Rikki's Refuge

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 23, 2010 First Day of Autumn !!!

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Only 88 voting days left !!!!

My favorite music to vote by - makes me think of what money can buy !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMzW3LIkNLA
I bet you were expecting a commercial for Fancy Feast weren't you!

http://bit.ly/VoteVincent RIKKIS REFUGE ORANGE VA USA
Vote every day and tell everyone you meet about voting. You'll be
amazed, when you tell them you are voting to save lives they WANT to
help! Mom went to the dentist yesterday and she told everybody in the
office to vote. They were so excited that Rikki's Refuge was number one
in Virginia and they want to be a part of making it number one world wide!

It's Fursday! If you're furry raise your paw!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5017538490/

Welcome to Autumn! Here's Scout Gatinha in her fall getup!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5017492682/
Send me your fall fashion photo!

Last night was the autumnal equinox -- the beginning of fall -- and a
Harvest Moon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5017538784/
It was very cloudy and foggy here last night so I only was a glow from
behind the clouds. If it's clear tonight it might still be good. Be
sure to be outside when the moon rises tonight.

Moonrise here at Rikki's Refuge is 6:56 tonight.

It you're out and about, do be cautious, they say strange things happen
during a full moon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5017538712/

Perseid Meteor Shower Lights Skies With Shooting Stars - Look! Up in the
Sky! Still Sights to Behold Ahead
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/perseid-meteor-shower-best-time-watch-shooting-stars/story?id=11394215
This video of a Meteor Shower is really worth seeing! I've sure never
seen anything like that or even imagined it could be. Is that what was
going on here last night that sounded like thunder and looked like
lightening but had no rain?

Jan Sinnott has Good news....a slightly unstable client of my vet
decided to euthanize her cat rather than treat its non-terminal
condition (urinary stones)...but was willing to relinquish ownership to
me on the spot. SOOO Abby is now treated and recovering and I have my
first ever "orange" kitty!

YEAH YEAH YEAH Jan, you are wonderful!!!!

Jan also reports, Other good news: At my vet's office there is now a
"Guardian Angel" fund for clients who just can't afford to treat an
animal with a serious need and not terminal. So more little lives are
saved from suffering or euthanasia.

This is something Rikki's Refuge hopes to have enough funding to do in
the future. There is so much that can be done to help so many animals,
non-human and human alike, and all we need to that unlimited source of
funds! That's it. Then so much good can happen!

Well I gotta get back to work!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5017538760/

With all my love,
Vincent

PS If you don't want your Daily Good News, 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 !!!!!

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

I'd like to thank the sponsors of the contest; Pet Finders a wonderful
resource for helping us locating the perfect forever home for many of
our cats and dogs; and The Animal Rescue Site, where a click a day helps
feed shelter pets.

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. Only 4% of our income is spent on
fundraising and management, 96% is spent directly on the animals you
love. 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

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 22, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Only 89 voting days left !!!!

Go to my web site www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the $100,000 then
enter "RIKKIS REFUGE" in "ORANGE" in "VA" in the "USA" then click on
"search", then "vote" then for verification, identify your animal of the
day and click "confirm vote". That's it. Vote every day to help us win
our share of that $100,000 !!! AND if you'd like, you can set it up
so The Animal Rescue Site sends you a daily reminder to vote!!!

Remember vote every day! The rules allow you to vote once on each
computer, at home, at work, at the internet cafe, at the library, at
school, on your notebook and on your phone. Teach everybody at school
and at work how to vote too!!! This is really important!!! If you help
me win world wide I'm gonna throw the best party you've ever seen and
you're invited!

I know some hoomans who call Wednesday, humpday! Wonder what these guys
call it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RJJQx0X15Q

I told you about the painting of Zach that's up for auction yesterday
and I did a boo boo. I didn't tell you HOW to bid.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5011903173/
If you're a facebook person you can do it here.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=376629&id=126592364031336&ref=notif&notif_t=like
and if you're not you can tell me and I'll do it for you. Winning
payment will be thru paypal.

It got really windy last night for a bit and the trees were throwing
walnuts at the house. That was a scary noise!!! It's warmer this
morning than it was yesterday morning!! It's really getting to be fall
time. Lots of leaves are changing!!!

I think this is really neat!!! Wonder how well a newspaper house would
hold up to kitties!!!!
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5ieQsE/greenopolis.com/goblog/litegreen/house-made-newspaper-lasts-88-years/r:f
I wonder how many kitty doors we'd have?

Fireman rescues cat, adopts him later !!! There is a Chinese Proverb
that says if you save a life, you are responsible for it forever.

Cats may have nine lives, but a feline in Georgia was spared two of
them, thanks to the help of firefighter Jim Cadenhead. The 29-year-old
was dispatched in June to help a cat that had fallen down a well,
according to PeoplePets.com. After saving the feline, Cadenhead took him
to the local animal shelter. However, after a few weeks, the father of
two girls started getting calls from local animal rescue groups. One
woman in particular got his interest. "She told me a lot of people were
following the story, and wondering what would happen to the cat. It got
me thinking," he told the news outlet. After talking it over with his
family, Cadenhead decided to adopt the cat, now named Max. He most
probably saved the animal from being put down. It looks like Jim and
his daughters, Kelsey, 10, and Sarah, 11, are loving their new addition
to the family. "He's the first cat I've had since I was a child,"
Cadenhead told the news source.

Sorry about the initial commercial but this is a cute doggy! Yes you
heard that from a cat!
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/dog-gets-money-from-atm/ufrbye1s?rs=dog&from=en-us_msnhp&form=msnhed&gt1=42007

Teacup pigs a trendy, but not ideal, pet
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5013955687/

Every time a new designer pet comes on the market there's a collective
groan from animal rescuers who know where most of them will be in a few
short months.

Maybe it's childhood memories of "Charlotte's Web," or perhaps it's
because the intelligent animals love to interact with people, but many
hoomans can't help but find pigs endearing. So, when it was announced
that there was a teeny-tiny version of everyone's favorite barnyard
animal available, it sparked a pet trend that swept the U.S. and the
U.K. Though teacup pigs have become a popular pet for celebrities and
animal lovers alike, in recent weeks they have also become a
controversial topic of discussion among animal rights activists.

When celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham and "Harry Potter" star
Rupert Grint began scooping up these smaller-than-pint-sized versions of
potbellied pigs, many people followed suit. However, some animal experts
have come forward to say that teacup pigs are actually more of a
marketing ploy, not a convenient pet.

"It gives people an image of a very small pig - they will not stay
small," Yvonne McIntosh, the manager at Best Friends Animal Society, a
Utah sanctuary, told the Metro. "It takes them five years to reach
mature size." Because many homeowners are not prepared to take care of
and house a full-grown pig, experts fear that when the pigs begin to
grow they will be dumped or given to animal rescue centers. The
designer swine cost upwards of $1,000 each yet still end up in the local
pound!

