Friday, February 15, 2013

Good Morning Good News !!!! February 15, 2013




Hi there, Vincent here.  I enjoyed watching that TV interview if mom that I shared with you yesterday and learning some things I'd never known, and so last night I was sitting around reminiscing with mom, all about the early days of Rikki's Refuge.

But did you know there was actually a time before Rikki's Refuge?   Wow!  I guess I just never knew, that was before I was even born!  That was like, a really, really, really long time ago.  But then again, mom is really, really old.

And so I asked her to tell me about things before Rikki's Refuge.  We sat up all night talking, and now I'm going to tell you the story .......   oh, but it's really long, so it's too much for my paws to type all up one day, so I'm going to have to share with you just a few chapters at a time ...  Hope that's okay with you. 


So here's Chapter 1 from my interview with mom.

Vincent: So I understand there was life before Rikki's Refuge.  Even a business you ran to help animals.  That business is the parent of Rikki's Refuge today, and it's called Life Unlimited of Virginia.  Tell me about that and what you did before Rikki's Refuge?

Mom: Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. was formed with the dream of making the planet a more friendly place for all the inhabitants. Our focus would be on what we humans usually call “the animals”.  But when we divide the planet down into its basics, animals, vegetables, minerals, we find that the humans also fall into the category called “the animals”.

Over the years, I have found that you never touched the life of an animal without also touching the life of at least one human. Perhaps only yours, but in most cases an entire family or even more. As humans begin to care about another, be it another human, a cat, dog, pig or horse, it stirs their heart into caring, into helping, into kindness, and this kind of spreads forward in other areas of their life. And so for every animal volunteers the world over reach out to help, they're helping the entire planet become closer and closer to a state of kindness, compassion and caring.

Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc.’s first project was a radio show - “A program dedicated to the health and well-being of animals everywhere - especially the ones in your life” - called Animal Update.


This was an upbeat, encouraging, up lifting, all pawsitive, all the time drive-time call-in talk-show where we featured interesting guests who were involved, one way or another, in the animal world. People who ran rescue organizations, sanctuaries, veterinarians, holistic medical practitioners, animal communicators, natural pet food stores. We frequently featured particular animals on the show, cats or dogs for adoption, iguanas, frogs or snakes.  People would call in with questions about their own pets, about helping animals in need, with general questions about the species of animal we were featuring.  These questions would lead to very interesting and informative discussions which our rapidly growing and loyal audience thoroughly enjoyed.

We used the advertising time on the radio to support organizations, announcing their adoption days and their fundraising events.  Our paid advertising time featured businesses who were animal friendly or who were helping animal rescue organizations in one way or another.

The show always ended with trailers encouraging people to get involved and do something good for the planet!

Remember - each new day is full of opportunities, possibilities, and potential.  Make the best of every day.  Start today.  Thanks for being with us tonight.

Remember - Nothing happens unless it's first a dream.   Keep dreaming and join us again next time.  Thanks for being with us tonight.

Remember - The best way to predict the future is to invent it.  Have a great evening and join us again next time.  Thanks for being with us tonight.

Remember - Cats are nature's way of telling you your furniture is too nice.  Have a wonderful evening and tune in again next time.  Thanks for being with us tonight.

Vincent: Well, that sounds interesting, and I'm certainly glad you are teaching people the right thing about cats! 

Tomorrow we’ll hear about what had led mom to a point of wanting to educate people about animals and why she was interested in running a business to help animals.


Have YOU voting today ???
Will YOU help me win the contest at the Animal Rescue Site ???

It's real easy .... go here http://animalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA and follow the directions ...
it's easy, no information collection, no spam .... just your vote ---

help me get the votes ... vote daily and YOU can help me win $1,000 to feed my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge.  There are 1295 of us ....  well a couple hundred of them have feathers ... but we feed them too.  Vote every day from every computer you have, home, office, phone and so on !!!! 

Let’s work together real hard and win the weekly $1,000 prize !!!



MONDAY, February 18, 2013
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP - THREE SPOTS AVAILABLE

World famous artist Wayne H. Morris and a special friend from Australia will be visiting !!!!!   

And we’ve got a fun filled day for YOU !!!!

