Friday, December 16, 2011

Holiday Happenings .....




Exciting Adventures
Here’s what’s going on at Rikki’s Refuge and we sure hope to see YOU.

December 17th Saturday - Noon - 2 pm, donation drop off, round up all the canned cat and dog food you can and stop by to drop it off.  Our docent had a job transfer, so I’m so sorry, but she can’t be available on Saturdays to meet and greet and show you around!  The staff can’t neglect their duties - which means feeding ME - so they can just help you with a quick unload.  But come back Sunday for a tour!

Would you like to help the animals, donate a few hours one or more Saturday’s a month, and be a Docent?  I’ll train you!!!  Be my Docent - Vincent@Rikkisrefuge.org


December 18th Sunday - TOUR the Refuge at NOON, gates open at 11:30 am, tour lasts about 2 hours and it’s all outside, so be warm.  Admission cat and dog food - as much as you can carry.  Canned please, Purina is keeping us well stocked in dry right now!!!   Big huge thanks to MIKE WOOD who drive over the river and thru the woods and up and down mountains to bring us food from Purina’s Pennsylvania Packaging Plant.  Without Mike, we’d be hungry.

If we can preserve the photo set we created for Vincent and Timmy's Christmas photos till Christmas Day we'll have a special for you!!!


NO you can't sit on St. Vince's lap and tell him your wishes for Christmas, but he can sit on your lap and you can get your photo taken for a $50 donation and you'll get one 8x10 glossy sent to you!!!!


December 24th Saturday - Noon - 2 pm, donation drop off, please be generous, we eat 30% more food in the winter time!!!   And we count on YOU!!


December 25h Sunday - Enchanted Christmas Tour at NOON, gates open at 11:30 am, tour lasts about 2 hours and it’s all outside, so be warm.  During the tour you’ll get to help decorate our trees with nums and watch us pick our favorite off the trees.  Admission cat and dog food - as much as you can possibly haul in.  Canned please, we’re well stocked on dry.  We need bird seed, oranges, and fresh produce too.

If we can preserve the photo set we created for Vincent and Timmy's Christmas photos till Christmas Day we'll have a special for you!!!

NO you can't sit on St. Vince's lap and tell him your wishes for Christmas, but he can sit on your lap and you can get your photo taken for a $50 donation and you'll get one 8x10 glossy sent to you!!!!

I think I need a new ‘puter, mine seems broken, it says nums not real word !!!!


January 1st Sunday - Opening the New Year at your favorite place will bring you good luck all year!!!   11 am Tour of the Refuge - note 11 am - not our usual noon - 11 am so we can squeeze in Nature Hike before it gets dark and cold.  Gates open at 10:30 am.  Tour at 11 am, yup, it’s all outside so dress warm warm warm.  Then at 1 pm you’ll head for the hills!!!!  Pristine Nature Hike thru the 367 acres of Rikki’s Refuge.  Good boots, waterproof and all dressed up for the weather.  Wear orange and red and bright colors so any evil poaching trespassing you know what’s don’t think you’re a deer!!!

I sure hope to see you this holiday season!  If you can’t make it, know that I’d be at your door step to wish you a wonderful Christmas if only mom would let me have a corporate jet -- but she says all the money has to go to taking care of animals, always!!!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Letter from St. Vince or St. Duke




Wowser! I just heard from Santa!

It seems he and the elves are so busy getting ready for Christmas that he needs help responding to Christmas letters and he’s asked me and Duke to help. 

Do you know someone who would like to get a Christmas letter from me or Duke? 



Get a purrsonalized or woofalized Christmas letter from Vincent or Duke Thomas Peabody !!!!

Personal for you, your child, spouse or friend!!!

There is not a Vincent or Duke fan on the planet who doesn't want one for Christmas!!!

Make a holiday donation in honor of some one as their Christmas gift and Vincent or Duke will tell them how much they mean to you!

WOW is this ever a fabulous way to make somebody on YOUR Christmas list HAPPY!!!









Here’s how to get YOUR special letter!


CLICK HERE and make a minimum $25 donation http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php


be sure to include the following information - if you can’t fit it all in the comments on the donation form, you can email me: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Name and mailing address of recipient (we’re doing this via snail mail)

Species, if not hooman (ALL animals want to know Santa is thinking of them.)

Girl or guy

Age, if child

Something to personalize the letter, such as what the recipient wants for Christmas, something good he/she has done during the year that Santa would comment on, name of family pet that could be referred to, etc.