Are you gonna come play with me this weekend?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5004075351/

Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 21, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Only 90 voting days left !!!! Remember you can, and need to, vote
every day and the rules allow you to vote once on each computer, at
home, at work, at the internet cafe, at the library, at school, on your
notebook and on your phone. Teach everybody at school and at work how
to vote too!!! This is really important!!! If you help me win world
wide I'm gonna throw the best

TO vote go to my web site www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the $100,000
then enter "RIKKIS REFUGE" in "ORANGE" in "VA" in the "USA" then click
on "search", then "vote" then for verification, identify your animal of
the day and click "confirm vote". That's it. Vote every day to help us
win our share of that $100,000 !!! AND if you'd like, you can set it
up so The Animal Rescue Site sends you a daily reminder to vote!!!

I don't get it. Mom says she's having a bad hare day but she seems mad
at us pussy cats not at the rabbits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4694098599/
She made a cup of coffee to have while she fixed breakfast for us.
Angus like to help fix breakfast too. Today he decided to try her
coffee. He liked it so she was letting him drink some. It was actually
warm soy milk with coffee and vanilla in it. Angus said yum and was
slurping away. He had his head down in the cup when Louie (remember
Louie from a few months back who was so horribly sick with a blocked
bladder?) smacked Angus on the head so he could see what Angus was
pigging out on. Angus jerked his head up and the coffee went spilling
all over. Really all over. Mom cleaned it up and said, well Angus, you
can explain to everybody why their breakfast is going to be late, cuz
I'm not starting till I go get another cup of coffee.

She only had one cup of soy milk left and she made coffee. She could of
just licked tuna juice if she'd gone ahead and made our breakfast, but
no, the hooman had to have coffee. She came back and surveyed the room
and put the coffee up on a high shelf so Angus wouldn't get it.

She started doing what hoomans are made to do - using her opposable
thumbs to crank that can opener and get breakfast ready. Angus was
wired from the coffee he'd drunk. Doesn't do that good for mom. I've
never seen her leap about and climb the shelves. Yup, that's what Angus
did, climb up the shelves right to where the coffee was and jump with
one foot right in the cup.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4884950299/

Uh Oh this is when mommey started to get mad. Then poor Bobbin howled
and - soaked in coffee and dripping - started running and jumping on top
of the fridge and all over the room. Luckily the coffee was only warm
so Bobbin didn't get hurt. But he did get scared. Terrified in fact.
Mommey caught him and had to give him a bath. Bobbin doesn't like
baths. Mommey was bandaging her arm when she heard somebody really
howling a distress meow.

Grannie was out in the Day Room and apparently couldn't get in thru the
wind tunnel and had her hands up on top of it and was really screaming.
It was dark out and mommey is a hooman so she can't see good in the
dark but it sure looked like Grannie was in serious distress, maybe had
her hands stuck in something.

Mommey started to run out to get her and noticed BJ wasn't around. BJ
wasn't feeling good last night, he had the runs, but no other symptoms.
Mommey is always worried about him cuz he was born with problems. So
then mom looks around frantically and thinks, oh no BJ is really sick
and stuck in the wind tunnel (that's this maze thing that goes from the
kitty doors in the 9th Live Center out to the Day Rooms to keep the wind
from blowing in) and she looks, but can't see him - or anything - from
inside.

So mommey runs out to save Grannie. Turns out Grannie was fine but
wouldn't go thru the wind tunnel for some reason. So mom carried her
in. She has no teeth and has to eat canned for breakfast so she had to
be in. Well Grannie freaked out and scratched mom up. She got away and
went back to screaming at the wind tunnel. Mom grabbed her again and
held on tight. Usually Grannie is really nice and would never scratch
and knows hoe to go in and out to the Day Room. I don't know why she
was upset this morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4727225486/

As mom tried to open the door to get out the Day Room - hoomans have to
use the back door cuz they can't fit in our wind tunnel or thru the
kitty door - Baby Siam (a big red point biter) got out into the
ante-pen. Mom couldn't catch him while she was holding screaming
wiggling scratching Grannie, so she left him there - it's safe, it's the
airlock from the Day Room to the outside world. Just about the time
mommey walked past a bunch of sleeping dogs - and she was trying to let
them sleep - Tippy woke up and let out a woof that started all the dogs
going woof woof woof.

This really scared Grannie and that's when she clawed up mommey's chest
and neck. Struggling to get the door open to the 9th Life Center and
hang on to Grannie gave Anibus a great out - and he bolted out. He's
not allowed out. He needs treatment 2x a day so mommey makes him stay
in the 9th Life Center so he's sure to be there to get them. Once
Grannie was safely inside, mommey went out to look for Anibus. It's
really too bad she's just a hooman cuz she was making all kinds of
noises about finding black cats in the pitch dark. The flash light was
barely working cuz she forgot to plug it in last night. She's forever
forgetting this and not remembering to do that. I should trade her in
at the pound and get a fresher younger model.

Finally she got Anibus and brought him in. Then mommey washed up her
scratches from Grannie. She's very careless about herself and is
always running around with scratch and bite wounds. Next she had to
seek for BJ. She was so scared and worried about him. He's always in
the 9th Life Center in dark and always meowing for breakfast first thing
in the morning and he was no where to be seen. She searched to center
and then figured he must be out in the Day Room. She went out, made a
mental note to collect Baby Siam back out of the ante-pen before anybody
got in for work, and began to search. We have lots of cubbies and
little houses to hang out in. So she was going look here, look there,
BJ BJ where are you?

Finally she looked in one house and there he was. Just sitting there.
The only cat out in the Day Room. It was really cold this morning -
in the 40's. He felt cold and she was worried maybe his body temp was
low. She brought him inside and he didn't try to climb up on her
shoulder or purr. She set him up in a cage. His body temp is normal
and he ate a jar of warmed up baby food. He's got to stay in the
hospital cage for observation today.

So mommey finally got back in the kitchen and back to fixing breakfast.
Angus and Louie had knocked over all the cans mommey had already
opened and everybody in the safe zone was chowing down. That's when
mommey slipped in a puddle of coffee and remembered that mess she had to
clean up. She said something stoopid about wishing the fall had knocked
her out so she could get some more sleep even if it was in a puddle of
coffee and cat food. We all began to howl even louder in protest about
having to wait even longer for breakfast.

She said cuz it was cats who made this mess we could just sign for our
breakfast for as long as it took her to clean it up. She can be a very
inconsiderate at time. Very rude, don't you think?

The Good News is that finally, finally after like three rolls of paper
towels, she got back to her original job of getting breakfast on the
platters and handed out. Yum Yum Yum it was so good to finally get to
eat. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4902394366/

So I've been trying to get this out to you all for hours now. Several
hours. Nothing is working right on this puter. I hope I just fixed
mommey's puter. It started running really slow. I mean so slow. I found
this thing called PremierOpinions running and eating up all the
resources. It was in the start up stuff and I'd never seen it before. I
looked it up on google and it looks like it's a bad thing, spyware.
Sometimes it's called pmropn.exe, pmropn64.exe and pmservice.exe too.
I've uninstalled it and hope it stays that way. So if youz running slow
......

