Good Morning Good News !!!! June 22, 2010

Be my HERO !!!!!! VOTE EVERYDAY !!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4723787927/
Everybody can work to help us win!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Ashley did fabulous on her first day and came back for a second!!! Do
we have a keeper here???? Paws crossed !!!!!!

Jan shares a quote: "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have
exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen
Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci,
Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author
of Life's Little Instruction Book

Rene - stopped in with yummies for rabbits and goats and cinnamon rolls
and a lovely dish of beans and squash fresh out her garden for Mom!!!!!

You're my HERO! Preciate you feeding her, keeps her grubby fingers out
my Fancy Feast!!!

Sharon dropped in for a quick visit and brought 386 cans of Fancy Feast
and Produce. Num Num

Kimberly Ridpath kim_ridpath@yahoo.com and PCHS Office pchsva@gmail.com
Subject: Rocky's Clinic June 27 2010, 2-5PM
We are planning a Rocky's Clinic, to provide Low-Cost Vaccines to the
public and raise awarenesss about pet health and Spay/Neuter services we
offer. If you would like to Volunteer to help out or know someone that
the Clinic would benefit, please let us know. It is scheduled for
Sunday, June 27 from 2-5PM and an appointment is needed-Please call
540-674-0089 to schedule. -- Pulaski County Humane Society

Mom was entering stuff on the computer. She uses a voice thing to talk
to the computer. I don't get it, it won't work for me, no matter what I
say all it types is MEOW MEOW MEOW - anyway, so Mom's entering this
data, and it has dates and she's reading it off 6 slash 21 slash 10 -
and being the stupid hooman that she is, can't figure out why Snickers
keeps reaching around the computer and slapping her, with claws fully
extended!

Several folks have told me this is spectacular - I haven't been able to
see it yet - speed not high enough !!!!
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/05/24/sweet-reunion-between-a-man-and-the-gorilla-he-raised-as-a-baby/?sms_ss=email

I'm a pig today !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214230/
Oink Oink you better feed me.
VOTE now - and today - tell three friends to vote.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Mom's being mean to me. She says it's looks like a portrait not a silly
picture. Please stand up for me. Be my hero and tell me I'm sleek and
gorgeous. Well at least fluffy! Maybe if enough of you write to me and
tell me I'm PURRRRRFFFECT she won't try to be me on that D-I-E-T I've
heard her talking about.

What did you do for the Solstice????
We all celebrated and caterwallered and barked and howled and screached
and crowed !!!!! It was a chorus filled night at Rikki's!!! The
fewest hours of darkness we'll have for another year !!!!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/photogalleries/Stonehenge-photos/images/primary/1_STONEHENGE_461.jpg

Summer Solstice Dawns at Stonehenge
Thousands danced and whooped in delight as a bright early-morning sun
rose above the ancient stone circle Stonehenge, marking the summer
solstice. Unlike previous recent years, when the sunrise has been
obscured by clouds, the bright sun bathed the monument in orange and
gold today. As the sun rose, a woman climbed a rock in the circle
center and blew a horn, welcoming in the longest day of the year north
of the equator. Drums, tambourines and cheers reverberated in the
background. "It is stunning," said Stewart Dyer, a 43-year-old National
Health Service worker and dancer on his first trip to the solstice
celebration. "To actually be able to dance amongst the stones, to be
able to touch the stones, to be that close to such an ancient monument
is unbelievable." Stonehenge's origins remain a mystery, but theories
suggest the grounds were part of a huge astronomical calendar. Others
say an ancient sun worshipping culture aligned the structure with the
midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/09/stonehenge_2.jpg

Plan Ahead!!!
Get your tickets NOW for next year's Summer Solstice at Rikki's.

D'artagnan's new home
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507170/
Having a little lunch watching the World cup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507414/
Look close if you want to find him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4724507622/

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

It takes so little to be someone's hero. Keep your eyes open today.
Reach out to someone. Be their two minute hero for the day !!!!!

Who's HERO are YOU going to be today?

Love, Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 21, 2010

YOU are my HERO !!!!!! EVERYDAY !!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4720824910/
You are telling everybody to vote. We've got to work extra hard. Those
cocker spaniels are catching up. We can't let one species one breed
beat 22 species all breeds!! Get three friends to vote today.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Craig's List this morning
American Alligator 2- 2 1/2 foot long. May come with 85 gallon aquarium,
but preferably needs a larger holding device. He was previously in a 500
gallon pond that was more suitable. Serious inquiries only please, and
not all are eligible. You must have experience with related animals to
be considered. ---- anybody up to building the moat this week?

Or more seriously - have any idea where a good home would be?

Spare Newspapers? Recycle them here! We're saving bunches using them
instead of puppy pads!

Jan is Rikki's Hero of the day !!!!

Big BOO BOO I forgot to include Laurie for helping with the Richmond
Vegetarian Festival on Saturday. She came out yesterday to bring the
donations from the event.

Katarina worked all day. And if you've done heavy labor in that kind of
heat all day long non stop - you know how hard she worked. She had
several volunteers out helping too.

Dovi and Kayli came out to help and though Kayli is on the younger side
of our youths she was wonderful !!!!! And thank you Dovi for the
comcast channel Spotsylvania ads you're running for Rikki's!!!! We need
all the support we can get!

We're Half Way to our Double It Challenge !!!
The challenge runs thru the 24th so we still have time to win. We're
only about half way there - so please - be my hero and help me win!!!
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day

Cindy writes in: Good morning Vincent! Walker wanted to thank you for
mentioning his good Alumni Spokesdog work at the Richmond Vegetarian
Festival yesterday. He wants to add another 2 names to the list of
helpful volunteers who worked there!!! Laurie Karnay - who is always so
nice to me and pets me and hugs me, and another woman who lives in
Richmond and brings donations to Rikki's a few times a year. We ginned
up a lot of interest for the August Open House, July tours, and Katarina
got a list of volunteer signups!!!!