11 am - 1 pm  Photo Class, taught by Wayne H. Morris.  Learn how he gets those fabulous shots.  From the simple to the complex ... bring your camera and learn the secrets.
          Photo Class $25 per person

1 pm - 2 pm Photos with the Animals - Wayne H. Morris will take YOUR picture with Opie L. Cat or Duke Thomas Peabody .... or another of your favorite Rikki’s animals!!!  
          $10 and you go home with your photo !!  Yes, you can get multiple photos.  Discount on more     
          than one!

2 pm - 4 pm Tour Rikki’s with Wayne and practice what he taught you in the morning about taking great animal photos.
          $12.50 per person

6 pm - 8 pm Reception and Vegetarian BBQ with Wayne and Vicki from Australia!!
          $20 per person

ALL DAY -- $50 per person, includes EVERYTHING ...

What a way to spend your day !!!!   Meet Opie, Timmy, Duke, Petunia ... all the critters you hear about!

All events are strictly RSVP, tickets in advance.  Call 540-854-0870 x3 or email for quicker service mail@RikkisRefuge.org



Grace
Thank you dear produce picker uppers for providing this lovely meal for us.  Thank you for taking time from your busy day to drive to the stores and to fill your trucks and your vans and your SUVs with wonderful delicious produce.  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to taste this delicious fresh food and saving us from having to eat the same old same old dried up pellets day after day.

Love,
Gregory
PS ....  Bless those poor kitties hanging around outside and climbing on the roof hoping they can find a way in to eat our produce.  I never see them get fed any delicious produce.  No wonder they want to come in and share with us.  I don’t know why the mean hoomans work so hard to keep them out.


You Herd ?
Psssstttt  have you heard?  The cats are running out of canned food.  Don’t let on about how great this fresh spring grass tastes.  If ALL of THEM started eating OUR grass ... there might not be enough left for us!


..... first ... thou shall do no harm ...
Come on?  Seriously?  Even if we’re OUT of canned cat food we have to abide by this “all-species” rule?


Gather round my friends, let us pray.
Dearly Beloved Donors,
those of you who go to work and from time to time bring home “paycheck”, thank you for sharing your dear paycheck with us less fortunates who are not given the privilege of entering the work force and being allowed to provide for ourselves. 

Bless the kind and generous who donate our nums; who go without a pleasure or an extra num of their own, so that we may have a necessity. 

Bless those who support us kitties, and the others too (yes my brethren, we must be generous and include them) who are not allowed to dine at the all you can eat sushi bars, who are not permitted, even one foot, inside a grocery store. 

Bless you my Donors for your kindness, for your love, and for this meal I’m so hoping is about to show up in my bowl. 

And special blessings today, to those of you who click here and make a tax-deductible donation to buy nums for those of us at Rikki’s Refuge http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php and to those who’d prefer to send a check to us at Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960.

We love you,
Timmy and the gang



I’m doing my darndest to try and earn my living so I don’t have to beg YOU to help me.  I hate complaining, but do you have ANY idea how hard it is to use these giant mop buckets when you’re only 14” tall?
Love, Grinch


Love you bunches,
           Vincent and Opie

2013 is the Year of the Purr ....

DECLARE YOUR LOYALTY TO VINCENT
Look! It's a great car magnet with the world's most loved cat -- Vincent Cat!!!!
"What Would Vincent Do?"
He'd "Purr More, Hiss Less".

Magnet is $5 each, plus shipping (65-cents for 1 magnet, $1.05 for 2 for U.S. addresses). For other shipping costs (international, or for more than 2 magnets) contact Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net  with your zip code and how many you want.     Purchase your magnet TODAY right here http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines Day !!!! February 14, 2013


To all my friends !!!! Happy Valentines Day ..... if you're short in the love department .... come meet my friends ... I've got tall ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones .... somebody who'd like to follow you home and who'd promise to love you forever and ever !!!!! Give four footed love a chance !!!


Meet Sampson and Violet  





This is the TV show mom did last week.  Listen to her talk about Rikki’s and Sampson and Violet.  Sorry about the ad ....  Rikki’s segment starts at 11 minutes ... you can skip ahead if you like.

Violet is a wonderful gal and she’d like a nice quiet forever home.  Rikki’s is good to her, but all the commotion and oodles of critters all the time, is a bit hard for this lovely gentle gal.  She’s about 15, mostly blind and lost her home when her hoomans divorced.  She’s the kindest sweetest gentlest kitty you’ll ever know.  She wants to just sit on your lap and purr.  She’d love a retired hooman, would be great in an assisted living type environment, wonderful for a differently-abled person who’s often homebound.  A another cat or two would be ok, but she’s not one who wants to play, “can I catch your tail”.  If you have the purrfect lap for Violet ....  let me know ... mail@RikkisRefuge.org

If your home isn’t purrfect for Violet but you’d like to give Violet some delicious nums for Valentines Day, you can make a gift in her honor here http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php    Thank you, with almost 1300 animals that need Rikki’s Refuge ... we need your support and kindness !!!