Another puter warning - lots of email going out, sometimes look like
they come from friends and there's nothing but a link, watch out, they
are bad things. Not really from your friends, they just got that
address. And I'm seeing another one today trying to trick me, but this
is one smart kitty. It's an email from somebody who says something
like, see the attached invoice, I'm forwarding the info, your report is
here and then there's a link or an attachment - bad, bad, bad.

You stay safe and have good puter driving!!!

So I saw the doc yesterday. Boo. The swelling in my ears is down and now
they can see the polyp that's making me snot. I don't get it, ones my
ear the others my nose but that's what the hoomans said. It's too deep
and too small for surgery now so I'll be getting - oh joy for joy - meds
to manage it for now. Hope they make it go away. In the mean time,
forgive me please if I sneeze! Like isn't this great, sometimes I poop
on my friends by accident and now I might snot on them too. Will you
still love me?

I'm looking deep into my crystal ball
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000683975/

and I'm seeing some hoomans getting bit if I have to keep taking meds!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/2389346681

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5011903211/
Hey Walker! I have a really good idea for you while we're at the
Vegetarian Festival in Charlottesville on Saturday
http://www.cvillevegfest.org/

Can you learn to do this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5004031975/

This lovely Painting of Zach is up for auction. Winky's mom really wants
it and we're tag team bidding for "Team Shannon", if you'd like to add
to the bidding so Winky and her mom win that'd be awesome!!!! Or if you
want to outbid us and have this wonderful painting for yourself! 35% of
your bid will benefit Rikki's Refuge too!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5011903173/

Gilda Cellini: One of my cerebellar Hypoplasia kittens was adopted
today. Drexel, the gray and white kitty, is on a trial visit to see how
he does. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for him. Darby and Devon,
the two black/whites still need homes.

Yippee it's so wonderful to hear of special needs kitties and doggies
getting homes!!! It's so wonderful to think that we're becoming
socially acceptable!!!!

It's getting time to raise funds for the Pana Guatemala Speuter Clinic
that Dr Vargas will head up in December. She's asking for volunteers to
help with a Dog Wash and Car Wash on Sunday at her office in Culpeper.
If you can help, please call her 540-829-9085 and let them know.

Remember to be somebody's HERO today. Any act of kindness, no matter
how small, is very special.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5011903251/

Thank you my best friends, thank you!!!
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 !!!!!

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 20, 2010 FIRST day of VOTING

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Day 1 with 91 voting days !!!! Get 91 friends voting today. They have
all new bigger and better animal pictures. I'm a zebra today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4695579481/
Remember to tell me what YOU are!! Some of my friends have gotten
penguines, ladybugs and goats - all new since last contest!!!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs
or http://bit.ly/bDLKJY or www.RikkisRefuge.org and click on the
$100,000 - No matter how you get there you'll want to enter Rikkis
Refuge in VA. That's it!! Click search, then vote and then identify
your animal of the day !!!!! The rules are once per computer, so you
can vote from home and from work and from your phone!!!!

Thanks to those of you on top of it, we're already at 78% of Virginia
and in the lead by far. We're 9th planet wide at 2% of all the votes -
vote vote vote - friends vote - family votes - tell every one at your
Monday morning meetings to vote!!! Let's prove we can be number one on
the planet!

I've got some of the happiest new ever!!!! Thanks to you for
supporting Gibson thru all his surgeries and thru a year and a half of
care --- he's totally cured !!!! He's now ready to start life as a
brand new happy kitty. He moved from confined quarters yesterday into
the 9th Life Center for occupational therapy and to get used to being a
cat again !!! And he's happy.

He's so happy he's Happy Dancing and can't stop!
Gibson !!! LIVE and in Catson doing the Happy Dance !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cqvwXhUyw

After almost a year and a half of confinement, healing from traumatic
wounds, Gibson tastes freedom at last!

In February of 2009, Gibson was out for a stroll on a dark and starry
night. He stumbled onto a pile of garbage while looking for something
to eat. While digging thru the trash he got caught up in a monofilament
onion bag. It grabbed first one leg, and as he tried to struggle free,
it grabbed his other front leg and then wrapped around his neck. He
rolled and kicked and fought, and it only wound tighter. So tight he
could hardly walk. So tight he could hardly breathe. It was cutting
deeply into his armpits and across his chest. He thought the monster
would win and he'd die alone.

He was hungry, skinny, he'd been on the streets trying to survive for
awhile. He smelled tuna. Tuna? Tuna! There was a nearby trap where a
feral colony was undergoing TNR. Maybe the feral colony is why his
hoomans chose this place to dump him. It happens to house kitties a
lot. Their hoomans don't want them anymore and dump them where they see
other cats. But house kitties don't have street smarts, they don't
speak feral, and they often die when dumped.

But Gibson's story, though pretty dire now, was going to end on a very,
very happy note. It was just going to take another year and a half.

He drug himself to that tuna baited trap, hoping to have just one last
meal before this monster wrapped around him either strangled the life
out of him or cut deeply enough for him to bleed to death. WHAM ... he
was trapped. This only added to his fright. He rolled that trap, he
fought the monster wrapped around him, and now this giant metal monster.
Soon parts of the onion bag became entangled in the trap, causing it
to cut deeper and deeper under his arms and across his chest.

In the morning - I hope it was just the next morning - a hooman came to
check the traps and found a blood soaked badly damaged cat. He
certainly looked dead. As she stared in horror, he lifted his head
enough to hiss and let her know he was still alive. But certainly not a
patient for a Speuter Clinic. She took him to the local pound. Gibson
used his last strength to hiss and snarl and try to lash out at the
hoomans, who he didn't understand were now there to help him.

He had to be anesthetized before he could be untangled from the trap.
It took surgery to cut the strings of that onion bag out. Deep, deep
wounds under his armpits. Crisscrosses on his chest cut almost to the
ribs, over and over. Cuts between his fingers where he'd entangled his
paws trying to escape the onion bag. Thankfully the cuts on his neck
were not as deep, or he wouldn't be here today to tell his story. It
took hours of surgery to cut out all the string and stitch him back
together. The surgery didn't even begin to address his bashed nose,
swollen face, torn nails, where he'd slammed into the cage walls trying
to free himself.

In the morning when the staff arrived they found a frantic cat;
screaming, lashing out, howling, snarling and throwing himself against
the cage door. They realized they would not be able to care for him.
Wounds like this require frequent handling and care to heal properly.
He needed antibiotics and pain meds. When they tried to put the meds in
food, he slapped the bowl away. He was totally terrified. He must be
feral. And they needed the "feral people" over at Rikki's Refuge.