Walker was especially moved by one visitor that came yesterday. Yes,
many people stopped by to say they are "Facebook friends with Vincent".
Hm! But one girl came by and remembered me from a tour 1 or 2 years ago
from a girls school in Richmond (Grovewood? Again my dog brain doesn't
remember). The girl was all grown up so I didn't recognize her at first,
but she hugged me and told me she remembered that my story made her cry.
I remembered her too, because she was the one with grit and
determination in her eyes about wanting to stop animal abuse. She said
then that she wanted to become an Animal Cop. And I believed her! She
was fearless about going into Duke's dog run and Momma and Sonny's
(mosty people hesitate a little because they don't know if the dogs are
really friendly) She remembers Duke really well too. Well, that young
lady is now in community college and working to fulfill her dream - of
being an animal cop or animal rescuer in some capacity. She said she
wants to come volunteer and see me and Duke -- so she took my mom's cell
phone number down. It is so nice to hear how my story can motivate
people to action, even in some little way! Mom says that is why I
survived the woods after being shot -- to help change the world by
letting people see the results of animal abuse. And more importantly, to
show people that there really are second chances and happy endings!!
Rikki's has over 1200 happy endings!!! --- Love, Walker

I love Donna's outlook: When my mom was in a "home" We made sure it was
right by the house, then we could see her everyday. Since she was
senile, and would ask why we were there and we'd always say it was her
birthday, or Christmas, or St. Paddy's. It was fun to see her eyes light
up!!! Of course, we were only bringing clean socks and underwear....but
she thought they were presents!

I think of senility as a chance to be creative! Everyday is a new
beginning and we can make it be exactly what we want. She wouldn't
remember my name, or who I was, so I'd make up a name and a character.
We had lots of good laughs.

I'm a lion today !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696213934/
Roarrr you better open those cans up faster mom or I'll just eat you !!!!!
VOTE now - and today - tell three friends to vote.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Even with Toddlers, It's the Thought that Counts - A reassuring new
study finds that even in toddlers, intentions matter more than actions.

You probably get bummed if you promise something but can't come through
with it. While your child might be a little disappointed, a new study
says that even toddlers are able to recognize good intentions in others,
and will help people who've tried to help them, even if the attempt failed.

Series of experiments, 16 toddlers, 2 actresses. One actresses would
deliberately refuse to give a child a toy. The other actress would
attempt to pass the toy, but accidentally push it out of reach.

When the tables were turned and the actresses asked for the children's
help, 75 percent of them assisted the one who had tried to pass over a
toy, even though she'd been unsuccessful. None of them helped the other
actress. So even though the first actress hadn't actually helped them,
they'd realized that she was trying to do something kind, and returned
the favor anyway. The study seems to illustrate that intentions are more
powerful than actions, even for young children.

Cool Animals
http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Weird+Animals%3a+Aye-aye&FORM=RQTRAV

Statistics show that close to 80% of people who watch the Super Bowl on
television, only do so to view the commercials. ----- Is that really
possible?

Looks good about now - doesn't it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4342709520/

Pray that the cat litter packaging factory will have an extra pallet to
donate soon!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4341980865/

Is this like gorgeous, or what?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4715196914/
This print will be on auction at the July 16th Golf Tournament and
Festival. We've got lots of new fun and excitement added for the event
this year, including a live auction.
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Golf2010.html
Keep up with the added excitement here, be sure you buy your tickets in
advance, the price goes up at the door.

Funnies to smile by!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17437_1378601543678_1191085206_1120048_4783137_n.jpg

Ashley has joined the crew this morning, paws crossed that this is a
good match.

Walker says: They crossed a Bloodhound and a Labrador. The new breed is
a Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly. (Tippy!)

Girl raises thousands for Gulf birds - 'It's really crazy how many
people want my drawings'
Olivia Bouler doesn't have time for anything else these days except to
draw and paint. But that's OK for the artistic fifth-grader, because
everything she does is for the birds. The Islip, N.Y., girl, who turns
11 on Friday, has raised an estimated $80,000 by sending her sketches
and paintings of birds to people who donate to organizations helping
with relief efforts in the Gulf of Mexico spill disaster. "I do some in
the mornings and some in the afternoons, and weekends are really the
time for me get cracking at them," Olivia told msnbc.com on Thursday in
a telephone interview as she and her parents were headed to the Gulf for
a visit.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37620887/ns/us_news-giving/

Does this give anybody any ideas ???????

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

One small act of kindness will make you somebody's hero.

Who's HERO are YOU going to be today?

Love, Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 20, 2010

Send me YOUR good news everyday !!!! I love to hear from you !!!!

I'm a fish today !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214298/
That might sound good on a hot day like this EXCEPT for the fact that
I'm a cat and I hate water!!!!
VOTE now - and today - tell three friends to vote.
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

It's already warm this morning !!!! It's been cool during the week and
then blistering on the weekends!!!!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

You didn't forget Fathers Day did you? Anybody got left off your list?
How about that nice guy down the street who helps animals? Bet he'd be
honored to get a Fathers Day wish from the critters! Here's a special
for you too !!!! I've got a sponsor who'll match Fathers Day
Donations!!! RIGHT !!! Match them - up... to $1,000 !!!! AND BESTEST OF
ALL I'll send your dad - or whoever - a personal note from you - just
give me his name and email address. Love, Vincent
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day

Thank you Mariza, Katarina, Cindy and Walker for representing Rikki's at
the Richmond Vegetarian Festival yesterday.

Ron worked on the interior framing for the Quarantine Room so the studs
are in the right places for hanging the tile board.

Any brought produce out and fed the bunnies and guinea pigs.

David set poles all the way round Rabbit Rotunda II and NOBODY fell in
the wet cement !!!!

Ken & Gina brought out collected donations and adopted turtle d'Artagnan
who will now have a wonderful forever home. Poor guy was found
wondering the streets of DC, got injured, picked up by animal control,
sheltered and fortunately transferred here for healing of the shell and
one leg. The friendliest turtle I've ever met. He puts his nose out
for kisses!!

Jane & Bob brought bread for the piggies and doggies and chickens. Lots
of the doggies love bread and guard their french loaf like a bone.

Melanie tells me about Rikki's alumni now living with her - Ms.
Victoria and Casey Mae are doing great, Vicky has claimed the rocking
chair (only if it has a blanket on it) and Casey likes the air vent cool
in the summer and warm in the winter. Casey's exercise is playing cat
me if you can with Godiva and wrestling with Natasha, just one big happy
family thanks to you and Rikkis. Our family would not be complete
without Vicky and Casey. Hugs

Lisa adopted out 6 puppies yesterday to loving forever homes.

Jimmy Jet Golub Got a call from Charmi's new Mom - THEY LOVE HER and she
loves them! Meanwhile, Nelly Frittata, the cat Mom trapped the day
Charmi left, is doing great. She's sweet and gentle and loves being
inside in the lap of luxury!

check out this entertaining doggy babysitter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulyVur9WpKo&feature=player_embedded
The kid is squealing in delight, not crying. Gee and they complain
about barking dogs?

