Rikki's Refuge: 2018

Monday, October 29, 2018

Upcoming Events for Rikki's Refuge

RIGHT NOW thru midnight October 31

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble?

Right NOW till midnight Halloween night YOU can give us animals a WONDERFUL TREAT .... donation will be DOUBLED ..... so hurry ..... don't trick us ..... please TREAT us !!!

You give us a TREAT and a wonderful donor will give us one too !!! DOUBLE ALL DONATIONS (up to $2,500) NOW.

Please donate if you can and tell all your friends !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

NOW THRU EARLY NOVEMBER
PUMPKIN SEASON

Time to collect all those left over pumpkins for our animals. Everybody but the cats and dogs love to eat pumpkins. So go to your local pumpkin distributor and ask if you can the leftovers to Rikki's Refuge !!!

Let us know well in advance if you're bringing out a load so someone will be at the gate to meet you. WILL YOU HELP? Let us know if YOU will help us load or haul pumpkins. We have coordinators working in Northern Virginia, Culpeper, Orange, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Richmond. Contact Lolly at Events@RikkisRefuge.org for any info about pumpkins !!!

Can YOU help load pumpkins at Salem Baptist Church in Fredericksburg at 6 pm on November 1st? If so, show up, or get in touch with Lolly in advance at Events@RikkisRefuge.org

NOVEMBER 1 thru DECEMBER 15

Are YOU a Sale-er ??? Love a great deal and GREAT BIG SALES ? Do you THRILL to finding that oh so special bargain ??? That one of kind amazingly cool item ???

Well the SHOP HOP is for YOU ! And it starts on NOVEMBER 1st.

This year, there will be 14 stores participating, and it will last for 6 whole weeks! That's plenty of time for you to check out all of the stores, and snag some great bargains, just in time for Christmas!

Passports/maps are being handed out now, but we won't start to stamp them until Thursday, Nov. 1.

For every store that you visit, you will receive 1 raffle ticket. The more stores you visit, the more chances that you have to win one of 7 gift certificates! "Like" the Shop Hop page TODAY so you can see all of the great activities that will be going on in all of the stores. www.facebook.com/3rdannualshophop/

NOVEMBER 3

Plan to be at Motors and Mutts on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 11 AM – 4 PM !!!!!

Rikki's Refuge NEEDS two more volunteers to help hooman our outreach table! Is that YOU??? Contact Events@RikkisRefuge.org

Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania Virginia

6501 Dominion Raceway Ave, Thornburg, Virginia 22580

Hosted by 93.3 WFLS, the first ever Motors for Mutts is a combination doggy event and car show! Fun for the whole family, including your doggies !!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/245684099438293/ for more info !!!

NOVEMBER 17

Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, November 17, 2018 !

Spend a Compassionate ThanksLIVING Day with the Animals

Tour and Potluck Celebration

We celebrate the lives of our beautiful resident turkeys - we dine WITH our friends, not on our friends. Please join us!

1:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

3:00pm ~ Gather, Appetizers

4:00pm ~ Main Animal Friendly Feast

$25 Donation and/or Veg Potluck Dish

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

NOVEMBER 22

MARK YOUR CALENDARS and RSVP TODAY for our November 22nd

Thanksgiving Day Tour and Reception

Celebrate this day of thanksgiving WITH the animals that YOU have helped save! Please join us!

12:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

2:00pm ~ Reception at the Life Center

Donations of Cat Food appreciated (not just cus Opie says so, but we go thru more cat food than food for any other species)

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

DECEMBER 1 thru 22

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Starting December 1st at Re-Tail

Everybody welcome, absolutely NO species discrimination !!!! Bring the kids, two or four or no legged, Rikki's Santa loves them all !!!!!

DECEMBER 1 thru 25

Join us for an Enchanted Christmas Day with the amazing animals at Rikki's Refuge!!!

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

12:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

2:00pm ~ Reception at our Life Center

Donations of Cat Food appreciated

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

AVAILABLE NOW

You too can own a copy of the NatGeo book with the story of Rikki's Refuge's very own Peepers !!!

Rikki's Logo Jewelry

HUGE SALE going on RIGHT NOW ......

The perfect gift for any Rikki's Refuge lover, or anyone who loves animals !!!

Sterling Silver.