Soon Gibson was screaming and trying to tear out of our hospital cage.
It was so hard to hold him still enough to dress his wounds without
causing further damage or ripping out some of the hundreds of stitches
he had. But at Rikki's Refuge the hoomans do what ever they have to, to
save somebody's life. They get bit, they get scratched, and they are so
happy when they see a happy, healthy, healed patient.

He'd already ripped out some stitches under his arm before he got to
Rikki's Refuge. Soon the other armpit had a raw hole too. As he began
to heal, he began to calm down. A couple weeks went by and the hoomans
learned he wasn't a feral kitty afterall. He was a terribly frightened,
hurt, but friendly kitty. Someday he would purr again. And when that
day finally came, every hooman at Rikki's Refuge held him and sobbed
into his fur.

Weeks went by, then months. He had another surgery, then another. His
chest healed up. His neck healed up. The arms and feet healed. But
those dawg gone armpits were real problems. He'd have another surgery
to close them. And he'd stretch and rip it open. He had to be kept
confined in a small area where he couldn't climb, because climbing he
loved, and he'd reach way up and stretch his arms out full length, and
rip his delicate new skin.

Have you ever tried dressing the armpits of an angry kitty? It's not an
easy job! And bandages can't be left on. If they're tight enough to
hold, then when he'd move, they'd cut into his tender healing flesh.

It was a very long slow process. Three steps forward, one back. He was
in a cage or being held for almost a year before he was healed enough to
start getting about. Still, he had to stay in a relatively small area.
Now he began some normal stretching. And a tender spot would open up.
Physical therapy was started to keep the skin stretched out during the
final healing. At first that was painful since the scar tissue was so
tight. Eventually physical therapy time grew into a fun belly rubbing
stretching purring time.

And today, after almost a year and a half, Gibson knows freedom! He'll
be living in the 9th Live Assisted Living Section while he gets used to
doing normal kitty things again. He no longer needs physical therapy,
but he will be receiving occupational therapy!

Climbing the shelves was his first activity of choice!

For a year and a half, Gibson had not been allowed to climb! Now he can
explore the tippy tops of everything!!!

And thru it all, he never forgot the Happy Dance!!!

Here's Gibson, just a few minutes after his climb to the top !!!!

Translated and written by Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Kitty of
Rikki's Refuge, no-kill, life-care, multi-species, peaceful sanctuary.
www.RikkisRefuge.org If it warms your heart to know that kitties like
Gibson have a place to go, please make a donation so we can continue to
do our work. http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Thank you my HEROES, another life saved, because YOU cared !!
Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 19, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Isn't this nice!!!!
Author of book about blind cat makes donation to NC shelter that rescues
sightless felines
An author who wrote a book about her experiences with a blind cat is
donating $10,000 to a North Carolina animal shelter dedicated to taking
care of sightless felines. Gwen Cooper on Saturday visited the Blind
Cat Rescue and Sanctuary in Saint Pauls — a small town between
Fayetteville and Lumberton. Cooper's second book, "Homer's Odyssey: A
Fearless Feline Tale," is a memoir of life with her eyeless cat.
Shelter director Alana Miller says in a statement that Cooper has become
an advocate for special needs pets. Miller says many people have chosen
to adopt a blind cat after reading Cooper's book.

It's so wonderful to see how us differently abled critters are finally
getting the positive attention we deserve!!! Yippee. Happy Dance.

And starting tomorrow we're gonna prove to the world that together we
can show 'em Differently Abled deserves to be number one and that
Rikki's Refuge ROCKS !!!

You ready to vote??? Don't miss a day. You'll have 91 voting days to
make your statement!! Rikki's Refuge is doing great work and deserves
the funding to do more!!!

Till we know for sure - use the old Animal Rescue Site links we had,
check our web site or theirs!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs
or http://bit.ly/bDLKJY

I'm so excited. Next Saturday is the Charlottesville Vegetarian
Festival!!! And I get to go !!!! Yippee, I love going out to parties
and fairs !!!! http://www.cvillevegfest.org/ Their philosophy is
making the world a more compassionate place and that's just exactly what
I believe in!!

It's so much more fun and happy to be compassionate and kind. I makes
me happy. And I want to make you happy!!! I hope you'll come see me
there!!!

Would this be cool at Rikki's?? Make great photo ops, huh?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5004031847/

Oh my gosh Cindy !!!! Mom and me went in the cat trailer and counted
ALL them cases of cat food when we got home!!! WOW !!! Love you!!!
Thank you for taking care of the dawgies yesterday!!!!

You should see Rabbit Rotunda II going up!! And Christine & David came
back today to work more on the roof and they brought a whole van full of
goodies!!!! Thank you!!!

Winging Cat Rescue sent cases of Fancy Feast Appetizers!!! Num Num Num.

This weather is so lovely, I think I'm gonna go out and sun for a bit!!

See you tomorrow - when we get to start voting!!!

Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!! September 17, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Two more days. Counting. Two more days. I like it when the numbers
are small cuz I can count them on my fingers. I hate it when I have to
bend over to count four more on my toes! We can start voting Monday!!!
Yippee. Let's win most number of votes for the first week. That'll
get us $1,000 quick like !!!!!

The contest is over December 19th. So we've got to vote every day for
..... oh my gosh, Sam get over here I need your fingers and toes,
Tabitha help, hold still Snickers, Trav, Shadow just hold out one paw
....... 91 toes I mean 91 days.

You can do that!! Can't you? Please make the commitment to vote every
day, starting Monday, for 91 days. And if you get 91 friends doing it
too I know we'll win.

Yippee!!!! Testing it out today it looks like the same links are gonna
work, but I'm not sure. When you try Monday

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs

http://bit.ly/bDLKJY

Make sure it looks like the new contest and doesn't still say voting
ends August 22rd!

We are gonna win. And you know why we are gonna win? Cuz YOU are my
HERO and you're gonna make it happen!!!

Bald eagle rescued from power lines. A young bald eagle was hanging by
its wing from a power line when workers below noticed and initiated an
impromptu animal rescue. Workers Phil Morris, Chris Kehoe and Donnie
Philpott were working on the ground when they saw the young bird hanging
by the tip of its wing after it had become trapped on a transmission
tower line.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000683053/

Morris called local wildlife officer Ellis Bartlett to ask how the three
men should go about rescuing the animal. They climbed 60 feet up in the
steel tower, untangled the eagle and then slowly ushered it into a
crate. "We don't do many rescues in our job," Morris told the news
source. "But it felt pretty good to do what we did." The eagle was
treated by the animal care unit of Salmonier Nature Park and has been on
a food diet. Officials say that once it is fully recovered it will
either remain at the park for educational purposes or could be sent to
another park or zoo.