Watch Sampson play
He (first got named Sophia from that beautiful long hair and that delicate lovely face before anyone checked under all that fur!) was born with birth defects to both knees.  So his legs are bent at the knees and he can’t straighten them.  So he gets around half rabbit and half ferret like -- but get around he does !!!!

Where did he come from?  One morning Valerie was coming into work and as she came round the last bend in the driveway she saw eyes glowing. When she got to the gate Sophia aka Sampson was standing there looking terribly confused.  Valerie got out and picked him up. His back legs are bent at the knees and don't straighten out. TWO luxating patellas - which means really messed up knees that don't stay together right. Since he's young, 6 or 7 months old maybe, and they are both the same, it's probably a birth defect.

He doesn't seem to be in pain and has really figured out how to get around. As he zooms about he looks like a ferret streaking by. He's super adorable and lovely. Wants to play and be held and purrs. Yes, he. Underneath all the beautiful girly looking fur we found a neutered boy!!! So he's also known as Sampson !!!

No one answered ads for lost cat in need of expensive surgery ... and no one called the pound looking for him ....  We bet this poor baby was dumped at our gate before daylight that morning in the hopes that one of us would find him before he was killed by neighbor’s dogs or eaten by a fox or coyote ....  as well as he gets along ... he didn’t have a chance out there in the wild. 

And it’s WILD out here !!  Our gate is half a mile down the road and thru the woods and then it’s another half mile to our complex.  If he hadn’t been standing there at the gate looking lost and confused, we’d never known he was there.  If he hadn’t been frozen in fright and had taken flight instead, he’d never have survived a day in the woods.

He’ll have extensive surgery in a month on both knees and then after 12 weeks of physical therapy he should be as good as new and ready for a forever home !!!!

Would you make his Valentines Day and donate towards his surgery costs?  http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php 

Thank you !!!!   It’s cuz of kind and generous people like YOU that we are able to help almost 1300 animals of 22 species each and every day - including 650 cats and 50 dogs !!! 



Have YOU voting this Valentines Day ???
Will YOU help me win the contest at the Animal Rescue Site ???

It's real easy .... go here http://animalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA and follow the directions ...
it's easy, no information collection, no spam .... just your vote ---

help me get the votes ... vote daily and YOU can help me win $1,000 to feed my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge.  There are 1925 of us ....  well a couple hundred of them have feathers ... but we feed them too.  Vote every day from every computer you have, home, office, phone and so on !!!! 

Let’s work together real hard and win the weekly $1,000 prize !!!



President’s Day, February 18, 2013

World famous artist Wayne H. Morris and a special friend from Australia will be visiting !!!!!   

And we’ve got a fun filled day for YOU !!!!

11 am - 1 pm  Photo Class, taught by Wayne H. Morris.  Learn how he gets those fabulous shots.  From the simple to the complex ... bring your camera and learn the secrets.
          Photo Class $25 per person

1 pm - 2 pm Photos with the Animals - Wayne H. Morris will take YOUR picture with Opie L. Cat or Duke Thomas Peabody .... or another of your favorite Rikki’s animals!!!  
          $10 and you go home with your photo !!  Yes, you can get multiple photos.  Discount on more     
          than one!

2 pm - 4 pm Tour Rikki’s with Wayne and practice what he taught you in the morning about taking great animal photos.
          $12.50 per person

6 pm - 8 pm Reception and Vegetarian BBQ with Wayne and Vicki from Australia!!
          $20 per person

ALL DAY -- $50 per person, includes EVERYTHING ...

What a way to spend your day !!!!   Meet Opie, Timmy, Duke, Petunia ... all the critters you hear about!

All events are strictly RSVP, tickets in advance.  Call 540-854-0870 x3 or email for quicker service mail@RikkisRefuge.org


Now don’t laugh so hard you fall out the litterbox  .....



2013 is the Year of the Purr ....

DECLARE YOUR LOYALTY TO VINCENT
Look! It's a great car magnet with the world's most loved cat -- Vincent Cat!!!!
"What Would Vincent Do?"
He'd "Purr More, Hiss Less".