Necklaces $25 and lapel pins $20 for a limited time only.

$7.25 ships them to you, or the recipient of your gift, anywhere in the US.

You may purchase at www.RikkisRefuge.org/donate and make a note it's for the jewelry and if you want the necklace or lapel pin. Be sure to include your shipping address !!!! If you have any questions just ask

What's Going On At Rikki's Refuge

Hi ya all !!!! I wanted to make sure you know what kind of exciting things are coming up for the rest of the year so YOU can be here with me !!

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble?

Right NOW till midnight Halloween night YOU can give us animals a WONDERFUL TREAT .... donation will be DOUBLED ..... so hurry ..... don't trick us ..... please TREAT us !!!

You give us a TREAT and a wonderful donor will give us one too !!! DOUBLE ALL DONATIONS (up to $2,500) NOW.

Please donate if you can and tell all your friends !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

It's gotten COLD out there .... and we're all eating a lot more than we do in the summer and we nummed up the whole pantry !!!! HELP !!! I gotta restock it for everybody!!!!

Lolly gave a tour and interview to the Piedmont Virginian Magazine and just look at this lovely article they wrote about Rikki's Refuge !! Thank you Piedmont Virginian Magazine !!!

Click to read the article

https://piedmontvirginian.com/loving-the-unloved-for-life-rikkis-refuge/?fbclid=IwAR3KyHh75Kx2QkzfTVoJsniCpKIsNVxWJiZFTPRYOKyDI3gB5SpOHidPZZ0

You too can own a copy of the NatGeo book with the story of Rikki's Refuge's very own Peepers !!!

You know what this time of year is, don't YOU ?

It's PUMPKIN SEASON and time to collect all those left over pumpkins for our animals. Everybody but the cats and dogs love to eat pumpkins. So go to your local pumpkin distributor and ask if you can the leftovers to Rikki's Refuge !!!

The pumpkins are coming, the pumpkins are coming, the pumpkins are coming.

Let us know well in advance if you're bringing out a load so someone will be at the gate to meet you. Let us know if YOU will help us load or haul pumpkins. We have coordinators working in Northern Virginia, Culpeper, Orange, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Richmond. Contact Lolly at Events@RikkisRefuge.org for any info about pumpkins !!!

Can YOU help load pumpkins at Salem Baptist Church in Fredericksburg at 6 pm on November 1st? If so, show up, or get in touch with Lolly in advance at Events@RikkisRefuge.org

HEY, don't forget us, WE don't eat pumpkins !!!

Are YOU a Sale-er ??? Love a great deal and GREAT BIG SALES ? Do you THRILL to finding that oh so special bargain ??? That one of kind amazingly cool item ???

Well the SHOP HOP is for YOU ! And it starts on NOVEMBER 1st.

Passports/maps are being handed out now, but we won't start to stamp them until Thursday, Nov. 1.

The media is full of stories of not so nice people and events and if that is where your view of the world is formed what an awful world it must seem to be.

At Rikki's Refuge we see the wonderful side of people and the kindness and compassion of the world. We see children growing up with the promise of becoming the next generation of loving caring leaders. These young ladies are just such people.

These two best friends, Amery and Evie, decided they wanted their birthday to matter, they didn't just wnat gifts for themselves. So instead of receiving gifts for their combined birthday party, they asked their guests to donate food and supplies for the animals at Rikki's Refuge!!

Aren't we all so lucky to have such wonderful young children take an interest and have a passion for the animals!!!

Thank you so much and Happy Birthday girls ~~ you are amazing!! Come back and visit us anytime!!

**if you or your child are interested in this kind of giving, email us at Rikki@RikkisRefuge.org for a list of items that we always need!

Plan to be at Motors and Mutts on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 11 AM – 4 PM !!!!!

Rikki's Refuge NEEDS two more volunteers to help hooman our outreach table! Is that YOU??? Contact Events@RikkisRefuge.org

Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania Virginia

6501 Dominion Raceway Ave, Thornburg, Virginia 22580

Hosted by 93.3 WFLS, the first ever Motors for Mutts is a combination doggy event and car show! Fun for the whole family, including your doggies !!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/245684099438293/ for more info !!!

"Hope to see YOU there", Wanda

Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, November 17, 2018 !