According to the American Bald Eagle Foundation, the animals don't
develop their signature white feathers on their head and tail until they
are five years old.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997016477/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmzgkMsf_GQ

Great Auction items for True Blue Rescue
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000290190170&v=wall&story_fbid=151284921572724#!/album.php?aid=37923&id=135155029829110&ref=mf

Cat Comes Home After 6 Month, 60 Mile Adventure
Next month, Bob the cat will turn one year old -- and what an
adventurous first year it's been.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000807525/

Bob was just six months old when he disappeared from his home in
Northampton, in central England. His family was distressed by his
disappearance -- especially four-year-old Joshua. "Bob had been a
Christmas present to the whole family. We put posters everywhere, we
asked neighbors, we phoned the company we had him micro-chipped with,
but heard nothing."

As the months passed, the Dalton family lost hope that they'd ever see
Bob again. They even got rid of his things. And then, last week, the
phone rang. Bob had turned up in the small village of
Stanford-in-the-Vale, some 60 miles away. How the little kitten made the
trek remains a mystery. Somehow, he showed up on the doorstep of a woman
in Stanford-in-the-Vale, who took him in. After a few months, she
brought him to the vet for a checkup. There, his microchip was discovered.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000807459/

While the woman who cared for Bob was reportedly sad to see him go, the
Dalton family was overjoyed to bring Bob home again. "He is the same old
Bob, still a little bit crazy, only when he left he was a kitten and now
he is a full-grown cat about to have his first birthday in October."

YOU have put October 23rd on your calendar, haven't you?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000683975/
It's the October Fall Furr Festival and I've got a job!! I'm gonna be
the fortune teller for the day. You bring me Fancy Feast and I tell
your fortune. Hmmm youz not git bit today cuz you feeded me !!!!
Melissa came out yesterday and we had a cool photo shoot !!!!! She made
my costume too!!!!

Candy comed out with a whole great big truck of produce and bread and
made the aminals all happy!!! Nanny loves the raisin bread Candy brings.

We got interrupted cuz mommey had an interesting visitor. They came
back in the office so mommey could give him some info and he told her
bout a great recipe for squirrel gravy!! No kidding. I thoughts it
sounded kinda yum, squirrel gravy over fish heads in jelly Fancy Feast,
but I thought mommey was gonna gack hairball!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/5000683009/
Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hairballs and Happy Tails - Rikki's Refuge Newsletter a

RIKKI'S REFUGE - HAIRBALLS AND HAPPY TAILS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4654847890/
The newsletter of thanks from grateful animals to their beloved rescuers
brought to you by Vincent D. Cat

We are the happy animals of Rikki's Refuge who so thank you for giving
us the gift of our lives. We represent all the animals, the world over,
whose lives have been saved by kind and loving people just like you.
Thank you for being an animal rescuer.

My friends, I was in the hospital last week. I have to go back in for a
check up Monday. And I'll be needed at least a couple more check ups
and some lab work. I'm having a real hard time covering my bills.
Could you please help me? I'd appreciate it very very much.
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/can-you-spare-a-dime-my-friend

FRIDAY, EVERY FRIDAY http://www.freekibblekat.com/giveaway.asp
On Fridays, simply email Giveaway@freekibble.com with the words "Shelter
Giveaway" and you're entered into the contest! A winner will be chosen
at random every Saturday for a $50 PetCo gift card. Lots of Fancy Feast
for $50 !!!!

Fall is really here. The leaves are turning. It's getting cool at
night. And we're eating more food. Please bring canned dog food and
dry cat food this weekend. We also need laundry detergent, nice
smelling floor cleaning stuff and a few scrub brushes.

Want more space in your garage or basement? Got an old chest freezer
you aren't using? We need one. If you haven't used yours for awhile,
plug it in for a day or two before bringing it out to make sure it
works! If you don't have one you don't need and you can donate would
you check around at second hand stores and see if you can find one for
less than $100 so mommey can buy it. Thanks so much.

The next Shelter Challenge starts September 20th - get ready to VOTE.
Judith be ready to get that $100,000 banner and link up on the web site!!!

NOW - October 30 - Enter your Craft for a Cause and help Rikki's Refuge
JoAnn Fabrics is having a contest called "Craft for a Cause." Make any
item using supplies purchased at Joann Fabrics, photograph it, and enter
it online.
http://joannfabricandcraftstores.blogspot.com/2010/08/twice-as-nice-to-craft-for-cause.html

September 17th, Friday, all day, Culpeper, Chili's Restaurant, Dining
for Dollars
You must take our flyer, you can download it from the web page
www.RikkisRefuge.org 10-20% of your ticket will be donated to Rikki's
Refuge. EAT !!!! Great day to take a friend out. The more people
eating with a flyer, the more money for Rikki's!

September 25th, Saturday, 11 am - 4 pm - Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival
lots of fun and good food, meet Vincent and visit our booth.
http://www.cvillevegfest.org/

October 23rd, Saturday, noon - 5 pm - Fall Furr Fest at Rikki's
rain date 10/25
Meet Vincent the Fortune Teller (bring can of Fancy Feast if you want a
long life line)
Scarecrow Competition, Pie Walks, Cornhole Tournament, Game Booths,
Craft Tables, Face Painting, Visit all of Rikki's Animals, Tickets go on
sale Sept 1st, Admission $3 pre sale, $5 at the door, game tickets one
can of cat food or 50 cents. info? Katarina Galvin katarinagalvin@yahoo.com

October 23rd, Saturday, 5 - 8 pm - Haunted Forest at Rikki's
October 31st, Sunday, noon, Tour the Refuge
November 13th, Saturday, noon, Tour the Refuge
November 13th, Saturday, 2 pm, Nature Hike at the Refuge
December 25th, Sunday, noon, Tour the Refuge

See www.RikkisRefuge.org for additional details about events.

I was feeling well enough that I got to go to the National Capital Cat
show last weekend!!! I love getting to go out and meet my friends and
fans and have fun. Some kitties think it's scary to travel. But I love
it. I have a car seat that I can sit next to mommey (she won't let me
drive in the big city) and I watch out the window. I love to meow at
passing cars and when we're going slow I can meow at doggies and
kitties!!!

Everything is bigger in the city. Big cars, big busses, big roads, big
houses, and so much cars and people and oh my so many everything in such
a small space. It's fun to visit but I think I like living in the
country where I have lots and lots of room!!!!

The very first excitement at the show was meeting Jessie. I was having
breakfast while my road crew was setting up when suddenly a scream went
up, "Cat Loose!". Uh Oh Jessie had made a break for it. He went this
way and that way and under one table and out another. Mom and Candy
said, "everybody hold still", and they circled round and mom pounced and
caught him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997854054/

His mommey was real glad to get him back. She told us he's famous and
gonna be on the October cover of Cat Fancy. I think I should be on Cat
Fancy, don't you? I think if all of you wrote to Cat Fancy and asked
them to interview me maybe they'd put me on the cover!!! Please, what
do you think, will you try?