Magnet is $5 each, plus shipping (65-cents for 1 magnet, $1.05 for 2 for U.S. addresses). For other shipping costs (international, or for more than 2 magnets) contact Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net  with your zip code and how many you want.     Purchase your magnet TODAY right here http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


Love you bunches,
           Vincent

PS your help and support is much needed at this time of year.  We’re running out of all the wonderful nums donated under the Christmas Angel Trees.  This week alone, we have an order out for $993 of canned cat food and a WHOLE dump truck of nums for the horses, cows, sheep, pigs and ....

If you can help us buy a case of food for $12.50 or a sack of feed for $9.99 we’d greatly appreciate it !!!!   With 1300 mouths to feed EVERYDAY ... TWICE a day ...  It’s tough to make ends meet !!!

Thank you and I send you my love this Valentines Day ...  http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Good Evening, Good News !!!! February 6, 2013



Are YOU on my team ???
Will YOU help me win the contest at the Animal Rescue Site ???

It's real easy .... go here http://animalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA and follow the directions ...
it's easy, no information collection, no spam .... just your vote ---

help me get the votes ... vote daily and YOU can help me win $1,000 to feed my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge.  There are 1925 of us ....  well a couple hundred of them have feathers ... but we feed them too.  Vote every day from every computer you have, home, office, phone and so on !!!! 

Let’s work together real hard and win the weekly $1,000 prize !!!


Tax Receipts
If anyone is missing any tax receipts for donations to Rikki’s during 2012 ... just let me know and we’ll get you a replacement ASAP !!!!    mail@RikkisRefuge.org  Be sure to give us your name, and your email if you made donations on line, and your address if you sent checks !!!  Thank you - I love you for your help and support !!!!


LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP - NEED ALL RSVPs NOW !!

Sweetheart Walk and Mingle
Is your best friend nothin’ but a hound dog ?

Well at Rikki’s Refuge we LOVE Hound Dogs !

We invite you to a Valentine event
especially for you and your best friend
.... your dog ... or your human !

You’ll have the opportunity to walk around our new 63 acre facility with your best friend.
Meet and Mingle with other Dog Lovers.
Roam the wooded areas, see the barns and outbuildings, run thru the pastures ...
lots of fun for you and your four or two footed friend ...
all before our animals move in.

Learn about Rikki’s Refuge and find out about
future volunteer opportunities,
fence fixin’, mural painting, barn mucking, and more !

Sunday, February 10th, from 1 - 3 pm,
admission is $12.50 or a case of cat food (per couple, same or mixed species)
... you heard me right ... today is going to the dogs ...
but we’ve got to feed the cats too !!

Tickets MUST be bought in advance and the number is LIMITED.

So call 540-854-0870 x3 or email mail@RikkisRefuge.org
for your tickets TODAY ... don’t delay !

Doggies must be leashed at all times and
accompanied by a parent 18 or older,
must be dog and human friendly and
must bring proof of vaccinations, including rabies.


Can Some Bunny Help ???

This little rabbit went to market .....

and since he’s too short to see over the dash .....  he’s not allowed to drive.

It’s more than a hop, skip and a jump to the grocery stores in Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg who give us day old produce. 

Several large stores will give us almost a pick up full of lovely produce every day.
Each store has a specific schedule and pick up times tend to be morning or early afternoon.

If you’re willing to drive your pick up truck or van (too much for car) the produce and bring it to Rikki’s even one day a week, one day every other week, or even just one day a month ....  you’d be helping the animals a lot. 

We can’t do it without volunteers ....
    Would you be some bunny who’ll help us ??

Contact Rikki’s Refuge at 540-854-0870 x5 or mail@RikkisRefuge.org and tell us you want to be some bunny.  One of our volunteers will get back to you as soon as they can.

Thank you from the bunnies, guinea pigs, horses, goats, sheep, cows, pigs, emus, peacocks, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese !!

We NEED YOU to pick up the produce in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg and haul it to Rikki’s
We’ll do the sorting for each different species.  We’ll take all the plastic off, pulling off plastic and metal ties and rubber bands.  We’ll deliver it to each animal neighborhood.

BUT if that sounds like fun to you ..... we’ll teach you how to do that too.

If you’d rather just drive up, have us unload your truck, and you can be on your way in minutes - that works too !!
