Whether you want Duke or me to write it

The letters will have our respective pictures on them and the purrsonalized comments, for a donation of only $25 per letter (it’s getting cold and I need that Fancy Feast to keep me warm).  Be sure to let us know as early as possible and no later than midnight on Monday, December 19th, so we have time to get the letters out. Remember I don’t type so fast, and Duke has to dictate his letters to me since he can’t see.




DEADLINE: in the USA by postal service to arrive by Christmas -  10 am Monday 12/19
anywhere in the world to arrive by Christmas - 10 am Friday 12/23 
10 am is USA Eastern time!  And if you don't mind it being after Christmas - then any time is fine!

Love, Vincent                                                                                                    and Duke





Sunday, December 11, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! December 11, 2011


I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy! You are HEROES! You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day! Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things. And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here! All pawsitive all the time! I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!! Be kind and pass it on! Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!! After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


Hello my AWESOME friends!!!!
MY, how much I love you!!!  YOU are what make Team Vincent number one!!!  And you’ve done it again!!!  By working together to help the animals you’ve worked miracles!!!

YOU won the Fancy Feast contest by TWO POINTS!!!  Yes, count ‘em TWO points.  This means each and every one of you was absolutely necessary.  Without YOU Team Vincent would not have won!!!

This is going give us an interesting project to work on now.  We win the designer wedding dresses Fancy Feast used in their StoryBook Wedding, complete with cats!!!!  These are the hooman gowns!!!   Are you planning a 2012 wedding?  Well this is just for you!!!  We’ll auction or raffle the dresses and I’m told, if we can do a good job, we can bring in $20,000 to feed the critters!!!!

I need a Wedding Gown committee!  Raise you hands!!  Who wants to work on this exclusive publicity filled committee?   Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org



Sandy Claws is coming to Rikki's Refuge
Twas the month before Christmas,
            when all through the Refuge,
The creatures were unhappy,
            cuz their debt -- it was huge!
Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Sandy Claws would answer their prayers.
All creatures were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tasty food danced in their heads.
Vincent hugged his mom, told her, "Just wait and see."
"I know Sandy Claws will answer our plea."
"I hope so," said Kerry, "this year's been so tough."
"It just makes me cry, cuz there's never enough."
As they held each other, a wonder appeared:
Sandy Claws with a sleigh, he was singing with cheer.
"Don't worry Vincent, I'm here to help out!"
"I'm filling your stocking, did you have any doubt?"
"I've got ten thousand dollars for matching donations.
Ask for contributions by December 20, and have a celebration!"
Vincent and his mom were beside themselves with glee!
Now they could feed all the creatures and be debt free.
They thanked Sandy Claws with all their might,
And said, "Merry Christmas to all,
                     and to all a good night."

(ok ok, don’t yell at me, I been busy keeping everybody fed and warm here and I’m a bit late getting this announced, I real sorry, it’s hard to keep up with everything with only three legs!!)

Thanks to a wonderful and beloved donor and friend of Rikki's Refuge, YOUR donations, up to $10,000 will be DOUBLED if received by December 20th !!!!   Please help us meet this goal!!!

With 1,300 animals of 22 species, it take everyone helping out to keep them happy, healthy and warm this winter!!!!



Thank you for your support.  All donations are 100% tax deductible under IRS 501-c-3 ruling.  Can you believe it’s end of the year already and time to think about those tax returns - make yours better - keep more of your hard earned $s, a charitable deduction this time of the year can have a serious impact on the taxes you owe!!!!  

Remember ITEMS are tax deductible at their fair market rate - 4 wheel drive pickup, tractor, trailer, cargo trailer for storage, these are all items you can turn into a tax deduction.  Got a wooden shed in your back yard you’re not using?  Capital Sheds can move it to Rikki’s - giving YOU a tax deduction and the animals something wonderful.  Stock, bonds, annuities .... these can make incredibly wonderful tax deductions when you gift them!!  Talk to your accountant (or ours) to find out how in this economy, especially with investments that have lost money, you may be able to save HUGE on your taxes.  Hurry - only 20 days left till the end of the year and the end of SAVINGS!!


YOU Won Again !!!
Thanks to your diligent voting for Rikki’s Refuge in the Animal Shelter Challenge, you once again brought Rikki’s in as a winner with the most votes of any shelter in the whole world last week!!!!!   Now that we’ve won our prize for this go round of the contest, we’re asking that you bond together to help someone else win!!!  We put our furry little heads together and decided to support Kitten Action Team in SC in the USA - they very much need to win and if we move them to 3rd in their state (and YES we can do it!) they’ll win much needed money to continue to help kittens.