This is what our set up looked like, with lots of posters, and some of
my friends looking for a forever home.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997248429/

I'm all ready to greet visitors!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997853874/

I just love this pretty boa I got for the show!!!! Purple is my
favorite color and I love to dress up in purple!!! Don't you think I'm
pretty in purple?????
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997248219/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997853560/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997853444/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997853328/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997853174/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997247609/

Remember my sisfur Polly Anna? She's the one who was who'd been
abandoned in a rough neighborhood in Waynesboro and a nice lady was
putting food out for her. One day the lady got up and there on her
porch was a paper bag. And inside that bag was most of Polly's tail.
Ouch. Poor Polly. Well our volunteer Barbara went to help the lady and
ended up trapping Polly. Poor Polly needed surgery and then had a long
healing time at Rikki's.

Once she was all healed up she went to live with Cindy and alumni
SpokesDog Walker and Gatto Noir. Polly wants to be a SpokesKitty now.
Well .... she says she's willing to give it a try to make her new mom
happy. After all she's gotten a wonderful new home and it's the least
she can do to help return some of that love to her new mom.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997844420/

Polly also wants to help raise funds to finish paying off her medical
bills at Rikki's and when she finishes that, help her friends still
there. Can you help her finish paying off her debt, please?
http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/polly-anna-cats-recovery

I let Polly wear my boa.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997239045/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997844326/

This was the first time Barbara saw Polly since she brought her to
Rikki's right after the tail surgery. She was so happy to see her happy
and well and even adopted!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238965/

Barbara helps us with the Kroger Care Program.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997844244/

It's a really good program and doesn't cost you anything, but helps us
get money to feed the animals.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238837/

IF it cost you NOTHING to SAVE a dog or a cat at Rikki's Refuge No Kill
Animal Sanctuary would you do it? Your Kroger Cares Gift Card does just
that!

At NO COST TO YOU Kroger Grocery Stores will give 5% of your grocery
bill to save a cat or dog or pig or goat or chicken or ... at Rikki's
Refuge. Here's how it works!

•You just purchase a $5 Kroger "gift" card from Rikki's that is
specially encoded with our information. You can then use that card to
buy $5 worth of groceries at Kroger stores.

•The serial number on your card is linked to Rikki's Refuge No Kill
Animal Sanctuary's account at Kroger. (Note that other Kroger gift cards
will not be linked to Rikki's Refuge. Only the cards you purchase from
Rikki's Refuge will benefit the animals.)

•To support Rikki's Refuge on an ongoing basis, add money to your card
("reload" your card) and then use your card each time you buy groceries
at Kroger. Use it at any Kroger or Kroger Affiliate across the US,
including purchases at Kroger gas stations. It does not cost you
anything to do this.

•You can add money to your card ("reload" your card) at the Customer
Service desk at Kroger before shopping or you can ask a cashier to
"reload" your card, BEFORE you check out with groceries.

•When "reloading" your card, you can pay with cash, use a debit card or
use a credit card just like you would to buy your groceries.

•When paying for groceries with your card, you can still use your Kroger
Plus card to get Kroger specials.

•Every four weeks, Kroger reviews Rikki's Refuge No Kill Animal
Sanctuary's account and sends a check for 5% of the money that has been
"reloaded" onto the cards.

•The more YOU eat, the more ANIMALS you save!!!

•Summary: Each week (or once a month), when you go to any Kroger, stop
at the service desk and " reload" your card with the amount you usually
spend in a week (or month) then simply use your card to pay for your
groceries. Have the satisfaction that you are helping the animals of
Rikki's Refuge No Kill Animal Sanctuary every time you "reload" your
card with money.

And best of all - it costs YOU nothing!!!

NOTHING --- FREE just do your regular shopping, remember to reload your
card before checking out, and you feed the happy animals at Rikki's Refuge

Gift Cards can be used at the Fuel Centers to purchase gas!

And are good at all Kroger affiliates nationwide: Kroger, Ralphs, King
Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smiths, Fry's, QFC Quality Food Centers,
Bakers, Owens, Jay C, Hilander, Gerbes, Pay Less Super Markets, Scott's
Food, Kroger Fresh Fare, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer and these
convenience stores Turkey Hill, Kwik Shop, Loaf n Jug, Quick Stop and
Tom Thumb.

Just tell me if you'd like a card and you can buy it thru paypal
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php or send a check to Rikki's
Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 or see us at the Vegetarian
Festival in Charlottesville on Sept 25th.

Eight of my friends wet to the Cat Show with me hoping to get forever
homes. And they are now crying. Nobody picked them as their very own.
They're very sad. Don't you NEED a kitty? Or two or ... gosh it'd
be so wonderful if all 8 could stay together.

Madonna isn't quite a year old yet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238779/

She ended up in a pound with the other seven here. Her three kids and
her cousin and her two nephews and niece. Madonna is quite frightened,
but she'll be a wonderful kitty when you let her know she'll always be
safe. She'll purr for you. She was sick when she was dumped at the
pound and she lost an eye from an infection. This shouldn't cause her
any problems. Just be careful about letting her drive since it may
distort her depth perception a bit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238753/

These are her girls, Tippy with a little light tip on her tail, Bandy
with an orange mask and Punky the littlest of the gals. They're really
timid and afraid to be away from mom. Maybe you could adopt them with
Madonna?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238711/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997844062/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238635/

Loretta is about a year old and this is probably her second litter of
kittens this year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997843988/

She's really happy that it will be her last too! All "fixed" up and
ready for a forever home. A little feisty just like a calico should be!!!

Buffy is all well ... buff!!! Bootsie is buff with white boots and he's
the most playful. They're both boys. Tabby is a gal, and a cutie.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997238561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997843934/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997843880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997843854/

Everybody's getting Kitten Love! Get in line to adopt your new purrfect
friend!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997826704/

Tabby, Buffy and Bootsie want a home!! Can they go home with you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkUuZOAsrhE

Melanie got this wonderful huggy carrier for me to ride around with her
at shows. Isn't it cool!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997221351/

I need somebody to examine it and figure out how to make them so I can
sell them. Everybody asks about them at shows and they all want one for
their kitties!!! I think I could have sold 100 at the Cat Show.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997221305/
Melanie and I got to walk all around the cat show and meet all the other
kitties there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997826570/
Candy and I got lots of snuggle time together.

Ms. USA East Coast Autumn-Skye came to visit me and we got to greet
visitors together!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997221233/

PS I'm sorry about that little accident. Thanks for always being so
good natured and loving me no matter what!

There was a fabulous artist at the next booth. She paints the most
marvelous subjects!!
http://www.angelcatart.com/assets/cats/thumbnails/images/cat_Page_1_jpg.jpg
Isn't that lovely? And she does scarves
http://www.angelcatart.com/assets/scarves/thumbnails/images/PICT1720_JPG.jpg
and hankies
http://www.angelcatart.com/assets/handkerchiefs/thumbnails/images/PICT1371_JPG.jpg
and ties for real men who love cats!