Pumpkin is very nutritious and our animals love the fall harvest.


































Despite her size, Petunia is a very delicate eater !!
























Piggies getting a special frozen treat in the summer !!


To help Rikki’s Refuge keep the animals well fed year round
if you’re willing to pick up produce in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg
(or ask YOUR local store if they’ll donate)
please get in touch with us today
540-854-0870 x5 or mail@RikkisRefuge.org


THANK YOU !!!


Can’t help by hauling produce, but still want to help the animals?

Click on anybody’s picture and you’ll be taken to our “HELP” page !!




President’s Day, February 18, 2012
World famous artist Wayne H. Morris and a special friend from Australia will be visiting !!!!!   

And we’ve got a fun filled day for YOU !!!!

11 am - 1 pm  Photo Class, taught by Wayne H. Morris.  Learn how he gets those fabulous shots.  From the simple to the complex ... bring your camera and learn the secrets.
          Photo Class $25 per person

1 pm - 2 pm Photos with the Animals - Wayne H. Morris will take YOUR picture with Opie L. Cat or Duke Thomas Peabody .... or another of your favorite Rikki’s animals!!!  
          $10 and you go home with your photo !!  Yes, you can get multiple photos.  Discount on more      
          than one!

2 pm - 4 pm Tour Rikki’s with Wayne and practice what he taught you in the morning about taking great animal photos.
          $12.50 per person

6 pm - 8 pm Reception and Vegetarian BBQ with Wayne and Vicki from Australia!!
          $20 per person

ALL DAY -- $50 per person, includes EVERYTHING ...

All events are strictly RSVP, tickets in advance.  Call 540-854-0870 x3 or email for quicker service mail@RikkisRefuge.org



HELP WANTED
It’s that time again ... looking for one full time person .... or possibly two part time people.  Your day will start at 8 am and go until 5 pm or noon.  EVERYONE works weekends ... so please don’t ask if you can get a schedule without weekends !!!  

It’s HARD work.  10% feeding and 90% cleaning up !!  Must be able to work outside, no matter the weather, all day, year round.  Ice, sleet, snow, rain, boiling hot days .... and beautiful days too.    Must be able to life and walk distance with at least a 50# load.  Can’t have fear of any kind of animals.  Must be a quick learner, willing to listen and learn and then be a self starter.   Must absolutely positively LOVE all animals !   You will work with EVERYONE, so you can’t say you only want to work with certain species.

If you think this is the job for you please call 540-854-0870 x8 for an interview.



Rikki's Valentine Jewelry

Sterling Silver Pendants and Pins
Handcrafted Rikki’s Logo Jewelry
Sterling Silver Pendants with chains and Sterling Silver Pins
Pendants and Pins measure ¾” diameter with precision detail
Photos cannot capture the beauty of these pieces handcrafted for you especially by
Michael Gallagher Jewelers
Includes lovely velvet jewelry box
Sterling Silver Pendant with 18” Sterling Silver chain, Christmas Special $50
Sterling Silver Pin ideal for lapel, tie pin, hat, or two for cuff links, Christmas Special $42
Shipping $7.99 continental USA, rush, overnight, and foreign additional
Reserve your unique piece of Rikki’s Logo Jewelry today !!
mail@RikkisRefuge.org


actual size of pendant and pin, ¾” diameter - all silver, raised areas appear darker in photograph



Coming in March

3-2&3 Thinking of getting a Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Duck, Chick or other small critter as a pet?  Meet some in person and learn all about their care.     RSVP, details to follow

3/23 Meet the Easter Bunny, photos with Easter Bunny, Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Bonnet and Costume Contest.     RSVP, details to follow

3/31 Little After Sunrise Service followed by Blessing of the Animals Tour, non-denominational by Reverend Theresa Spears.  RSVP, details to follow



Keeping us Warm
If you could spare a few bucks to help me with that propane bill, I’d really appreciate it !!!!  Thank goodness it’s not as huge this winter as some times ... but it’s still a lot of money for this little kitty to come up with.  If you wouldn’t mind trading in that cup of coffee in the morning .... well how about your second cup ....   I’d so much love you forever.  You can click right here to help !!




And YOU can keep warm and wide awake ..
Looking for a quick pick me up ?
One that will make your day and make you SMILE ?
Sip some Rikki’s Roast and it’s guaranteed to make you purr all day !!!

NOW AVAILABLE ---- RIKKI’S ROAST - THE Winning Brew !
YOU get Organic, Mountain Grown, Arabica Coffee ..... Delicious !
THE GROWERS get Fair Trade and Rainforest Protection !
THE ANIMALS get 12 meals with every bag purchased !
Thank You for Supporting Rikki’s Refuge
$3 From the sale of each bag goes directly to RIKKI'S REFUGE!
Order as many as you like, shipping is very reasonable and the more you buy, the more you save!
order as much as you want on line here:
(special now, use code BROWN at check out for 15% off)
***Limited to 500 bags of coffee per customer !!!

Product Specifications
Bag is 8" X 5 1/4"
Net Weight is 6 ounces
The flavor is Classic Columbian Supremo / Arabica Blend
100% Ground Coffee.

DECAF AVAILABLE TOO

Love you bunches,
           Opie
ps: remember 2013 is the year of the purr ....
Click Vincent to hear him purr ......


Look! It's a great car magnet with the world's most loved cat -- Vincent Cat!!!! "What Would Vincent Do?" He'd "Purr More, Hiss Less". Magnet is $5 each, plus shipping (65-cents for 1 magnet, $1.05 for 2 for U.S. addresses). For other shipping costs (international, or for more than 2 magnets) contact Melissa Felts dogslife24@comcast.net  with your zip code and how many you want.




Rikki's Valentine Jewelry


Sterling Silver Pendants and Pins
Handcrafted Rikki’s Logo Jewelry
Sterling Silver Pendants with chains and Sterling Silver Pins
Pendants and Pins measure ¾” diameter with precision detail
Photos cannot capture the beauty of these pieces handcrafted for you especially by
Michael Gallagher Jewelers
Includes lovely velvet jewelry box
Sterling Silver Pendant with 18” Sterling Silver chain, Christmas Special $50
Sterling Silver Pin ideal for lapel, tie pin, hat, or two for cuff links, Christmas Special $42
Shipping $7.99 continental USA, rush, overnight, and foreign additional
Reserve your unique piece of Rikki’s Logo Jewelry today !!
mail@RikkisRefuge.org


actual size of pendant and pin, ¾” diameter - all silver, raised areas appear darker in photograph


Can Some Bunny Help ???



This little rabbit went to market .....

and since he’s too short to see over the dash .....  he’s not allowed to drive.

It’s more than a hop, skip and a jump to the grocery stores in Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg who give us day old produce. 

Several large stores will give us almost a pick up full of lovely produce every day.
Each store has a specific schedule and pick up times tend to be morning or early afternoon.

If you’re willing to drive your pick up truck or van (too much for car) the produce and bring it to Rikki’s even one day a week, one day every other week, or even just one day a month ....  you’d be helping the animals a lot. 

We can’t do it without volunteers ....
    Would you be some bunny who’ll help us ??

Contact Rikki’s Refuge at 540-854-0870 x5 or mail@RikkisRefuge.org and tell us you want to be some bunny.  One of our volunteers will get back to you as soon as they can.

Thank you from the bunnies, guinea pigs, horses, goats, sheep, cows, pigs, emus, peacocks, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese !!

We NEED YOU to pick up the produce in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg and haul it to Rikki’s
We’ll do the sorting for each different species.  We’ll take all the plastic off, pulling off plastic and metal ties and rubber bands.  We’ll deliver it to each animal neighborhood.

BUT if that sounds like fun to you ..... we’ll teach you how to do that too.

If you’d rather just drive up, have us unload your truck, and you can be on your way in minutes - that works too !!
























Pumpkin is very nutritious and our animals love the fall harvest.


































Despite her size, Petunia is a very delicate eater !!
























Piggies getting a special frozen treat in the summer !!


To help Rikki’s Refuge keep the animals well fed year round
if you’re willing to pick up produce in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg
(or ask YOUR local store if they’ll donate)
please get in touch with us today
540-854-0870 x5 or mail@RikkisRefuge.org


THANK YOU !!!


Can’t help by hauling produce, but still want to help the animals?

Click on anybody’s picture and you’ll be taken to our “HELP” page !!



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Good Evening, Good News !!!! January 30, 2013


This is the week to win !!!
Are YOU on my team ???
Will YOU help me win the weekly contest at the Animal Rescue Site ???