Spend a Compassionate ThanksLIVING Day with the Animals

Tour and Potluck Celebration

We celebrate the lives of our beautiful resident turkeys - we dine WITH our friends, not on our friends. Please join us!

1:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

3:00pm ~ Gather, Appetizers

4:00pm ~ Main Animal Friendly Feast

$25 Donation and/or Veg Potluck Dish

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

Titan comforts little Buddy, "It's ok Buddy, I promise, EVERYTHING they eat will be vegetarian, you'll always be safe here."

I'm sure you've been as worried about Goose as we have.

Goose and Bub the elder donkey have been inseparable the last few years since each lost their mate. And then Bub passed away silently in his sleep one night. Poor Goose grieved. He tried to bond with pony Bella. It didn't last long and Goose was rejected. Poor Goose sat on a bale of straw and grieved. He wouldn't eat. He wouldn't get up. He was so sad.

Until he met Prince the elderly horse !!!!

And just look how happy he is now !!!!

The geese have been thrilled it's been such a wet and rainy year !!!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS and RSVP TODAY for our November 22nd

Thanksgiving Day Tour and Reception

Celebrate this day of thanksgiving WITH the animals that YOU have helped save! Please join us!

12:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

2:00pm ~ Reception at the Life Center

Donations of Cat Food appreciated (not just cus Opie says so, but we go thru more cat food than food for any other species)

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

Tom says, "make YOUR Thanksgiving Day a Kind Day."

Rikki's Logo Jewelry

HUGE SALE going on RIGHT NOW ......

The perfect gift for any Rikki's Refuge lover, or anyone who loves animals !!!

Sterling Silver.

Necklaces $25 and lapel pins $20 for a limited time only.

$7.25 ships them to you, or the recipient of your gift, anywhere in the US.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Starting December 1st at Re-Tail

Everybody welcome, absolutely NO species discrimination !!!! Bring the kids, two or four or no legged, Rikki's Santa loves them all !!!!!

WHO says nobody gets a free ride ?

Join us for an Enchanted Christmas Day with the amazing animals at Rikki's Refuge!!!

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

12:00pm ~ Tour and Visit with the Animals

2:00pm ~ Reception at our Life Center

Donations of Cat Food appreciated

RSVP Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

YOU will spend Christmas with us, won't YOU?

Ben says, "Remember only YOU can support us and make sure we get fed. Double that Donation TODAY."

Thank you !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe

Hope to see YOU this holiday season !!

Keep up to date with Rikki's Refuge and check often so you never miss a fun event !!!

on the web: www.RikkisRefuge.org

facebook: www.facebook.com/RikkisRefuge/

Friday, October 05, 2018

Rikki's Refuge 20th Birthday Party

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIKKI’S REFUGE

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary

Celebrating 20 Years of Helping Animals in Need

20 Years of Love and Compassion

Family Members, Donors, Volunteers, and Sponsors are invited to join us on October 13, 2018 from noon till 4 pm at our Vincent D. Cat Memorial Life Center to celebrate our birthday and see the good work that YOU have done and visit the animals that YOU have saved !

Bring fresh fruits and vegetables to feed the horses, cows, sheep, goats and pigs (over the fence at the Life Center) as you stroll about. Mingle with the cats at the Life Center and the dogs who’ll be strolling about on leash.

Special behind the scene tours at the Refuge where many roam free for Rikki’s Family Members ONLY.

Don’t know your ID number? Want to become a Rikki’s Family Member? Just ask. BUT be sure you contact us in advance for behind the scene safety details, including ages permitted, dress code, walking distances, etc. We must keep EVERYONE safe as you interact UP CLOSE with the animals behind the scenes in a wild safari setting! E-mail Events@RikkisRefuge.org for details.

Cake Cutting at 2 pm while founder, Kerry Hilliard, speaks about the first 20 years !

Please let us know well in advance if YOU want some cake. E-mail Events@RikkisRefuge.org so we have enough for YOU !

Come celebrate with us on October 13 from noon - 4 pm

Meet the animals that you have helped us save!!