I just couldn't stop going over to visit and look at her lovely cats!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997221195/

This is her store http://www.angelcatart.com/prints.html
She's a really nice lady too! Tell her Vincent D. Cat from the National
Capital Cat Show sent you!

Lots of the kitties had strollers to ride around in.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997826438/

I didn't understand cuz they all had four legs so what was wrong with
them walking about? I think I'd like to get a stroller. But I don't
need netting on it cuz I wouldn't try to run away. Maybe I would if you
just shoved me in a box and only let me out when the judge wanted to see
me. But I get to go out and meet my friends all the time! Hey, stop in
at your local thrift shop and get me a little stroller I can ride around
in at the Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival next Saturday 9/25. I'll
repay you in kisses!

LOOK!!!! The Purrfect climbing Buddhist Temple just for me !!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997221089/

Mommey said that with all of us around it'd smell about gross in less
then two weeks. She says we have to stick to toys and climbing things
that can be power washed all the time!!!! Speaking of that, do you have
a power washer you don't use? The little electric kind won't hold up to
what we do! We're industrial strength mess makers! If you have an old
one taking up room in your garage, it'd be nice to have a gas powered
one at the refuge. Bob brings his out to do spring and fall cleaning
for us.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997826372/
This is a toy they were selling for $1 at the show. I think if you're a
smart hooman and you look real close you could figure out how to make
them real easy. I tried but I think it will take opposable thumbs or
something. Hey!!! Can you make up a batch for me to sell to raise money?

And tell me - is this about the coolest cat tree you've ever seen???
http://www.cattreefurniture.com/product/201
Hey Rene, can you think of a way to make one that doesn't have smelly -
or yet to be smelly - carpet on it? See how the branches all come off
for easy cleaning or replacement? I'd love to have one and see if we
could get all the cubbies and branches filled for a great photo?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/2390184098

It's not just for dogs anymore!!! There was an Agility Course at the
Cat Show. Some silly hoomans said it was mean to "make" me run it. As
if anybody could "make" me do anything!!!! Ha ha ha. Just look how
well I had my hoomans trained !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UHWdjkT6EA

I won a ribbon for my hard work!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997159151/

But the real reward came when I convinced the hoomans that I'd used SO
much energy that I just NEEDED more num nums!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764550/

Mmmmm Mmmmm Good
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764536/

And there's nothing like a little warm cat nip tea to wash it all down!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997159061/

I just love it when my friends come to see me at shows and events and
even at the refuge. I can work the crowd and love and hug for hours on
end and I never stop purring. You already met Barbara.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997159025/

And this is Linda.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997158995/

I just love getting pats from everybody!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764388/

And chin rubs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997158931/

OK, hooman, I taught you sit down. Now let's work on pat the nice kitty!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764328/

Loves and hugs just make my day!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764306/

I never stop purring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997158815/

I love everybody, big and small, young and wise!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764236/

Mmmmm I love you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997158743/

This is such bliss.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997764164/

No time for a nap in between visitors. We were busy from open till
close both days.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997158655/

Patricia!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152749/

Saying a prayer with a friend.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997758120/

In case you had any doubt that I won the most ribbons at the show!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997758068/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997758006/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997757902/

Sigh .... time for a nap. Gonna make a blanket out of these ribbons and
catch a few winks!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997757858/

I just can't stop admiring my winnings! Aren't you proud of me?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152561/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152359/

Ron had wheels for my car seat so we could travel safely out to the truck.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997757726/

I got to stay up in the big city over night. Lushka invited me to her
place! Cool huh? She's got a rocking palace she shared with me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152283/

Buggs and Smudge are inseparable and they were really nice to me. They
even shared their nums.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152245/

Guin was a bit shy but we got along well. Doesn't she have really
pretty blue eyes?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997757632/

Jack Daniels ... well he was another story. That's one big dude. I'm
like no midget, but look at the size of that beast! He's 30 pounds!
Yeah 30! WOW. There's a lot of fat but he's really long and tall too.
He told me to stay out of his food bowl. And he said it in a very
rude way too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997152175/

Mommey had to intervene and tell Jack to be nice to visitors.

Well my wonderful friends, that's it for this week!! I so much
appreciate you. I work as hard as I can to make enough money to feed
all my friends here. I can make that much. But then when they need
extra things like medicine and flea drops and laundry detergent and
winter bedding, I just can't do it alone. So I thank you so very much
for your help. http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Think about signing up as a monthly donor. It's easy, read about
recurring donations at that link above. You sign up and it happens
automatically! You don't forget and we get to eat every month!! Cool
deal, huh?

I appreciate you more than you'll ever know!

Until next week, I love you, and may the force be with you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997016319/

Love,
Vincent
9/17/10

The Fine Print
Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 367-acre, no-kill, all
species, peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations from kind and
loving individuals just like you! We help farm animals, domestic
animals, and wildlife. Over 1200 individuals of 22 different species
now reside at Rikki's Refuge. Please continue to help us help the
animals. For more Rikki's Refuge and Vincent D. Cat go to
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/, http://www.rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/, and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vincent-D-Cat/370191432578?v=photos&ref=ts#!/pages/Vincent-D-Cat/370191432578?ref=ts
and ask for my inspirational and uplifting daily e notes Good Morning
Good News!

We survive on donations from kind and loving people, just like you. We
live on a shoestring and make it on less than one dollar per day, per
animal. So if you can spare a couple of bucks to buy a few meals,
please go to http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php . We do accept
checks, money orders, cash and stuff, too! Thanks for your support.
Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Your donations directly support the Critters of Rikki's Refuge. Rikki's
Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS
501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation. Federal Tax-ID
54-1911042. We hold membership in all Combined Federal Campaigns in
Virginia #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart
Charities #1377, iGive, Benevolink, paypal.com (mail@rikkisrefuge.org),
your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is
available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

If you know others who'd enjoy reading about the exciting adventures at
Rikki's Refuge let me know and I'll be happy to include them. If you
are one of those strange humans who does not wish to laugh and cry with
us, simply reply with "REMOVE" and nothing but "REMOVE" in the subject
line.

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Good Morning Good News !!!!

It's Furrday!!! And on Furrday you can send an email and if yours is
chosen they'll send me a $50 gift card for Fancy Feast at PetCo!!!
http://www.freekibblekat.com/giveaway.asp
Right now email Giveaway@freekibble.com with the words "Shelter
Giveaway" as the subject and tell 'em Vincent D. Cat of Rikki's Refuge
sent you!

Mom and me just did ours!!!!

Hey, are you getting ready!!! Only three more days till voting time !!!
Monday is time to start voting again!! Let's win mostest number of
votes in week one this time, ok? We make a great team don't we!!! You
open the cans, I eat the nums !!!! I love you!!!!