Mr. Fancy Pants - my facebook pal
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs345.snc4/41446_1473588504_9447_n.jpg

Just like Boomer and Duke! Sent in my Cindy
Blind Dog Has Her Own Seeing-Eye Dog

Ellie, a young King Charles cavalier spaniel in England, is almost
completely blind. A German shepherd named Leo has taken matters into
his own paws, and is protecting and guiding her. Ellie has cataracts on
both eyes and is only aware of shadows. Leo, who's an absolutely
massive dog, has become her eyes. It's touching to watch them together.
She follows him around and snuggles up to him.
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/06/11/blind-dog-has-her-own-seeing-eye-dog/?sms_ss=email

Some Fathers Day Wisdom
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and
get used to the idea. -- Robert A. Heinlein

What's YOUR good news?

No Discrimination at Rikki's Refuge
No matter your Age, your Size or your Species
You gotta get out there and VOTE !!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4716464181/
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
Every day thru Aug 22 - the shelter with the most total votes wins the
bucks !!!
Get three friends to vote today!!!

Caribbean Limeade
* 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
* 2/3 cup water
* 1 Tbsp sliced ginger root
* Juice from 4 limes, chilled
* 32 ounces ice cold water
Mix sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat to boiling, add ginger root, and
boil for 1 minute. Cool, then refrigerate until cold. Remove ginger root
from sugar syrup. Mix sugar syrup, fresh lime juice, and cold water.
Serve over ice.

unStir Fry http://rawon10.blogspot.com/
6 spears asparagus, chopped / 4 oz mushrooms / 2 carrots, thinly
sliced / 2 stalks celery, sliced / 6 leaves kale, chopped / 1
medium onion, chopped / 2 medium zucchini

juice of one orange / 1 inch piece ginger, grated / 1 clove garlic,
pressed / 2 tablespoons olive oil / 2 tablespoons braggs liquid
aminos / 2 tablespoons agave / 1/2 teaspoon salt / 1/4 - 1/2
teaspoon cayenne / 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Put the asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, celery, kale, and onion in a
lidded tub. Combine the orange juice, ginger, garlic, olive oil, liquid
aminos, agave, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine, or use
a bullet type blender. Pour half this marinade over the vegetables in
the tub and place the lid on. Set aside the other half of the marinade
for later. Let sit, stirring or shaking every so often, for about an
hour. Then pour onto lined dehydrator tray and dehydrate for an hour or
two, until the vegetables are slightly soft and warm.

Slice the zucchini into noodles and top with the vegetables. Dress with
the remaining marinade.

You can hear SUNNYSIDE Play !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22b7QQ_bg_8
Jim Lilly-Guitar (540) 289-5868, Betty Calvert-Bass (804) 837-2476,
Carol Phillips-Autoharp (540) 846-3522, www.sunnysidemusic.webs.com
Old Time Mountain, Classic Country and Gospel Music
2nd Friday every month: The Recreation Center 8:00 to 11:00pm
With Special Guest: Spoonman Dan Willoughby & VA State Fiddle Champion
Jimmy Delozier
213 William St., Fredericksburg 540-371-6498
6/25 Lydia Mountain Jam 7:00 to 11:00 pm Rt. 33, Stanardsville
540-289-5868
6/27 Old Settlers Museum @ Humpback Rocks 2:00 to 4:00 pm mile post 5.8
on Blue Ridge Parkway 540-943-4716

My Brofur Spider
My brofur Spider went to Rainbow Bridge very suddenly overnight. It
looks like he had a stroke. He was a great big healthy long haired black
boy. He had leukemia, but had always been very healthy. He came here
almost 6 years ago, when he was only 12 weeks old. He had the longest
gangly legs, and he skittered all over the place, up and down walls. He
was just growing in long hair and looked all prickly and scraggly and
that's why he got the name Spider. He was always full of life and loved
everything, his human visitors, his brofurs and sisfurs. He'd love to
greet new kittens and play with them his whole life. Everybody was
Spider's friend. He's the guy in Cat House #2 who'd ride shoulders.
Just the second you stepped in he'd run for you and climb up to your
shoulder and ride around rubbing your face and purring. Every now and
then he'd leap off, do racing circles around the run and then climb back
up again.

You have lots of friends at Rainbow Bridge Spider, I'm glad you had 6
years to love life.

Some of you may think this is bad new. But I think it's good news.
Spider had six wonderful years of happiness, joy and fun. He never knew
there was a thing wrong with him. Did his leukemia kill him? It
probably, at least, contributed to it. But even hoomans in their 30's
can suddenly die from something like a stroke. I don't think Spider was
ever sick a day in his life, at least never anything more than a cold.
But that blood test in a shelter, those six long years ago, when he was
just a poor little orphaned stray kitten - was a death sentence.

If you were not there making Rikki's Refuge possible, not creating this
safe haven for animals society does not consider worth saving - he'd
have been dead 6 years ago. Instead YOU saved him and YOU allowed him
to live a wonderful life of joy for all the time possible, a full six
years.

The older a cat is when he contracts leukemia the longer they usually
live with the disease. A kitten born with it often only has months or a
year or two at best to live. Six years is fabulous!!!

Was his life worth it? It cost $3,384 to house him for six years,
provide for him, feed him, give him routine preventative medications,
vitamins and supplements, lots of yummy food, canned and dry and treats
and special nums, to give him clean litter, a clean blanket, to mow his
grass and keep his house in good repair.

I think that $3,384 was very well spent!! I loved my brofur Spider,
even though I wasn't allowed to play with him (cuz I don't have
leukemia). I know he thought it was worth it!!!! He was the purfect
picture of a kitty loving life.

Live long and prosper, all my leukemia friends!!! We have donors out
there who agree that your lives are worth it!!!! No matter how long
or how short - every day is worth it.

$47 a month provides for the care of one kitty!!!! This is Good
Morning time and not nagging time, yet if you can, would you help us
care for the kitties and the doggies and the goats and the pigs ....
here. It's really difficult this month, I think lots of folks are on
vacation and have forgotten to support us. The 'lectricity goes off on
the 27th and I won't be able to write to you anymore cuz the 'puter
needs 'lectricity. http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

LOOK Mom !!! No Hands !!!!
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/06/17/funny-pictures-i-can-walk/

Ever consider what they must think of us? I mean, here we come back from
a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow.
They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -- Anne Tyler

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

A very special HAPPY Fathers day to you, no matter who you are, you're
like a father to me cuz you care about me and protect me and make sure
I'm safe, and that's what a father does, Right?
Love, Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 19, 2010

Good Morning ..... Look.... I made it !!! All the morning chores done
and the sun hasn't been up that long. Now if nobody yells Vincent DO
before I finish writing to you ..... !!