Please vote daily http://tinyurl.com/VoteRikkis  
Enter USA, SC, Kitten Action Team

We believe in sharing and helping all the animals of the world -- Join Team Vincent and help us help them !!!!





Exciting Adventures
Here’s what’s going on at Rikki’s Refuge and we sure hope to see YOU.

Today December 11th - TOUR the Refuge at NOON, gates open at 11:30 am, tour lasts about 2 hours and it’s all outside so put on that fuzzy long underwear if you weren’t as lucky as me and born with a layer of insulating warm fat and fur!!!!   And please be sure to bring Fancy Feast for me and lots of canned cat food for our friends to help keep them fat and fluffy and warm!!!!   

December 17th Saturday - Noon - 2 pm, donation drop off, round up all the canned cat and dog food you can and stop by to drop it off.  Our docent had a job transfer, so I’m so sorry, but she can’t be available on Saturdays to meet and greet and show you around!  The staff can’t neglect their duties - which means feeding ME - so they can just help you with a quick unload.  But come back Sunday for a tour!

Would you like to help the animals, donate a few hours one or more Saturday’s a month, and be a Docent?  I’ll train you!!!  Be my Docent - Vincent@Rikkisrefuge.org

December 18th Sunday - TOUR the Refuge at NOON, gates open at 11:30 am, tour lasts about 2 hours and it’s all outside, so be warm.  Admission cat and dog food - as much as you can carry.  Canned please, Purina is keeping us well stocked in dry right now!!!   Big huge thanks to MIKE WOOD who drive over the river and thru the woods and up and down mountains to bring us food from Purina’s Pennsylvania Packaging Plant.  Without Mike, we’d be hungry.

December 24th Saturday - Noon - 2 pm, donation drop off, please be generous, we eat 30% more food in the winter time!!!   And we count on YOU!!

December 25h Sunday - Enchanted Christmas Tour at NOON, gates open at 11:30 am, tour lasts about 2 hours and it’s all outside, so be warm.  During the tour you’ll get to help decorate our trees with nums and watch us pick our favorite off the trees.  Admission cat and dog food - as much as you can possibly haul in.  Canned please, we’re well stocked on dry.  We need bird seed, oranges, and fresh produce too.

I think I need a new ‘puter, mine seems broken, it says nums not real word !!!!


January 1st Sunday - Opening the New Year at your favorite place will bring you good luck all year!!!   11 am Tour of the Refuge - note 11 am - not our usual noon - 11 am so we can squeeze in Nature Hike before it gets dark and cold.  Gates open at 10:30 am.  Tour at 11 am, yup, it’s all outside so dress warm warm warm.  Then at 1 pm you’ll head for the hills!!!!  Pristine Nature Hike thru the 367 acres of Rikki’s Refuge.  Good boots, waterproof and all dressed up for the weather.  Wear orange and red and bright colors so any evil poaching trespassing you know what’s don’t think you’re a deer!!!

I sure hope to see you this holiday season!  If you can’t make it, know that I’d be at your door step to wish you a wonderful Christmas if only mom would let me have a corporate jet -- but she says all the money has to go to taking care of animals, always!!!



Pictures with Santa
Rikki’s is helping you to get pictures with Santa with your Critters - any kind - you bring ‘em - we photo ‘em!!

Petsmart in Central Park, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
TODAY 12/11 from 11 am - 4 pm
Next Saturday and Sunday 12/17 and 12/18 11 am - 4 pm

.....   and yikes - I really am behind, we were in two stores on the 10th, yesterday.  Bad Vincent go sit in corner for being so behind.   (((Can I have a can of Fancy Feast while I’m in time out?)))

Proceeds of these days with your photo with Santa benefit Rikki’s Refuge.  If we’re too far away - all PetSmarts are doing this - and it benefits an animal organization in your area - so get that photo of your doggie, kitty, parrot or boa!!!!



Angel Trees
Going great again this year, thank you Katarina Galvin!!!  We have trees up in many stores where you can pick an animal ornament and buy a present for one of us!!  Leave it under the tree and our volunteers are running around filling their sacks and bringing the goodies out to us at Rikki’s Refuge.
Dang --- I know Katarina sent me the addresses of all the stores who have our Angel Trees and I can’t find it!!!  How can one three legged little cat get thousands of emails every day !!!! 