It's real easy .... go here http://animalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA and follow the directions ...
it's easy, no information collection, no spam .... just your vote ---

help me get the mostest votes this week ... just this week ... vote daily thru Sunday and YOU can help me win $1,000 to feed my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge.  There are 1925 of us ....  well a couple hundred of them have feathers ... but we feed them too.  Vote every day from every computer you have, home, office, phone and so on !!!! 

Let’s work together real hard this week and win the weekly $1,000 prize !!!
 

Opps .... I goofed
I promised to tell you the schedule for the February 18th fun fun fun ..... I sorry ... today got so chocked full of things to do I haven’t gotten to the schedule and the flyers yet and I’m so tired my whiskers is drooping ... so I do tomorrow, ok??


Good Seminar Topics ??
We want to give a series of sort like self help, how to help your animals, things you can do to help the animals, and that kind of talks. In early March, like maybe the 2nd or 3rd we'd like to do a seminar "Thinking of Getting a Bunny or Guinea Pig or Chick or Duck for a Pet?" I'm sure you know why --- it's Easter at the end of the month and people will be thinking of getting them for the kids for Easter. We're thinking, maybe, just maybe, if we can present the facts about the care these animals need, daily feeding, cleaning, attention and the cost of owning them .. the people who'd just be tossing them for these kind of issues later on ... will maybe not get them. And those who are serious will learn proper care. Who knows lots and lots about these animals and could do a 30 minute of hour talk - we'll supply hands on demos if you like - ???? Robin McClary, any chance this would be up your alley ????

Then in April - Cats vs Dogs month - I'd like cat and dog speakers. For dogs, training, behavioral issues resolution, clipping nails, cleaning ears, when you need to go to the vet and what issues you can deal with, etc. Melissa Felts would you be interested? For cats, well forget the training part .... but basic home care, clip nails, how to care for your own bite wounds ... you know .. that kind of thing.

I'd also like to hear your ideas on other useful topics we can cover.


Good Newz ... Gotz more Nums !!!
Thank you Purina for donating so much nums to us and thank you Mike Wood for driving all the way to Pennsylvania and bringing the food all the way back to us.  That’s a whole day full of driving for Mike, just to help us get nums !!!  Thank you Mike !!

Ting Ting Checks Out the Delivery
Good Job, Mike, Good Job ... looks like a nice load !!!
6,000 pounds of doggy and kitty nums !!!!  Yum Yum !!!

Jessie Says Drop It
Come on, drop some of those nums for me !!!!

Maow Maow Explains to Jessie
Butt out beast!!  This load is all cat and dog nums. 
You get all that produce all the time. 
Now back off, this load is OURS!

Maow Maow Helps Mike
Inspect the truck ... gotta make sure there’s not one morsel left behind!


ooopppssssss ...... Daddy just reminded me of something
.... Last spring he had some special deals where you'd get a pawtographed photo of him .... he got those all ready for you ..... and some of you wanted special inscriptions .... so he had written special things on some of them .... then he went to Rainbow Bridge before he got the photos matched up to the addresses ...... I've been trying to find his list and it's kind of jumbled up. Did you donate to receive one of his pawtograph photos in Feb, March or April of last year? If so can you tell me the date, even approximate, or the transaction ID, and what special inscription you requested .... then I'll go thru the pictures and get yours out to you .... I have like sixteenmillion emails from that time and I'm realizing with no specific header or anything .... it's going to be another 12 - 14 years for me to read all of them and match this up. If he pawtographed more photos that he actually sold last year .... those will go up for sale later on. So please let me know if you have one coming to you. I'm really sorry it's been so long, every time I try to start working on it, it's so jumbled up and confusing.

"
it's easy, just click on the kitty, to make life a little easier for us kitties .....

Love you bunches,
           Opie
ps: remember 2013 is the year of the purr ....
Click Vincent to hear him purr ......

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Good Evening, Good News !!!! January 29, 2013


This is the week to win !!!
Are YOU on my team ???
Will YOU help me win the weekly contest at the Animal Rescue Site ???

It's real easy .... go here http://animalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA and follow the directions ...
it's easy, no information collection, no spam .... just your vote ---

help me get the mostest votes this week ... just this week ... vote daily thru Sunday and YOU can help me win $1,000 to feed my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge.  There are 1925 of us ....  well a couple hundred of them have feathers ... but we feed them too.  Vote every day from every computer you have, home, office, phone and so on !!!! 

Let’s work together real hard this week and win the weekly $1,000 prize !!!



Why oh Why do they let da hooman drive ???



I keep having this dream .....

