Good Morning Good News !!!! March 3, 2014

Good morning! Yep, it's Monday again and we're already up with the chickens! Our volunteers and staff are already very busy this morning dealing with the daily feeding, watering, cleaning and care of over 1200 animals. Rain or shine, in all kinds of weather, our dedicated staff ensures the welfare of our refuge animals, and each person that comes through that gate every morning is a blessing!

Speaking of chickens...we sure would appreciate your daily vote in the Shelter Challenge! This is one way you can help us, that costs you nothing but time!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR RIKKI'S REFUGE! 

Please vote and share for Rikki's Refuge in the Shelter Challenge today! Thank you!
VOTE HERE:  

http://www.shelterchallenge.com/web/charityusa/nomineehome?userId=53331&nomineeId=17448 

Mark your calendars and save the date!
PET FIESTA - May 3, 2014
Reston Town Center, Reston, Virginia 20190
Come see us, and other great animal welfare organizations like BROOD Basset Rescue of Old Dominion, K-9 LifeSavers, Akita Rescue Mid-Atlantic Coast, Inc., Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue, and Ragged Mountain Dogs! Meet wonderful animals looking for their forever homes and check out the latest in pet products. Enjoy onstage entertainment, face painting and caricature artists. Gather the kids and join us for a day of pets and fun for the whole family! ADMISSION IS FREE!
Pet Fiesta
http://www.petfiesta.org/
Rikki’s Refuge
http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/
See You There! 

It is because of YOU, our supporters, that we can offer hope and life to each animal that comes here to Rikki's Refuge. Thank you for blessing us, so that we may continue to bless them.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RIKKI'S REFUGE! 


Today is WORLD WILDLIFE DAY!

You can learn more about World Wildlife Day at this news link:

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/biodiversity/28280-world-wildlife-day-highlights-urgent-need-to-curb-illegal-trade 

World Wildlife Day highlights urgent need to curb illegal trade. 

CALICO CORN SALAD

1 (16-oz) package frozen corn (preferably shoepeg), thawed
2 small zucchinis, diced
1/4 large red pepper, diced
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 (4-oz) can diced green chiles, drained
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 Tablespoon cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Toss together corn, zucchini, red pepper, onion, and chiles in a large bowl.
Measure remaining ingredients into a jar or bottle with a lid. Shake well.
Pour liquid over salad and stir gently. Refrigerate overnight.

Good Morning Good News !!!! March 2, 2014 - Gideon's Story

Sunday morning greetings from all of us at Rikki's Refuge! 

A quick reminder before you read today's blog, don't forget to vote for Rikki's Refuge in the Shelter Challenge today! We appreciate your support! 

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR RIKKI'S REFUGE!  

Today we're going to share with you Gideon's story. We do understand that sometimes it is very overwhelming for our readers to be told over and over again that we have between 1200 and 1300 animals (over 22 species too!) here. Believe us when we tell you it's sometimes overwhelming for us too....as we are involved in their daily care and feeding.....and are constantly chasing down financial support for everyone as we are totally run on donations as a registered non-profit. It is endless, but it is also the most rewarding and beautiful thing we can imagine doing. We will never give up!


This is Gideon. 

Gideon came to Rikki's Refuge in 2005 as a FIV+ feral. He turned out to be quite a friendly fellow, despite hating being in a cage or carrier. Close-confinement really freaked him out...as one can imagine for a guy who was used to wandering around out in the open for all his life. Gideon also had cancer on his ear-tip, and had multiple surgeries over the years to keep the cancer from spreading so quickly. This is why Gideon's ear appears damaged and scarred. In 2011 when he was thought to be around 20 and sure looked it, the cancer spread to the third eye lid. Surgery again for Gideon. Our vet. tried so hard to save his eye, but the cancer had spread so badly, that removing his left eye was the only way to save him. So you see, Gideon's scars were hard won.  

So, at 20 years old, after four surgeries (3 for his ear, and 1 for his eye)...Gideon still exuded that strong spirit. He wasn't done with us yet.   