Richmond Vegetarian Festival today - Noon to 6:00 pm - Azalea Gardens at
Bryan Park
http://www.veggiefest.org/
Free Admission. Stop by our booth and meet Mariza, Katarina, Cindy and
Walker the alumni spokes dog! Me? I'll be home eating Fancy Feast.
Catch me at the Richmond Mouseatarian Festival!!!!

Peggi sent me a note: Awww Vincent, we love you! Did you know you were
the one responsible for us putting together a page for Sugar Dial, to
help promote awareness for differently abled creatures? We met you in
the Bissell contest, and was so impressed with your work, that we wanted
to do something like it in a very small way. Sugar Dial's... owner/boy,
is autistic; he has Asperger's Syndrome. Sugar teaches him how to be in
touch with feelings. So, Vincent, thank you for what you do!

Wow is that humbling. See how much you help not just me, but other
animals the world over? By supporting me in the Bissel Contest - even
though I didn't win - joy and happiness - gee just LIFE - is being
brought to others !! This is what it's all about. Single handedly it's
real hard. TOGETHER paw in hand we CAN make it HAPPEN !!!! We ARE
making it HAPPEN !!!!

OOppp ssss gotta stop and vote!! You do it too and we compare notes
when I come back ..... http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange,
VA, USA
Oh yippee I got a white tiger. That means I get to stand in the
kitchen all day and ROAR .... for Fancy Feast !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214054/ I really like
it when I get a feline of any kind!!! I feel funny stomping around all
day like an elephant!!!

White Tigers - Did you know?
This coloration is caused by a recessive gene. It's not a breed thing.
An additional genetic condition can remove most of the striping of a
white tiger, making the animal almost pure white.
Outside of India, white tigers have been prone to crossed eyes.
Siamese cats are also sometimes cross-eyed, as are some albino ferrets.
Siamese cats and albinos of every species which have been studied all
exhibit the same visual pathway abnormality found in white tigers.
Some of the white tigers born to North American lines have bulldog faces
with a snub nose. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4714221680/

Happy Birthday Louise Hilliard !!!
Yesterday was her birthday. Without her, none of us would be here. Her
beloved kitty Rikki came to her in a dream and asked her to share the
love they had shared with other homeless animals - and she bought and
donated the land that became Rikki's Refuge. She crossed the Rainbow
Bridge in 2004 to be with Rikki, after seeing her dream of love and life
given to thousands of homeless critters!!! She loved to come visit and
let us crawl all over her!!

Louise is Kerry's mom. Kerry is my mom. Kerry, really wishes her mom
was here now to see how much bigger and better you make Rikki's Refuge
every year. Kerry misses her mom and it'd makes her real happy to see
donations in her honor so Kerry can keep carrying out her mom's dream.
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

So you know the office has a loft. Snickers the evil office kitty has
claimed this as HER domain! There's a ladder and she can zip up and
down at lightning speed. Especially if she sees Lena coming. She hates
Lena. Lena cuts her claws and gives her icky worming medicine and puts
stinky flea drops on her. She hates Lena. the minute she sees Lena,
she starts snarling and growling and heads straight up her ladder.

Nobody messes with Snickers. This is what she does if you do.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4454539347/

Sam, 20 years old, has recently learned to go up and down the ladder to
the loft. Well up anyway. He does up really good. He's still a bit
awkward on the down part. Me? I don't do ladders!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4479881710/

So Sam is up in the loft snoozing. Snickers is sitting half way on the
ladder not yet decided if it's up time or down time. She spends a lot
of time just sitting on a rung of the ladder undecided. Ancient Psycho
Shadow comes in the office and mom opens a can for him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4685189111/

Hiss snarl, kaboom..clatter..clunk
Sam hears that pop top and in a flash he's coming down the ladder - to
heck with Snickers in the way - trying to bound over her, around her, he
don't care he just wants down. Snickers, caught in the middle of some
commotion she's yet to figure out what, starts bounding up the ladder.
They collide and spat and hiss and slap. But lucky nobody falls off.
And Sam gets down to take the food away from Shadow.

Things I've Learned The Hard Way, No. 3,575
No matter how tempting it looks, DON'T lick velcro.
Posted by Waldo A. Cat

Even though Ernie has leukemia, he votes every day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4714244838/
He says he'd never let a handicap come between Rikki's Refuge winning
money to care for him and his siblings and being able to offer a safe
haven to others in need.
No matter what !! YOU can vote ever day too!!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
Every day thru Aug 22 - the shelter with the most total votes wins the
bucks !!!
Get three friends to vote today!!!

Rainbow Bridge???
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs347.ash1/29504_130714486946075_100000225729967_377839_4026602_n.jpg

Fathers Day Special: http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day
Good for Double Your Donation thru June 24th, help us reach our goal.

Candy brought a load of produce and brought in the mail yesterday!! I
can't wait to see who's gonna come to visit me today !!!!

Did you get any good shots of your animals for the photo contest?
Details yesterday or ask me.

Win a boat for only $5!!!
Raffle - $5 for the tickets!! Boat and trailer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699078005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699708218/

Old Sayings I've Said, No. 91
The squeaky wheel gets the grease; the squeaky mouse gets deceased.
Posted by Waldo A. Cat

Need pickup in Aroda in early July - can you help?
John writes in: Hi. We live in Aroda, near Good Hope Baptist Church.
We're remodeling our kitchen and have a Kenmore 21 cu ft, Energy Star
(very quiet), bisque refrigerator that we want to give to charity. It
was purchased new in 2002 and is in excellent condition. If you're
interested, someone would have to pick it up the beginning of July. We
can be reached at 540-661-3275.
John and Linda Cann lcann.diabetes@gmail.com

If you can help please contact them. We're ok right now, but would feel
very comfortable and safe with a fridge in storage for the next disaster
......

Yikers! I went to send the and it was saying NO emails for Vincent!! I
thought WHAT, even though I checked late last night - well ok - early
this morning - you'd think SOMEBODY would have written!!! Opps I had to
hit refresh!!! And now I have 488 emails!! Poor mom - she's got almost
10x more than that!!!!

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

You're the bestest friends in the whole wide world !! SMILE - I love
YOU !!!
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 18, 2010

Good Morning ..... well afternoon .... I hope isn't evening before my
tired old paws finish this ... but it is morning somewhere on planet
earth !!!! Did you know it's not the same time every where all at the
same time? That's something I've learned talking to my facebook friends
all over planet earth. It can be early morning get up time here and
nighty night time where they are!! All on the same planet at the same
time!!! My friend Miss Minx has winter when we have summer!!! She
lives way down far away in Down Under Land.