Bring BIRTHDAY GIFTS for the animals!
OR HELP THEM RIGHT NOW
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

** Funds for Medical Care

** Funds for Winter Hay

** Canned Cat Food

(pate preferred)

** Canned Dog Food

(pate preferred)

** Dry Cat Food

** Sweet Feed

** Cracked Corn

** Senior Horse Feed

** please NO dry dog food - that is the one thing we get more of than we can possibly use
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate to help them today

“When we care for every living creature on earth,

we will stand on heaven’s ground.”

Your kindness has kept the dream alive

at Rikki’s Refuge since 1998.

Thank you for your support which has made it possible !

Kerry Hilliard, founder of Rikki’s Refuge, answers ..........

Why have you chosen to do what you do?

Because I believe everyone deserves life. Everyone deserves love. Everyone deserves respect. Everyone deserves trust. Everyone deserves a home. Everyone deserves to be important, simply for who they are.

Everyone means the elderly, the differently abled be it mentally or physically, the ill, everyone, without exception, no matter how many legs they have or how long their ears are.

Over 40 years ago I first looked into the eyes of an animal that had been abandoned by everyone he loved, everyone he trusted, discarded from the only world, the only family, he had ever known, and now he knew he was about to be killed and tossed in the trash simply because there was no one else to love him, no one else who cared enough to let him live. I could see it all in his eyes.

No one should feel that kind of pain, that kind of loss, that kind of hopelessness of losing everyone, everything they love, being betrayed by the ones they so fully trusted, losing their whole world, and now their life; all because nobody cared. Trust, respect, love; these are things we, every living being on this earth, want and live for.

Absolute breach of trust is a horribly devastating thing. I knew I wanted to make those broken hearted, betrayed, untrusting, lost and scared souls find trust, love and a happy place again.

Since looking in those hurt, untrusting, unloved, abandoned eyes that day, all I’ve wanted to do with my life is see eyes like his become happy, trusting and joyful again. His eyes became the driving force in my life and what I have lived for every day ever since.

His name was Justin, and he didn’t die that day. He was a little tabby cat and instead of dying, he came home with me and shared my home for the rest of his life, a little over 16 years.

Now, more than 40 years later, there have been thousands, almost ten thousand, eyes like just like his that I have looked into and have helped to change from untrusting, sad, fearful and unloved, to trusting, happy, loving, and joyful, and I have given each one of them a home and a family to call their own.

What more can anyone want in life?

What makes Rikki’s Refuge so special?

Rikki’s Refuge, and all the humans who have made it happen, the donors, the volunteers, the staff, are very, very special. Yet they are no more special than everyone working towards the same goals everywhere. None of us can do it all. Yet we can all do enough to count. When everyone chooses to help, then together, we will do it all, and no one will be left to suffer and die for lack of love and a home.

Rikki’s Refuge is no more special than the adoption agencies who find new loving and caring homes for those abandoned and born on the street. No more special than those who rescue the abused. No more special than those who work to make speutering available to everyone. No more special than those who educate the masses.

Rikki’s Refuge is different, in that we offer a life long home and care. We are blessed to have the land, the volunteers, the donors and the staff to help us build and maintain housing and to care for everyone every day; to care for them as in feeding and cleaning and giving medications. And, just as important, to care for them as in loving and treating them all as beloved family, no matter what.

That is what sets Rikki’s Refuge apart from most other animal organizations: the ability wonderful donors and volunteers have given us to provide caring, loving, forever, life long, family environment homes to all the different creatures who inhabit our many neighborhoods; Feline Fields, Doggy Downs, Piggy Paradise, Horsey Haven, Chicken City, Ducky Digs, Goosey Gardens, Ramsey Residence, Capri Corners, Pigeon Palace .... and all the other areas designed just for the happiness and comfort of their residents.

I thank every single person who has made my dream come true and who has stood by me the last 20 years thru the good times and the hard times. May we share another wonderfully successful 20 years together at Rikki’s Refuge !!!

Your Birthday Gifts of generosity and love, give over 1200 animals a place to call home. Your kind and generous donations mean the world to them !!

_____ YES, I will be there on Oct 13th to

CELEBRATE with the animals !!!

What is YOUR favorite Birthday Gift for the animals?

_____$12.50 buys a case of cat or dog food

_____$57 gets a check up for a senior

_____$800 buys hay for one week

_____$324 feeds everyone for a day

_____$119 worms everyone for a month

_____$1297 provides total care for a day for everyone

_____$217 buys a roll of fencing
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate