and reaching out to me, as well as
two other dogs. All the other cats were
black, or black with an almost unmentionable bit of white, or black
torties. One of the other dogs was
black and the other mostly black. They
all looked healthy and friendly and SCARED.
Why were they waiting here to die?
When I asked, I was told it
was their color. That’s when I learned
that many shelters don’t even put black cats and dogs out on the adoption
floor. Not even giving them the chance
of adoption. I was told people just don’t
adopt them, they’re scared of them, you know ... the bad luck if it crosses your
path and all that.
I stood there in stunned
silence ... could I look into all these eyes .... and walk out with two animals
who’s life I would save .... leaving
behind fourteen to die ? No way ...
but did I really have room ... or the resources for 14 more than planned ....
no way .... but did I know I could
count on YOU my wonderful sponsors to make it possible? YES I DID.
I asked if I could take all
the animals from the euthanasia room that day.
The manager burst into tears and started hugging me, saying how it broke
her heart to see so many die .... but
they just couldn’t find homes for them all .... and people came to dump more
every day .... what were they to do.
When she told the rest of the staff, they all came to hug me and were so
happy.
I’d only brought a carrier
for the cat and one for the dog, I’d been told about. I asked if they had extra ones I could use. No, they had nothing, they were very poor. We put down blankets in Rikki’s van and
hoped the dogs would behave for the ride home.
We found boxes we could turn into makeshift carriers for the cats.
When I left that parking lot
I just prayed we’d all have a smooth ride home. And we did. Most of the
animals were adopted out, a few stayed on with us. All were nice, wonderful, deserving animals.
Through efforts of
volunteers, costing Rikki’s nothing, the event is blasted on social media and
has attracted attention all over the world.
Countless shelters have special black cat days now .... countless black cats are saved !!!!
It’s amazing
what we can accomplish with wonderful caring volunteers.
Would YOU like to be
one? Just tell us Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org
Have you visited
Re-Tail?
It’s a fabulous store ....
and that’s all cus YOU donate such wonderful items !!!! Thank you for allowing us to turn your
gently used items into cash to buy food, medical supplies and all the
necessities for the animals of Rikki’s Refuge.
If you haven’t visited ....
don’t delay .... we’ve got so much fabulous stuff .... our inventory keeps up with the seasons
..... Christmas is coming ..... come and check it out !!!!!
And please,
DONATE your gently used household items,
kitchen things, furniture,
clothing .... contact -Tail at Re-Tail@RikkisRefuge.org and keep up
with items and specials at https://www.facebook.com/ReTail.org We have frequent sales, Daily Specials and
even a FREE BIN .... so check it out
now !!!
And we love
sharing our Summer with our Hooman Friends
!!!
NO Hooman .... NO .... you can’t leave me ......
And of course
.....
Summer brings wonderful fresh fruits and
veggies ....
.... and ...... bread?
And MY GOODNESS
.... HOW did it happen so quick?
It’s time to
invite you to come for our Labor Day Fun .....
RSVP at Tours@RikkisRefuge.org
Come on out and
see how much fun visiting the animals can be !!!
I bet you know
Monday is Labor Day, don't you?
And I bet you have
plans. And I bet those plans include a
pic-a-nic, don't they? The hoomans are
having one, and you're invited. But
they forgot to get enough nums to go round for us animals. What?
You think we don't want to pic-a-nic too? I'm trying to collect enough money to get a pic-a-nic basket for
every animal here .... that's a LOT of
pic-a-nic baskets .... Would you give
me $5 for a basket for one of us? I'd
be so happy if everyone got a pic-a-nic basket for Labor Day. Thank you, Opie
click here http://www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe
or directly to our Paypal at:
mail@rikkisrefuge.org
To give by mail (check or
money order):
Rikki's Refuge, P.O. Box
1357, Orange, VA. 22960
You know what comes next
month ?
It’s Pumpkin Patch
Time .....
and we’ll be counting on YOU
to help us haul in the pumpkins.
Pumpkins?
WHY? It’s great nutritious, yummy food and
everybody ... except the cats and dogs ... LOVE pumpkin. Every free pumpkin we haul in saves $s on
the feed bill.
What a great way to volunteer
a little time and help feed the critters for FREE !!!!!
Churches and pumpkin patches
everywhere GIVE us their pumpkins after Halloween !!! That’s right .... the catch is we have to pick them up and get
the to Rikki’s. This takes place ALL
OVER, around Rikki’s in Orange, Louisa, Culpeper, Spotcylvania. In Fredericksburg, Stafford, Richmond,
Prince William and Fairfax.
Can we count on YOU to
help? You can load pumpkins at the
source. You can drive pumpkins to
Rikki’s. Or you can be a real hero and
do BOTH !!!!! Some of our really
wonderful volunteers who don’t have a truck of their own even rent one for a
day or two!!!!
Please let us know if we can
count on you the help haul in the pumpkins this year ... Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org
Will YOU be
joining us for our 5K Run / Walk / Bring Your Dog Event ?
WHERE: Lake Anna State Park,
6800 Lawyers Rd, Spotsylvania, VA 22551
WHEN: Saturday, November 7, 2015
TIME: Registration 7:00 am to 8:30 am
Race time 9:00 am
FEE: $25.00 ($30.00 on Race Day)
FREE: T-shirt for those who sign up in advance .... while
supplies last
FILL A TRUCK
Bring Donations of Pet Food
and supplies !
ENTRY FORMS: can be picked up at: VA Runner, Ed’s Awards and Engraving, Giant on 208 or at Harrison’s Crossing
ENTER ON LINE: at www.RikkisRefuge.org
(click on the UPCOMING EVENTS tab, then 5K Walk/Run in the drop down)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact bugbane30@gmail.com
AWARDS: Top male and female finishers and top 3 in each age
group (19-under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and up).
TEAM AWARD: for the team with the most runners and/or walkers.
Award Ceremony after the Race
Dogs and Spectators
Welcome
Come join us on this all new
course with 2 miles of scenic roads and 1 mile of runner friendly trails.
Race participants will NOT
have to pay for parking at Lake Anna State Park.
SIGN UP TODAY !!!
FOLLOW US TO THE
RACES !!!!
THANK YOU
Dennis and Crystal for putting on the race again this year !!!
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF
RIKKI’S REFUGE
A PART OF OUR POSITIVE FUTURE
Without YOU
none of us
would be here
having enjoyed
a fabulous summer !!
THANK YOU !!!!!!
Your
donations saved every one of us and will keep us all alive in 2015 .... we
pray. Please HELP US as we keep our
pantries stocked !!!! Take the Opie Pledge and promise to work
each and every day to make the planet just a little bit better. If the pictures of the animals you have
saved in this issue have made you smile, please take a few moments to make a
donation so we can keep them smiling!!!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe
Love,
Opie
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