I voted before I started writing this ... did you vote yet?
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
Please tell three of your friends to vote too!!! Hey, you can just
forward this to them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696213934/
I'm a lion today!!!! Rooooaaaaarrrrrr !!!!!

Yesterday was super busy too and mom fell sleep about 1:30 in the
morning still trying to listen to phone messages. There was one really
GOOD NEWS phone message!!! It was from Jan and she's offered to make
the Father's Day special a Double Your Donation Deal !!!! She's putting
up to $1,000 to match all the donations for Father's Day - even if they
are a bit late. She'll give us till 6/24 at midnight and then double
the donations - up to $1,000. Jump on this deal now !!! Fathers Day is
Sunday!!!!

Fathers Day Special: http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day
You do ONE --- we get TWO !!!!

Deloris brought us a truck full of yummy produce !!!

Katarina worked all day and had several youth volunteers out!

Bill and Karen came to play with dogs and cats and horses. Bill walks
the dogs, and brushes the horses. Karen fills in as a kitty climbing
tree! And they went out and got fly masks for the horses - oh no mom
got a great picture of Bill wearing the fly mask - can't get it posted
now - will have to do it for tomorrow!! How can a kitty have so much to
do!!! they also brought her back an icky yucky veggie sub for lunch. I
sniffed and went off to eat Fancy Feast. She said it was yummy.

Rene got the fourth and final window in the new Quarantine Building!
And she brought Mom more yucky food! Don't get what's with these
hoomans. Poor mom. Rene brought her raspberry sorbet which made my
nose wrinkle but mommey gobbled it down and about swooned from delight.
And a squash and bean concoction for dinner. While mommey was saying,
Mmmm mmmm good, I was thinking, well maybe it you topped it with a mouse
or ......

I'm sure glad there's enough Fancy Feast for me. It is really nice of
mommey to go hungry and eat the icky stuff and leave all the good things
for me. Thank you Mommey!

For those hoomans out there who need a cooking lesson!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs657.snc3/32471_135137303169952_111314825552200_374901_7340117_n.jpg

Katarina was out all day with several new youth volunteers. Interested
in the summer Youth Program?

Barbara called to say she was enjoying the closing of the day watching
the bats come out ... have counted 31 so far .....

How often do you get a second chance at life? She'd been working on
catching a mom and kittens to go to the speuter clinic and a fox showed
up. She was sure they'd been eaten. Then a guy at the feeding location
called and said they're back!!! They'd just gone into hiding!!!!
Fingers crossed she catches them tonight!

Beth is away for the weekend but she's still hard at work asking
everyone to Vote for Vincent
Don't be shy - post it EVERYWHERE!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4712085069/
We need to win money to save the animals!!!! Vote every day, in every
way, got a phone you can go to the voting site from, home computer, work
computer, vote, vote, vote. tell your pan pals - well e-mail pals these
days !!! It's for a good cause - help us win. Every day, thru August 22.

Send me YOUR picture of how you are spreading the word!!!

And while you're out there getting pictures - snap a few of your pets.
We're having a photo contest!!! It's open now - details will show up on
the web site shortly. But here's the low down. $10 to enter a photo.
Enter as often as you like, as many photos as you like, as many animals
as you like. Animals - of any species, we only discriminate against
hoomans - may be in the photo. Any number of animals may be in the
photo. You do have to have rights to the photo!!! Animals must be the
central focus of the picture. It can be your pets, wildlife or what
ever. Show us your best shots.

You can enter via e-mail by submitting your entry fee here
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php and then submitting your photo to
mail@RikkisRefuge.org - use the same e-mail address on both so we can
link them up. Please limit photos to 5 x 7 inches and 72 dpi. We might
not be able to down load anything else.

You can mail your photo or a disk to us along with your entry fee:
Rikki's Refuge Photo Contest, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960.

All entries must be in by August 3rd at midnight. Our judges will then
select their favorite 12 photos. These will go on display at the August
15th Open House and the public will pick the final winner. The top 12
will be on the web site. The winner will be displayed in full size in
Reflections. the runner ups will be there but smaller. Sorry, only so
much space!!! These 12 photos will then be turned into Rikki's Refuge
2011 downloadable calendar just for YOU - our very special hoomans who
make our lives possible!!!

So get out there and start snapping away.

Remember - this great boat is up for raffle too. $5 for the tickets!!
Boat and trailer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699078005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699708218/

Greg Allen has agreed to perform at the Golf Tournament, doing 2-3 sets
between 10 AM and 1 PM. Greg is our featured performer for this event.
He's real good too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E35dIPAq3j4

Karen shares this: this came across my dog list this morning. How
wonderful & amazing God's creatures are.

Raise your hands if you've ever heard of a therapy Alpaca. So, no hands
up, I bet. Read Holli's amazing story:
http://www.examiner.com/x-47316-Pet-Therapy-Examiner~y2010m6d11-Holli-the-miracle-alpaca

Dovie is running a new ad on cable TV in Fredericksburg for Rikki's and
it has ME in it !!!!

I'm on TV again in Prince William !!!! Getting a massage from Ms.
Virginia! Jealous ?????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rhXXbLqy0c

Stephanie shares this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINOxRxze9k

Jan write in: Good news department! Good idea! All of us in the rescue
business have plenty of sad stories that can drag us down....

Found a good loving home for my latest rescue, Hungry Jack, a real
survivor (long story) special needs cat!! AND two senior kitties whose
owner was having personal issues and ready to "dump" them now has been
given some personal help and is able to keep her old friends she's had
from their birth, and give them good care.

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

I really really love YOU!!!!
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 17, 2010

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Hmmm what a beautiful day, light breeze, cool, sun shiny !!!!

Oh my the bestest new of all !!!!! Bob reports in: Yesterday morning
I got a call from the golf pro at Cannon Ridge Golf Course asking me If
I would like to come pickup a couple of dogs!!!?? They had crossed the
river during the thunderstorm and strayed many miles before a sheriffs
deputy picked them up, took them home and gave them a bath and kept them
overnight. Great folks! After driving at a 100 mph from school out to
Cannon Ridge, I saw them outside the clubhouse kitchen eating chicken
and chilling. What an incredible relief to have them back. I can sleep
at night instead of listening for a woof outside the door. WHEW!

Rene put in the fourth and last window in the new Quarantine Building.
Katarina has wire brushed the exterior. Now we're ready for primer and
paint on the outside - and some trim around the windows!!! And
insulation inside!!! Wanna help???