Can I tell you about my dream and see if you can help me find the person in it ?

Here's how it goes .... 

I'm searching and searching for a store where I can run a Thrift Shop to help bring in money to feed all my furry friends at Rikki's Refuge ....  I'm searching and searching and walking all the streets in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania (that's in Virginia in the USA) ...

I knock and knock ... and nobody opens the door .... then one person does and says "go way you silly cat ... you can no afford my rent ... be off with you" .... and I walk and I walk and I keep knocking and they keep sending me away ... my feets are getting really sore ....

and I wanna stop ... but I know I have to help my aminal friends back at Rikki's Refuge ... I've promised that every one of them ... all 1295 of them ... will always have nums and a nice doctor to take care of their hurts and their sicks and even icky flea drops so they no get bites and so they all gets a nice bed to sleep in .... and I know I must walk and I must knock on doors till ..... 

this door is opened by a hooman with the kindest smile ever and they say, "come in you precious little kitty, why are you out walking the streets and knocking on doors?  Are you hungry, do you need a bite to eat?"  And then they give eleventeen cans of Fancy Feast and while I gobble it all up I explain ...

"You see I have 1295 friends at home, and it's my job to help them, help them to be loved and happy and fed, and I think a Thrift Store could help me do that, nice people would give me nice things and more nice hoomans would come and buy the nice things and they'd be happy and I'd take that nice money and turn it into nice nums and then my aminal friends would all be happy to." 

And this nice hooman smiles and says, "Well little Opie, I think you've come to the right place!!  I have a building here you can have, it's a little run down, but it's in a good location where lots of people come by.  Do you mind having to clean it up a little?  Maybe get some hooman volunteers to help you paint?  I'd be so happy to donate this building to you!  It belonged to my grandpa and grandma .. but they've gone to Rainbow Bridge and I don't have much use for it, and nobody seems to want to rent it now, and I really really need the great big giant tax break I'd get for donating it to you.  What do you think, would you like this building?" 

And I look around!! And I see the other shops around, all busy with peoples, lots of peoples shopping.  And I see a big open space and a big front window I can put up purrty pictures of the aminals hoomans will be helping by shopping in my store ... MY STORE .... MY STORE !!!! 

And I jump up and down and I nosekiss this nice hooman and sit in their lap and purr for the longest time afore calling mom and telling her to come and sign the papers !!!!"    ... can you please help me find that nice hooman in my dream?  Share this with everybody, pass it around, post it everywhere ....  I know my dream is for real and that wonderful wonderful hooman who wants to help the aminals of Rikki's Refuge for ever and ever is out there somewhere .... if I just walk long enough ......

Can YOU identify the nice hooman in my dream who has the store they need anymore?  The nice hooman who will help us open a Thrift Store so we have another way to work to provide care for the animals?  Share my dream with everyone you know .....  you know the right building is just sitting there waiting for me to walk in .....


Angel
.... left behind cuz she was old ... came to Rikki’s Refuge .... fell in love with volunteer ... went home with Melissa Felts !


Baahhh Bahhhh Ebony
the black sheep in our family


Mr. Peacock starting to get his new feathers in
Did you know they fall out every year and they have to start over ?


This is a great shot showing his hat


Put February 18th, Presidents Day, on YOUR calendar
Very exciting things happening !!!! 
We have two VIP far away visitors coming and some really special events that day !!!

.... Gots to run now ... but I’ll give you all the details tomorrow .... get it on your calendar ... you’re gonna wanna spend the whole day with us ....  ending in a vegetarian BBQ and get to chat with our celebrities .... oh and I’ll tell you something else quick .... one of them is a world famous photographer and he’ll be taking YOUR picture with the Rikki’s Critter of your choice ... that’d me be wouldn’t it??  Well maybe Duke .... or Petunia ...   AND there will be a two hour photography class all about how to get the best animal shots .....  space is limited, so let me know right away if I should hold a ticket for you ....   All the details tomorrow !!!!



Yikes, I just heard Lena tell Paul to order $1,000 of canned cat food ... we have really been numming it up this winter cuz it’s been cold.  How much we eat and how much canned is all dependant of lots of things, and the weather is the biggest.  If you could help us out with a few bucks towards this $1,000 bill, I’d really love you muchly  !!!  Thank you  http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


Love you bunches,
           Opie
ps: remember 2013 is the year of the purr ....
Click Vincent to hear him purr ......