Ok here from memory ---- and I’ll get the official list up here later, I promise.  Katarina, can you please send it again - any other volunteers, tell me which locations you’re picking up from, please!  Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

Culpeper, Virginia, USA
Culpeper Animal Hospital
Wal-Mart

Orange, Virginia, USA
La Rue de Beauty Hair Salon
Orange Madison Co-Op
Village Farm and Feed

Zions Crossroads, Virginia, USA
Wal-Mart

Spotsylvania / Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA
Petco
Tractor Supply
360 Feed
Giant (near Jan but I don’t have the address on the tip of my claws)


Grab some goodies and put it under our Tree!!!!

AND after Christmas watch the sales - we need more trees for next year’s program - the best are the 6 and 7 foot pre lit fold up into a small box kind !!!!!    Please grab them for us!!!  Mariza has kindly saved room in a shed at her house for storage!!!


New Members
I’d like to congratulate some new members who were voted in to serve on the Board of Rikki’s Refuge for 2012.

Can I hear a big around of apawlause for :  Gussie Lamoree, Kristina Anderson, Melissa Felts, Nora Eldridge and Robyn Schnellenberger !!!!  Yeahhh, all chosen for their hard work and dedication to Rikki’s in 2011 !!!!!


Christmas Quilt

This beautiful quilt was made by Miss Marika to raise funds to keep the 1,289 animals of Rikki’s Refuge warm all winter long!  Lovingly made, with a beautiful Christmasy / Holiday theme on the front and cozy comfy flannel on the back.  Approximately 40” by 60” a purrfect throw for winter time. 

Raffle tickets are $3 each, 2 for $5 or 5 for $10 (best bargain).

be sure to leave contact information in the comment field so we can reach you if you’re the lucky winner!!

Winner will also be posted right here - in this blog after the drawing!!!

Drawing Christmas Day at 2 pm.
We hope you’ll join us for our Enchanted Christmas Day Tour at noon on Christmas Day, December 25th.  But you DO NOT need to be present to win!!








I Love YOU,
Vincent
PS You tell me what you want! Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications! Subscriptions:  Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved. Scheduled as needed. Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us! Scheduled daily. Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s! Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge





Raffle - Christmas Quilt







THE WINNER IS
         Karen Jones, contact me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with your shipping address or let me know if you'd like to stop by and pick up!!!  Love, Vincent



Christmas Quilt

This beautiful quilt was made by Miss Marika to raise funds to keep the 1,289 animals of Rikki’s Refuge warm all winter long!  Lovingly made, with a beautiful Christmasy / Holiday theme on the front and cozy comfy flannel on the back.  Approximately 40” by 60” a purrfect throw for winter time. 

Raffle tickets are $3 each, 2 for $5 or 5 for $10 (best bargain).

be sure to leave contact information in the comment field so we can reach you if you’re the lucky winner!!

Winner will also be posted right here - in this blog after the drawing!!!

Drawing Christmas Day at 2 pm.
We hope you’ll join us for our Enchanted Christmas Day Tour at noon on Christmas Day, December 25th.  But you DO NOT need to be present to win!!

Tickets make a fun Christmas Stocking Stuffer!!!!






Wednesday, December 07, 2011

All about Animals


Rikki's Refuge provides a loving home to 1289 animals like Fred and Lucy EVERY DAY - yes, that's 1289 little friends too feed each and every day. And we need your help to do it!!!



The Twins, Fred and Lucy
Saved by Rikki's Refuge. Fred and Lucy were born wild on the streets of a military base. They, along with their mom and dad, and several older siblings were rescued and saved.

Fred and Lucy were born wild on the streets of a military base. Reproducing rampantly in an area where stray and feral cats were being killed. One of our volunteers worked to save them, trapping these two, their mom and dad, several older siblings and many aunts, uncles and cousins!!! Fred and Lucy are happily in a furrever home together now!! Others will be ready for adoption soon. The older ones may never be friendly enough for adoption, yet they will be welcome to live their life out in peace and happiness at our peaceful sanctuary. And nobody is having any more babies!!! Your vote for Rikki's Refuge in this contest helps us to continue saving lives!!





Vincent Gets an Ultrasounded
Vincent came to Rikki’s Refuge as a young kitty after a serious injury. His handicaps and daily needs require far more care than the average kitty. His problems make him unadoptable into a normal home.  He’s lived in peace and happiness at Rikki’s Refuge for almost 13 years now reaching the rank of Humane Education Spokes Kitty.  Vincent travels to schools teaching about the differently-abled, kindness and compassion.  His loving attitude has won him many fans and friends.  Even though his accident left him with a number of medical issues that need constant attention, Rikki’s Refuge provides a loving home like environment to him, and 52 other very needy kitties in their 9th Life Center.  The refuge has  many other houses and areas where the other 1,236 residents live.  Many permanent residents and some just visiting until their forever home is found.  Due to so many loving volunteers, Rikki’s Refuge is able to operate on a shoestring budget of only $1 per day per animal!!







Mr. Mister
This is Mr. Mister and he’s very happy to be alive.  Many shelters kill kitties that test positive for FIV, a virus kittie can harbor and spread thru activities associated with reproducing.  Once neutered/spayed FIV kitties live long and happy, healthy lives.  Rikki’s Refuge works with many shelters throughout the United States helping to save as many kitties as possible.  About 60 kitties with the FIV virus live at Rikki’s Refuge each and every day.  With the stigma of FIV being a little less these days, a few will get adoptive homes.  The others will have a home at Rikki’s Refuge forever!!!  YOUR support makes this possible.




Chubbs, has it HIS way
Though Chubbs isn’t exactly a barn kitty, he is in charge of any situation.  He failed at shelter life, smacking his attendants to get out of a cage.  Chubbs does it HIS way.  Human, get out of MY way.  He enjoys a pat now and then but is not one for snuggles.  Kitties with purrsonalities like this often end up dead at conventional shelters.  It’s highly unlikely you’ll get adopted when you snarl at anybody looking at you!  Thankfully, with your support, Rikki’s Refuge is able to give love and life to unconventional kitties!!!  Kitties like Chubbs can live in our family unit for the rest of their natural lives and never fear being put to death cuz they have their own ideas on how a kitty should behave!!





Chaco Taco
A rare and expensive Havana Brown, Taco will live his life in peace at his tranquil sanctuary Rikki’s Refuge.

An accident left Taco minus his tail and incontinent.  A trait that generally leaves cats unadoptable.  And hence gives them little options but to be put to death.  Lucky for Taco, he was at Winging Cat Rescue and they work with Rikki’s Refuge Life Care Sanctuary.  Now Taco will spend the rest of his days in tranquility at his peaceable kingdom, Rikki’s Refuge.  Your support of Rikki’s Refuge gives animals like Taco a second chance for life !!!



Huckleberry
Deemed unadoptable due to a seizure condition, Huckleberry was slated for death.

A sanctuary is so often that missing loop in the animal rescue business.  Rescue, rehabilitate, foster, adopt.  But what happens when someone is essentially unadoptable?  It can be a medical condition, a personality issue or just their age.  What happens then?  Usually it’s too sad to think about.

Rikki’s Refuge was founded for animals just like that.  The throw aways, the special needs, the ones nobody else wants - those are the ones we take in and we love in a home like environment for the remainder of their natural days.  It’s a big family!!  22 species, 23 if you count the human caretakers!  1289 mouths to feed, each and every day.  A few will find lovely adoptive homes.  The majority will live out their lives in the peaceable kingdom of Rikki’s Refuge.

That’s what YOUR support does!  It gives LIFE and LOVE and HAPPINESS to thousands of animals.  Animals who had no other option!

Huckleberry is a big gentle boy.  All he ever wanted was love and Fancy Feast.  When his seizure disorder was diagnosed his owners left him behind.  Not wanting the bother of giving him medicine.  Not wanting the expense of vet visits.  It was easier to leave Huckleberry at a shelter to be put to death.  This lucky boy made his way to Rikki’s Refuge where his special needs are just another part of the day and he’s loved for who he is!  A big sweet loving boy, who will love you back for hours, sitting in your lap and purring.








Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Sandy Claws is coming to Rikki's Refuge


Twas the month before Christmas,
            when all through the Refuge,
The creatures were unhappy,
            cuz their debt -- it was huge!
Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Sandy Claws would answer their prayers.
All creatures were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tasty food danced in their heads.

Vincent hugged his mom, told her, "Just wait and see."
"I know Sandy Claws will answer our plea."
"I hope so," said Kerry, "this year's been so tough."
"It just makes me cry, cuz there's never enough."

As they held each other, a wonder appeared:
Sandy Claws with a sleigh, he was singing with cheer.
"Don't worry Vincent, I'm here to help out!"
"I'm filling your stocking, did you have any doubt?"
"I've got ten thousand dollars for matching donations.
Ask for contributions by December 20, and have a celebration!"

Vincent and his mom were beside themselves with glee!
Now they could feed all the creatures and be debt free.
They thanked Sandy Claws with all their might,
And said, "Merry Christmas to all,
                     and to all a good night."