Buster Kitteh's Possum
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997622300/

My friend Jonsey
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997622264/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prxyRvgkWYg
Hmmm what do you think about lining one wall in the 9Th Life Center with
mirrors? Would that be good vidoe ops for mom or just drive everybody
crazy thinking there were twice as many of us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25RcDO2RdZQ
Me and mum think it's real funny what scientist have to study when we
already know it just cuz we live with the aminals. We know all about
the different sounds and different communications. And me and my
friends have studied hoomans and we know that most have three sounds
that can be distinguished.

The angry one that means, "get out my way and leave me alone". Lots of
us remember that from the past before we came to Rikki's. I only hear
that here when I take mom's credit card and over run it buying cat food.
But hey, a guy's gotta eat you know!

Then there's the nice one that means, "I love you, come let me pat you
and snuggle you." We like that one a lot. And then there's there
wonderful one that means, "Nums is getting opened come and get some!"

Mom knows the meanings of lots of the sounds by lots of the animals.
She knows the happy sound of the chickens cooing in the night and
singing, "I love you" to each other. She knows the sound of "Good
morning, rise and shine you lazy biped, get the door open and feed us!"
And she knows the sound of "help fox on the horizon". My doggy
friends know that one too. Just like mom, they sleep soundly thru the
"I love you" calls in the night, but just as soon as they hear a "help
fox on the horizon" call they up and barking, "stay away from my
chickens, these guys are my family and not for your dinner and if you
don't turn around and run, I'll chase you off and really scare you!"
And the foxes know exactly what that means too!!

Camel Love !!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4998802870/
OREGON CITY -- Clackamas County firefighters have revived one cat and
five dogs after rescuing them from burning homes. They've pulled a cow
from a well. They've pulled a horse from a creek. Now they can add a
camel to the list.

Moses, a 1,200- to 1,500-pound Bactrian camel (that's the two-hump kind)
got himself stuck in a sinkhole on his owners' rural Oregon City
property late Tuesday. Mike and Kim Dilworth, who've owned Moses since
he was just weeks old, could see only the animal's head sticking out of
the mud. They tried pulling him out on their own, using a 4-wheel drive
Kawasaki Mule but Moses didn't budge. His long, skinny legs were deep in
the mud. The normally mellow camel's bellowing could be heard across the
Dilworth's property.

About 9:45 p.m., the couple called 9-1-1. Soon, seven firefighters with
Clackamas County Fire District No. 1 descended on the 10-acre property,
where the family also tends a small herd of goats, sheep, chickens and a
pot-bellied pig named Sonny. But the hole was in rough terrain. And it
was dark. Fire officials decided they couldn't safely use heavy
equipment to extricate Moses. They'd have to use their hands.

The firefighters dug around Moses – who continued to voice his distress
– so they could slip thick straps under the animal's belly and pull him
out. It was tricky work that took hours, said firefighter Steve McAdoo,
who help light the work area with a flashlight. The firefighters – and
the Dilworths – worried Moses had broken a leg. "The problem is the
legs on this animal are like 4 or 5 feet long and he is down in the hole
and his legs have sunk into the hole," McAdoo said. "They are thin. They
are like little sticks and they are all the way into the mud. "It was
hard work lifting and digging, lifting and digging," he said.

Meanwhile, the Dilworths comforted their beloved pet. They soothed him
by rubbing his head, kissing his nose and assuring him he'd be OK. "Calm
down," Mike Dilworth told his camel. "You're doing good, you're doing
good." "They did great," McAdoo said. "They were treating it like you
would have thought your kid was in the hole." The Dilworths consider
Moses – one of two camels they own – a member of the family. For the
first year of the camel's life, the couple, who have two young
daughters, fed him lamb's milk from a bottle three times a day. Kim
Dilworth sang Christian hymns to him as he drifted to sleep. They
bought Moses and his brother, Bethlehem, for live Nativity displays at
their home and around Oregon City. A camel, they thought, would surely
be more of an attraction than an ordinary llama or alpaca. And they were
right. "So many people have never seen a camel, let alone pet it," Mike
Dilworth said. "They're always surprised at how nice they are and how
friendly they are."

Finally, about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, the firefighters managed to get a
tarp and heavy duty straps under Moses and heaved the animal out of the
hole. For an hour, Moses lay on his side, exhausted. Then he got up on
his knees, where he remained for another half hour or so. The Dilworths
still weren't sure Moses was going to make it. Had he broken a leg? And
then, Moses scrambled to his feet and ambled back to his barn. A local
veterinarian looked him over and said the camel escaped serious injury.

It was a happy ending for the Dilworths, who have been struggling with
health and financial issues. Mike Dilworth, 44, lost his job and Kim
Dilworth, 44, is out of work while she receives treatment for cancer.
The couple watched their pet walk up the hill to the barn and go to
sleep. "We were all cheering," Mike Dilworth said. As for the
Clackamas County firefighters, McAdoo said they're getting pretty good
with animal rescues. "I don't know why we are the pet rescue fire
department," McAdoo said. "Some of the guys on the rescue of the camel
were there when we did the cow in the well. We're getting this down."

There's more pictures and a video here.
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2010/09/moses_the_camel_rises_from_an_oregon_city_sinkhole_with_just_a_little_help.html?ref=nf

Have a wonderful day! Come volunteer or bring canned dog, cat food,
bleach, laundry detergent, nice smelling floor cleaner, scrub brushes.

May the force be with you, my HERO!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/4997016319/

Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Good Morning Good News !!!!

Super good news!!! Larry has been with us another year!!! Happy
Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to YOU, You're welcome to come live in
my ZOO, Happy Birthday dear Larry, Happy Birthday to YOU, may it be
great and filled with Fancy Feast !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M4ea1WE4Pc

Peace on earth to all species!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPxDw7ajfGE
http://vimeo.com/14901776

Put your thinking cap on
http://dogblog.dogster.com/2010/09/13/the-awesome-hidden-power-of-dog-poop2/
We just gotta start something like this at Rikki's!!! Would it ever be
cool to be the first sanctuary powered by poop!!!! And, for those of
you who help develop this program, all the free poop YOU want for life
too!!!!

From Sally, You are great! Yes you are. Forget what other people may
say. Spend some time in quiet meditation and realize all the wonderful
qualities you have. Go forward on the path that you want to be on. You
can do anything you believe you can do no matter what you have done in
the past. The past does not predict your future. The past does not
define you. You make the choice every minute and every day of how your
life will unfold. Only you and only now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rxXamfh5c

From my Grandpa!
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?id=8886&display=1

Are you getting ready for the Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival next
Saturday!!!!

Love, Vincent

--
Vincent D. Cat, Official Spokes Cat of Rikki's Refuge
Representing the Right to Life of the Differently Abled of every species.

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

We're very honored to have been voted the Number One Animal Rescue in
Virginia.

Thank you, our supporters and friends, who made this possible. It took
over 50,000 votes! Thank you for your confidence and trust in the work
we do at Rikki's Refuge. We won't disappoint you!

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.