Cats vs Dogs
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/06/16/funny-pictures-dog-eats-your-homework/

David came with the delivery truck that brought all the fencing supplies
for Rabbit Rotunda II - this is gonna be one fabulous professional
building !!!! I can't wait to show the pictures off to you as it goes
up!!!!

Have Real Estate needs in Richmond? Mark is your Man! Also a Sponsor
of Rikki's Refuge'e Third Annual Golf Tournament and Festival!!!
Mark Foss Brown
Foss Realty Group
"Driven To Make A Difference"
Keller Williams Realty
804-359-3677
markfossbrown.com

It's gonna be a whole day of fantastic fun for everyone. Golfers can
start the day off on the greens, for the rest of us it's visiting with
the spokes animals, vendors with wonderful things, a live auction, door
prizes, raffles and a great buffet lunch. Please let me know if you're
coming!!!! I'll save you a spot.

Reminds me of when we had the baby goats living in the cat runs and
playing up and down the slides with them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhW76BIwP4

Hang a Poster at your favorite restaurant asking everyone to Vote for
Vincent
Don't be shy - get everybody you know to vote !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4708775519/
We need to win money to save the animals!!!! Vote every day, in every
way, got a phone you can go to the voting site from, home computer, work
computer, vote, vote, vote. tell your pan pals - well e-mail pals these
days !!! It's for a good cause - help us win. Every day, thru August 22.

VOTE VOTE VOTE !!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Bolivia has banned use of animals in circuses. We should do the same in
the U.S.!!! Now they live at PAWS and have a beautiful future ahead
thanks to Bob Barker and ADI. Jorja Fox from "CSI" is the Celebrity
activist! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQrwiX78oD4

From Louann: Hurray !! One for the Bull !!!
A matador was fined after running away from a bull and leaping over the
arena wall. Christian Hernandez was arrested after Sunday's botched
bullfight at the Plaza Mexico in Mexico City, apparently for breach of
contract, local media reported. He was released after paying the fine.
There are some things you must be aware of about yourself," the
22-year-old Mexican matador said in a television interview. "I didn't
have the ability, I didn't have the balls, this is not my thing." In a
sight rarely seen in the bravado world of bullfighting, Hernandez made a
spin with his red cape at the charging bull, then ran across the ring
and leapt headlong over the wall to safety, dropping his cape in the
process. The crowd hooted in derision.

Are you hitting the road this summer with your pet?
Red Lion is a chain of more than 40 pet-friendly hotels throughout the
western United States. Pets can stay for free, and even earn points in
the Red Lion R&R Club loyalty program!

Fathers Day Special: http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/fathers-day

Mmmmm Mmmmm Good
Yummy exotic teas !!! Mommey loves these!! www.prismtea.com
Order anything from now until the end of the July 2010, and they will
donate 15% of profits to Rikki's Refuge. My facebook friend Rainbow
Diamond arranged this for us!!! Thank you Rainbow.

Tell everybody you know about this lovely delicious deal!!!!

Lovely encyclopedia of exotic teas: http://www.prismtea.com/tea-gifts.html

I'll stick with Fancy Feast but mommey would sure love some of these if
anybody wants to reward her for opening my Fancy Feast !!!!
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=ToppingChaiSugarOrganic
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=WhiteDokeJasmine
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=BlackVanilla
http://www.prismtea.com/showTea.php?id=ChaiMasala2Organic

You DID vote, right? http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Thank you for being an aminal hooman - YOU win Vincent's seal of approval.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4708939527/
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs526.ash1/30918_127451947269842_127340557280981_378481_6697995_s.jpg

Have a wonderfully beautiful day !!!!
Love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 16, 2010

Only one month till the Golf Tournament and Festival !!!! You ARE
coming, aren't you?

I think my bestest news today is that Senior Mister Peacock got caught
yesterday. The hoomans have been working and working on this. He had
something on one foot and was limping. The hoomans are really silly
trying to catch a bird. They aren't very good at sneaking up on them to
start with. And when they do, before they pounce, the bird flies away.
Now if they'd let ME have a chance to try ....

So they've been coming up with all kinds of hooman minded traps and
ideas. They did catch every other peacock. But every time they'd get
close to getting him - he'd fly to the top of the tallest building.
Once the hoomans were so silly they even got a ladder. Are you already
laughing? You know what he did? He waited until they scrambled on the
roof - and took off flying for another roof. Silly hoomans, they must a
been vegetarians before somebody invented grocery stores!!

So yesterday he walked into one of the areas rigged as a trap and Brian
snuck up and - slam - shut the door. It was a long piece of string
wrapped all around his feet and in and out of his toes. They cut it all
off. It'd been tight enough that there was a bit of swelling and a
couple cuts, but lucky it wasn't deep or bad. They cleaned it up, and
he even behaved pretty good and didn't fight too hard. He's mad, cus
he's on bed rest for a couple days just to make sure all is ok. As soon
as they let him walk he wasn't limping anymore so this is very very good
news!!!!

Post voting instructions everywhere!!
Don't be shy - get everybody you know to vote - hand out book marks with
instructions - hang posters - get a can of spray paint and head for the
highway!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4705347687/
We need to win money to save the animals!!!! Vote every day, in every
way, got a phone you can go to the voting site from, home computer, work
computer, vote, vote, vote. tell your pan pals - well e-mail pals these
days !!! It's for a good cause - help us win. Every day, thru August 22.

VOTE VOTE VOTE !!!
http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4706051218/
I'm an elephant today!! Let's see, what characteristics of an elephant
can I take on today? Did you know an elephant eats 300 pounds of
vegetation and drinks 100 gallons of water??? Even I can't keep up with
that!!

This is kind a cool !!
http://www.wildlywise.com/ele_text.htm
Check out the picture of their feet!! The x-ray actually. They walk in
their toes!!! I'd like to have a trunk! Then I could reach up on the
counter and slurp up all the food mom was making for everybody !!!!

Sisters Return $18,000 Found in Duffel
Jessica and Michelle Pientka went out for groceries earlier this week
and came home with nearly $18,000. They noticed a black bag in a
shopping cart in the parking. "I got out of the car and picked it up and
put it in my trunk." The girls bought their groceries and headed home.
There they opened the bag and discovered gym clothes, water bottles, a
wallet with Ben Huntsman's driver's license, and $17,811 in cash.
Michelle knows; she counted it.