Thanks to a wonderful and beloved donor and friend of Rikki's Refuge, YOUR donations, up to $10,000 will be DOUBLED if received by December 20th !!!!   Please help us meet this goal!!! 

With 1,300 animals of 22 species, it take everyone helping out to keep them happy, healthy and warm this winter!!!!     DONATE HERE


Thank you to the following supporters who are making our dreams come true !!!!


Bubba Bergstein, Good wishes to you Max!!
Susie Jeddygirl, Merry Christmas Vincent and Rikki's!
Kristina Zanotti, Merry Christmas, Vincent and Friends!
Kim Arrigo, May your days be filled with Fancy Feast!!
Laurie K, Happy Holly Days:)
Kimberly Lewis, I love you, Vincent!
Scarlettnjo Russell, Are we there yet?
Jamie DeSimone, Keep up all of your great work!
Miryha, For Vincent & Friends!! Have a Cool Yule!
Duke Thomas Peabody


Thank you for your support.  All donations are 100% tax deductible under IRS 501-c-3 ruling.  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. Members: Combined Federal Campaign VA & MD #77674, Combined Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377, 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.

Sugarbabies - A Holistic Guide to Caring for Your Diabetic Pet

 Authored by Randi E. Golub CVT 


WONDERFUL  CHRISTMAS  GIFT  
 FOR  YOUR  FRIENDS   
WITH  DIABETIC  PETS

and $5 of the $12.50 purchase price will 
benefit the animals of Rikki's Refuge



Sugarbabies: A Holistic Guide to Caring for Your Diabetic Pet delivers the vital information required by guardians of dogs and cats living with diabetes. From a detailed description of diabetes — including signs, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, nothing is overlooked. There are comprehensive sections on diet, exercise, how to give injections and more, based on the author's expertise after three decades of working with diabetic animals.

So many pet guardians are fearful of giving injections and having this process negatively impact their relationships with their beloved pets.But Randi addresses this in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner that will bring relief and confidence to both all involved in caretaking a diabetic pet.

A professional and compassionate guide, this book guides guardians or caretakers toward positive illness management. 


and $5 of the $12.50 purchase price will 
benefit the animals of Rikki's Refuge


Randi's new book 'Sugarbabies: A Holistic Guide to Caring for Your Diabetic Pet' provides support and guidance to be used in conjunction with your pet’s veterinary care. This comprehensive and reader-friendly book speaks to everyone concerned with understanding and treating diabetes, with quality of life as the primary focus. In this professional and compassionate guide, you will find the answer to many questions, such as:

  • What is Diabetes Mellitus?
  • What are the signs of diabetes?
  • What treatment options are available for treating diabetic pets?
  • How can certain diets and exercise maximize a diabetic pet's health?
  • What can be done at home to monitor a diabetic pet?
  • How will I recognize and handle emergencies?
  • How can I provide better care for my senior pet? When you learn that your beloved pet is sick, where do you turn? If the diagnosis is diabetes, this book is the perfect place to start!

  • and $5 of the $12.50 purchase price will 
    benefit the animals of Rikki's Refuge


    "Sugarbabies" is a holistic and positive guide for anyone caring for a diabetic dog or cat. This book teaches about the signs of diabetes, how diabetes is diagnosed, and includes information on conventional and complimentary treatments, monitoring treatment as well as creating a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. Compassionate decision making support is offered throughout the book.

    Sugarbabies - A Holistic Guide to Caring for Your Diabetic Pet

    Sugarbabies- Table of Contents


    Introduction
    1.   What is Diabetes?
    2.   The Signs of Diabetes
    3.   Diagnosing Diabetes
    4.   Starting Treatment
    5.   Treatment Modalities: Different Ways of Treating Diabetes
    6.   Keeping Your Diabetic Pet Healthy through Diet
    7.   Keeping Your Diabetic Pet Healthy through Exercise
    8.   Monitoring Your Pet &Treatment Assessment
    9.   Supplies Needed for Home Treatment
    10. How to Give Insulin Injections
    11. In Home Testing Procedures for Your Diabetic Pet
    12. Problems Regulating Your Diabetic Pet
    13. Ketoacidosis and Other Unpronounceable Diabetic Emergencies
    14. Getting Out of Dodge - Traveling and Your Diabetic Pet
    15. Taking Good Care of Your Senior Diabetic Pet
    16. How Will I Know It's Time? - End of Life Considerations

    Resources
    Glossary

    Book will also include tear out sheets, including information for pet sitters, important phone numbers, a chart for monitoring and a form for charting home blood glucose curves.


    and $5 of the $12.50 purchase price will 
    benefit the animals of Rikki's Refuge


    About the author:
    Randi E. Golub is a state certified veterinary technician who brings more than three decades of experience to this book. Her specialty is the care of elderly, terminally ill, and diabetic cats and dogs. She has brought this experience to zoos, private and surgical practices, humane societies, and emergency clinics. As the proprietor of CatNurse on Call/CatNurse Cottage, she provides in home services to cats and dogs and feline exclusive boarding. The author, a world traveler and accomplished artist, resides with her husband and a tribe of rescued animals in Eugene, OR.