"I was shocked," she said. "I've never seen that much money in cash."
Earlier that night, Hunstman called the Police to report a missing
duffel bag. A police statement released Thursday doesn't say whether
Huntsman missed his gym clothes or his water bottles, but he sure missed
his money. A car salesman, Huntsman hadn't had time to deposit that
day's sales, so he shoved them in a side pocket of his duffel bag.

Fortunately for Hunstman, the Pientka sisters are honest. Because the
amount of money was so great, the girls decided to call the police,
rather than Huntsman. The police contacted Huntsman and returned the money.

Gessss that was awfully nice of them. they didn't even keep any of the
money for Fancy Feast !!! What would I have done???

Looks like a nice cool overcast day! What are you doing today? Share
your news with me!

Love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 15, 2010

Did I mention that on Saturday David and friends put in the post holes
for Rabbit Rotunda II !!!! Mom saw them arrive. And - what she
thought was minutes later, but knowing how she runs around to do
something and gets distracted on something else, else it was probably
hours later - when she went to say hello they were gone! She thought,
well maybe it's so hot and miserable they're going to reschedule. Then
on Sunday she was up there where the grass is getting taller and there
was a circle of holes where the fence posts are going to go in. Now
how'd they do that so quick???

The really good news today is that the electricity is back on. It
wasn't cut off for non- payment like mom figured when everything went
out! The house didn't burn down. Most everything seems functional
again. The great big giant fuses in the main box are less than half the
price at Lowe's as they are locally. Bill walked mom thru some testing
to figure it out. Everything is working now but the water heater.
That's where they're thinking the problem started. It's warm, who needs
hot water!! Mom's got IRS and some other less expensive deadlines today
so she can worry about hot water on another day !!!

Any of you know anything about instant hot machines? We'd really like
to do that. Propane, not enough electricity here. We have a big tank
and it's a lot cheaper than electricity. When we need hot water - we
need a lot. 30something loads of laundry every day, hundreds and
hundreds of dishes, scrubbing floors - you name it and hot water does it
batter. We have a big electric tank and we run out several times a day.
Then it works keeping it hot all night when hardly any is used. It's
be so much more energy conscious to have instant hot with propane
devices. If you have any info to share let my mom know please.
Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org

Beauty is back to herself this morning and mom's sighing a big relief.
Beauty got real scared 'bout something over the weekend and has been
hiding and running after strangers and growling and even tried to attack
somebody using a hose yesterday. She'd been scared when she came, and
was getting really good with loving therapy. Getting scared on Saturday
set her back, so we're really happy to see her happy playing with the
porta potty man this morning! She almost ate the UPS man yesterday and
she's usually nice to him. Yeah Beauty, we don't never wantz you to be
scared!!

Wake up and VOTE !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4703238486/
I'm a frog today !!!! What are you?? Did you vote to get your animal
of the day??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214360/

Vote today and every day thru Aug 22. http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis
Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Dennis will take over the Central Park Fredericksburg Target pick ups.

Carl is continuing his every other week Bloom in Fredericksburg pick up.
Laura will be taking the alternate week!!!

Lots of places will give us day old produce if we have one or more
volunteers who work on the stores schedule and are able to do it on a
regular basis. Usually you have to call at a certain time on certain
days and then pick up when they ask. Like 10 am or 11 am or noon.
Usually it's mornings and usually week days. Then you have to load all
the goodies. Some can be heavy. And it can be lots. Sometimes you
have to pack it into boxes or bags. Then bring it to Rikki's. Once
here it's easy. We'll unload and we take care of getting all the
plastic and metal off and doling it out to the hungry critters.

If you can make this kind of commitment let us know. Ashburn, Stafford,
Fredericksburg, Virginia are where we have contacts. You can ask any
store near you too. Almost anything old or damaged they are throwing
out we can use. Broken bags of food. Cleaning supplies. Produce. Bread.

Beware of the Dog (from Walker)
Upon entering a small country store, a stranger noticed a sign saying
DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG! posted on the glass door. Inside a harmless old
hound dog was asleep on the floor besides the cash register. He asked
the store manager, "Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?"
"Yep, that's him," he replied. The amused stranger inquired, "That
certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world
would you post that sign?" The owner responded, "Because, before I
posted that sign, people kept tripping over him." (Walker thought of
London with that joke!!!)

Anybody coming out today? We need bleach and trash bags!!!

Love you all SO SO SO SO much !!!!

Love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 14, 2010

Yesterday was fabulous !!!!

Jan gave a wonderful tour !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699876012/

Of course me getting love and pats is the best part of any tour!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699075745/

Look at all the food donated to ME !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699076623/

And we celebrated Carolyn's 84th Birthday!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699077219/
Happy Birthday to you !!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6x2heewrI4
Birthday cake by Katarina's mom who's a professional cake maker!!! Yum
Yum Yum. Want a deliciously beautiful cake for any occasion - ask us!
Fredericksburg Va area.

Katarina worked all day long. She was as pooped out as me by night
time. Literally. Sorry about the little accident, Katarina. Thanks
for being so good natured about it and understanding that I can't help
it and didn't mean to.

Eileen came to pick up the quilt she won at the raffle !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699705566/

Rene rushed to the refrigerator rescue with a dorm fridge to save the
vaccines. This will be purrfect for the medical treatment room too!!!!

Winky's mom brought a full sized fridge out in the afternoon. And she
brought me a Winky Wion toy that we all passed around and played with.
She stayed to give love and attention to all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699680742/

Bill gave us his first royalty check for his book!!!
http://www.amazon.com/DSP-MATLAB-LabVIEW-Fundamentals-Processing/dp/1598298909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276518955&sr=8-1-catcorr

Bill and Bill brought out the boat and trailer that Dennis has donated
for us to raffle !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699078005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699708218/

Need a boat? Make me an offer! Got an outboard that works you'd like
to donate to up the ante? Tickets on sale NOW !!! $5 a ticket, raffle
drawing July 16th !!!!!
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php
Just comment that's it's for the boat raffle.

Melissa sells things on e-bay and gives us a percentage!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250651088710
You can do it to thru Mission Fish - just ask me how!

Thank you David for donating a 55 gallon aquarium so Mr Turtle and Ken
can live happily ever after!!!

Kathy tells me - On Saturday, a lovely adult, black & white cat named
Tippi got adopted by a guy who recently got divorced. As it happened,
the OCAS was doing an adoption at a pet-friendly apartment building.
Dogs were sent outside under a pavilion and cats were put inside an air
conditioned club room. (Lucky ducks who got to handle the cat adoptions,
I was outside with dogs).

The adopter had gone to the management office to pick up a package and
the manager sent him and his kids in to see the cats. As it happens,
Tippi is taking Thyroid medication (1/2 tablet once a day). As it also
happens, the guy's young daughter (maybe 3-4 years old) was born without
a Thyroid and takes daily thyroid medication too!

Although the guy had not planned to adopt a cat that day, he had been
thinking of getting a friend to keep him company now that he lives
alone. He spent some time thinking about adopting Tippi, but then drove
down to the Orange County Animal Shelter to look at kitten. Ultimately,
however, he came back and adopted Tippi!

What I didn't know at the time of the adoption was that in addition to
being a "special needs" cat, Tippi had been waiting her turn at the
shelter for a VERY long time. Turns out Saturday was Tippi's day.
Congrats to her and the Orange County Animal Shelter whose people do
their utmost to find a home for every creature entering their shelter.

A lovely little hound also found a home, and several others said they
would visit the shelter to find a friend.

Episode 2 of our TV show starts running today. Prince William County,
Virginia, USA, Comcast cable on channel 2 at 6:30 pm. It will run all
this week at 6:30. Soon as we get a disk it will go up on youtube.

I'm a pig today !!!! What are you?? Did you vote to get your animal of
the day??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696214230/
(mom snickering in the background, today and every day, you keep up at
that Fancy Feast bowl and you ARE gonna look like that!)

We're pulling ahead again thanks to you spreading the word to vote for
Rikki's Refuge!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4699714606/
Post it every where you can!!! PSAs!! on-line and in print !!!
Vote today and every day. http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge,
Orange, VA, USA

Keep up the GOOD work changing the world to be kinder to animals - and
to everybody !!!!

Love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 13, 2010

TOUR TODAY, Sunday June 13 NOON ---- gates open at 11:30 !!!!

Now look who's voting for me !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4695579265/
Vote today and every day. http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge,
Orange, VA, USA
What animal are you today? Look what I am?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4695579481/

Penny Had a pretty good day yesterday for adoptions! Got apps for 3
kittens!!!!! Thank you Patti for your wonderful blessing! It worked!!!

The Crocodile Smile will make YOU smile!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9h7VuRusdw

Celia - Who would have thought that a sanctuary for sloths exists in
Costa Rica but it apparently does. It is called Aviares del Caribe. Enjoy!
http://www.tvkim.com/watch/211/kims-picks-meet-the-sloths

Sorry folks !! That's it for today. If I try to make it longer it'll
probably be Good Night Good News today - gotta get hopping .....

Big Hug to you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4696213464/

If you got a spare fridge you can live without we need one -
vaccinations, medications, test kits - tons of $s going on ice this am !!!!

Also if you're coming out for the tour or to visit Nanny is eating ONLY
various types of lettuce, spinach, bananas and raisin bread.

Love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good New, just let me know! A couple of
you have said you only want Hairballs with out the Good News!! That's
ok! Just tell me. I'm here to make you happy, just tell me how! If
Good New don't make you happy - I could always start Bad News, but, as
you hoomans say, why reinvent the wheel - that's what you've got tv and
newspapers for !!!!!

--
Have you Voted for Rikki's Today?

Vote Right Now! We can win $s if we have the most votes by August 22,
2010 - you can vote everyday - it's FREE - get everybody you know voting!!!

Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge

JOIN THE RIKKI'S FAMILY
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Not a Rikki's Family Member? For only $45 you can join for a year and
receive your electronic subscription to HAIRBALLS and paper subscription
to REFLECTIONS

DONATE NOW save a life today
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

RIKKI'S REFUGE a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary
supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals, just like
you.

Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer
Affairs. All material in this e-mail is copyrighted and cannot be used
for any purpose other than to bring awareness of Rikki's Refuge and the
plight of unwanted animals to the public. Any monetary gain attributed
to this material must be donated to Rikki's.

Phone: 540-854-0870
Address: PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
Member: paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
CFC 77674, CVC 3163, PetsMart Charities #1377
Web page: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org
E-mail: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 12, 2010

Opps so it's Good Afternoon today !!!!! Hey, at least it's good !!!!
Good and hot and sunny again today !!!!

Don't forget tour tomorrow, Sunday June 13 NOON ---- gates open at 11:30 !!!!

No matter what species you are - get out there and VOTE for Rikki's !!!

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY Rikkis Refuge, Orange, VA, USA

Rene got the third window in the quarantine room!!

Katarina is out working with the staff today and will then help on the quarantine building.

Cindy is working at Doggy Downs.

Bob brought us all lunch !!!!! And is now working at Dogs !!!!!

Great photo from Kathy!

From Bill - A True Duck Story from San Antonio , Texas
Something really cute happened in downtown San Antonio this week. Michael R. is an accounting clerk at Frost Bank and works there in a second story office. Several weeks ago, he watched a mother duck choose the concrete awning outside his window as the unlikely place to build a nest above the sidewalk. The mallard laid ten eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks, and Monday afternoon all of her ten ducklings hatched.

Michael worried all night how the momma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Michael watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off. Office work came to a standstill as everyone gathered to watch.

The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In disbelief Michael watched as the first fuzzy newborn trustingly toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. Michael couldn't stand to watch this risky effort nine more times! He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs to the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling, near its mother, was resting in a stupor after the near-fatal fall. Michael stood out of sight under the awning-planter, ready to help.

As the second one took the plunge, Michael jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the concrete. Safe and sound, he set it down it by its momma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from that painful leap. (The momma must have sensed that Michael was trying to help her babies.)

One by one the babies continued to jump.. Each time Michael hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. At the scene the busy downtown sidewalk traffic came to a standstill.. Time after time, Michael was able to catch the remaining eight and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Michael realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had two full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs and past pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the San Antonio River , site of the famed "River Walk." The on looking office secretaries and several San Antonio police officers joined in. An empty copy-paper box was brought to collect the babies. They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them in the container.. Michael held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the San Antonio River . The mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight, all the way.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping in the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, Michael tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to the waiting mother after their adventurous ride.

All ten darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to momma. Michael said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank bookkeeper, and proudly quacking.

At last, all present and accounted for: "We're all together again. We're here! We're here!"

And here's a family portrait before they head outward to further adventures...

Like all of us in the big times of our life, they never could have made it alone without lots of helping hands. I think it gives the name of San Antonio 's famous "River Walk" a whole new meaning!

How many critters did you adopt out this weekend? Any new fosters? Where did you volunteer? What good things did you see or hear? The more good news we share the godder the planet gets !!!!!

Love,
Vincent