    Publication Date:   Jan 26 2011
    ISBN/EAN13:    1452808120 / 9781452808123
    LCCN:    2010905351
    Page Count:    196
    Binding Type:    US Trade Paper
    Trim Size:    6" x 9"
    Language:    English
    Color:    Black and White with Bleed
    Related Categories:    Pets / General
     
     
    BUY it HERE 
    and $5 of the $12.50 purchase price will 
    benefit the animals of Rikki's Refuge


     

    Wednesday, November 30, 2011

    Good Morning Good News !!!! November 30, 2011


    I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy! You are HEROES! You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day! Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things. And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here! All pawsitive all the time! I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!! Be kind and pass it on! Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!! After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

    Good Morning !!!!  My goodness what a lovely November we’ve been having!!!!   It’s felt like spring !!!!  Got a little more seasonal last night yet with a still lovely forecast in sight!

    I hope you’re enjoying this time as much as us critters are.  Thank you, nice hoomans, for making Rikki’s Refuge for us!!!  Without you ...  well we don’t think about that!!  With you, we have love and friends and family and a place to call our own!!!  Thank you for feeding us and buying us the meds we need and coming to visit us.

    I had so many wonderful visiting friends last week!!!!  Purrrzzzzz  I love sitting in your lap and purring.  That’s my favorite thing to do.  Well except for maybe eating Fancy Feast.

    It sure can take me all day writing these notes to you, sometimes my paws go so slow on the keys, I mean these are really big keys for a little kitty!!!!  And sometimes the hoomans keep shouting at me, Vincent, get over here and clean this up, one of YOUR friends gacked .........    


    Oh and guess what ???
    Fancy Feast is having a contest.  This is really important.  Here, are the details http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/2011/11/fancy-feast-contest-dec-6.html .  The IMPORTANT part to remember is to be ready to VOTE on Dec 6th - we only have 24 hours to get the most votes.  I didn’t even know about this contest and my friends voted for me in the first rounds!!!  YOU made Rikki’s Refuge one of the top four!!!   Now the challenge is down to number 1 -- can we do it??  With YOUR help, YES we can !!!! 

    The voting is only on facebook - and it’s worth setting up a facebook page just for this event if you don’t already have one.  It’s quick, and it’s free.  And if you need help I can help get you set up.  You can even use a separate email address - lots of ways to create one for free - like hotmail.com !!!!

    You and all your kitties and your doggies and your goats and your cows - they should ALL have facebook pages!!!  Yup, um hum, all the critters should have their own !!!  Just like me and Duke and Petunia and India do !!!!  

    Spread the word - get all your friends mobilized!!  Let’s win!!!  This could mean as much as $20,000 !!!!!




    YOU have voted me back into 7th place
    in the Animal Rescue Site’s Shelter Challenge
    THANK YOU !!!!
    You’re the BEST !!!

    Very Important - Today and Every Day
    thru Dec 18 VOTE !!!!
    help me win $1,000
    Please click http://tinyurl.com/VoteRikkis and enter Rikkis Refuge in VA in the USA
    It’s FREE to vote !!!!
    You click - we critters eat!!!!

    Mariza, thank you for the hooman nums!!
    The hoomans report back that they had a wonderful time and a spectacular Thanksgiving Dinner at Mariza’s.  As always Mariza had dozens of delicious vegetarian dishes !!!  Lots and lots to make every body happy!!!


    Look at all those Pumpkins!!!
    This is gonna feed most everybody here well into the winter !!!!  YEAH and HURRAY to all the pumpkin pickers this year !!!!!   You all are awesome.  That was really hard work they did.  Picking up pumpkins, loading them into their vehicle, driving to Rikki’s, unloading them pumpkins.  And they’re heavy!!!  I stayed out of the way so I wouldn’t get smushed by any pumpkins falling out of vehicles!!!


    UH OH Mike’s Truck Got Broke
    Mike drives all the way to Pennsylvania with a rented trailer on his truck or with a great big truck he’s rented to pick up food that Purina’s donated to us.  He was headed out this afternoon to pick up the trailer so he could go on a long road trip tomorrow for food.  And his truck broke down.  Can YOU rent a trailer and make the trip?  If you can please let Mike know - it can be done any day except Saturday.  So YES that means it CAN be done on SUNDAY. 

    If you can help tell Mike: wood_ma@hughes.net

    This is the last delivery Mike made .........
    It’s due to wonderful volunteers like Mike who spend a lot of time, and their own money renting trucks and things like that, that make it all possible for us to survive on $1 per day per animal at Rikki’s Refuge !!!!!   Yeahhh Volunteers!!!!!
    Unloading is an “all hands on deck” job
    Ting Ting is pretty new and was relieved
    to find out us kitties don’t have to do the unloading --- just the eating!!!





    Are YOU one of my Generous friends?
    I told the PR director at Fancy Feast (who says she loves my emails) that my friends send me monthly subscriptions of Fancy Feast from Amazon!!!  She said, that’s wonderful, but WHY?  I’d love to understand why your fans do that for you!  SO in my ever persistent effort to get on the label of Fancy Feast would you write me a quick note about WHY you like to send me Fancy Feast.  Or how I’ve inspired YOU to buy Fancy Feast for your kitties.  Anything nice you can say about Fancy Feast and ME.  Hint hint hint, why I should be on the label, I want fancy Feast to know it’ll be a win win situation if they support me and Rikki’s Refuge.  Send me your note: Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org


    I Love YOU,

    Vincent
    PS You tell me what you want! Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications! Subscriptions:  Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved. Scheduled as needed. Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us! Scheduled daily. Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s! Scheduled weekly.

    Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

    Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

    Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge







    For Katarina


    Fancy Feast Contest, Dec 6

     Hi Rikki’s Refuge –

    Congratulations and thanks again for participating in the Fancy Feast cat charity organization poll. As a quick reminder, your organization was nominated by the Fancy Feast Facebook community to take part in a community vote on Fancy Feast’s Facebook page. We were touched by the comments the community made about your organization. You do fantastic work, and we want to help you earn donations to continue helping cats in your community.

    Fancy Feast will tell the Fancy Feast Facebook community this Friday, Dec. 2 that the vote day is Tuesday, Dec. 6. Consumers will have 24 hours to vote on Dec. 6.

    The organization that receives the highest number of votes from the Fancy Feast Facebook community will receive four wedding gowns featured in the Fancy Feast Storybook Wedding TV commercial and sweepstakes that took place this summer. Each is valued for retail at approximately $5,000. If your organization receives the highest number of votes, your organization will receive the gowns. The votes are tallied through the poll on Facebook. A person can only vote once in a Facebook poll.

    What will you do with four exquisite designer wedding gowns? That’s up to you. You can auction them off to brides-to-be to raise money for your organization. Or work with an organization that would want to auction them off in return for a donation. Or whatever wonderful idea you may create. It’s up to you to make the most out of this opportunity.

    Here are a few tips:
    -          Notify your supporters and include the link to the Fancy Feast Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fancyfeast
    -          Ask them to vote for your organization on Tuesday, Dec. 6. People will have 24 hours to vote.
    -          Ask them to ask their friends and family to vote too.
    -          Post reminders each day from Friday through Tuesday.  
    -          Have signs or handouts for visitors and friendly businesses in your community who may want to help your organization earn votes.
    -          Post messages about your organization on the Fancy Feast Facebook page to get the word out about the great work you do.
    -          Put a link to the voting page on your organization’s website to show your fans and friends where to go to vote.
    -          Have fun with it – this is a friendly competition. Please be respectful!

    We’ll notify you by the end of the week – by Dec. 9 at the latest –  after the votes have been counted and the winner has been determined. From there, we’ll be in touch to work on details with the winning organization.

    Most important,  thank you for all the wonderful work you do to help cats in your community and for having such vocal supporters in the online community who want to share what you do with others who are committed to celebrating amazing acts of devotion. We sincerely appreciate your efforts and wish you all the best.

    Please confirm for me that your URL is www.rikkisrefuge.org; and please include your preferred contact information – name, email and phone.

    Many thanks for your participation – please let me know if you have any questions.

    Julie


    Julie Voss Catron
    Fancy Feast
    Marketing Public Relations
    Nestle Purina PetCare Company
    314-982-3064 office
    314-614-2553 mobile