To keep him from hurting the incision we had to let him out. He went to the 9th Life Area. He was still angry about being a cone head and about not being allowed outside - he loves real fresh nums and hates to eat kibble and canned. He likes his furry and on the run. No more mice in the cat food storage trailer since Gideon earned his running rights! Well at least not many that stay long. He was a good boy and ate the canned nums. Then curled up with his friends to nighty.  

 He recovered fine and went on to live two years longer. He was a free range kitty and enjoyed following us around as we did our chores. Very nice, very talkative, loved to greet visitors. Nothing kept him down.  

 

His last day he made a real point of running to say goodby to the volunteers he knew well and to all of us. Went to bed in his usual "dog" house outside where he could keep an eye on everything ..... he worked with Beauty and Kiki to guard things at night and always watched the driveway. Hated to be made to come inside for anything. In the morning he was still curled up in his bed but his soul had left for RB. 

So you see....this is how your donations help one animal at a time. Your support for Rikki's Refuge gave Gideon the gift of 6 years of life, happiness, veterinary care, food, shelter and love. This is why what you do, matters so much. Gideon's story was shared a few years ago in this blog. But, as we begin to share individual stories with you through our blog, we thought it very appropriate to share Gideon's story again. We sure do miss him, and will never forget him.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT OF LIFE TO BEAUTIFUL GIDEON! 


If you would like to help Rikki's Refuge, your donations enable us to help more animals just like Gideon, because here at Rikki's Refuge, all life matters. 

 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RIKKI'S REFUGE! 

Good Morning Good News !!!! March 1, 2014

Good morning! Happy Saturday! Happy 1st Day of March 2014! The good news is that Spring is just a few short weeks away (March 20, 2014). We know many of you are longing for a break in this crazy winter weather we've been having. Hang in there, warmer days are coming along with daffodils and crocuses and sweetly singing songbirds.

A reminder for next week! Daylight Saving Time will start in the United States at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2014. At that time clocks will “spring forward” one hour. All states, with exception of Hawaii and Arizona, will move their clocks forward. 

 

Join us in welcoming 6 year old Anna to Rikki's Refuge. Anna came to be with us on February 22, 2014. Isn't she pretty? 

 

 Rikki’s Refuge wishes to thank all the awesome kids from Tari's Cornerstone Studio for Dance in Haslett, Michigan. These wonderful kids worked hard to raise $350.00 for our refuge animals and we think they deserve a big paw up! Thank you so much from all of us here at Rikki’s Refuge!
You can learn more about Tari’s Cornerstone Studio for Dance here:

 ON THE WEB: http://www.tariscornerstone.com/

Tari's Cornerstone School for Dance on the Web 

ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taris-Cornerstone-Studio-for-Dance/247120775313545

Tari's Cornerstone School for Dance on Faceook 

Please keep voting for us every day in the Shelter Challenge through March!

Opie would love your daily Shelter Challenge vote for Rikki's Refuge!
VOTE HERE: http://www.shelterchallenge.com/web/charityusa/nomineehome?userId=53331&nomineeId=17448 

VOTE FOR RIKKI'S REFUGE HERE (SHELTER CHALLENGE)

 

Our friend Will Appleby is celebrating his 14th birthday today by raising funds for Rikki's! How awesome is that? There is a Facebook event page located here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/594780863925436/ 

Will Appleby's Birthday Wish 

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Will's birthday without attending his Facebook event, please feel free to send your donation to Rikki's here:

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php 

Donate for Will's Birthday!   

Don't forget that every Saturday is Donation Drop-Off Day at Rikki's Refuge! So many people have been helping us with kind and generous donations of food for the animals, and other items we need here at the refuge! THANK YOU!

 

  We know that sometimes it's hard to see how your help impacts us. Rikki's Refuge is run totally on donations. Your help really does make a difference. Here is what Greyson has to say about what you have done for him: 

 That is how you help us, by helping us save one animal at a time. It sure does make a difference to them!
THANK YOU!

Re-Tail, a Pawsome! Resale and Thrift Shop

Rikki's Refuge Re-Tail
" A Pawsome Resale Shop "
3503 Lafayette Blvd.
Fredericksburg, VA. 22408
540-891-5300

RE-TAIL on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReTail.org

Store Hours:
MON-SAT: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SUN: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

About

Re-Tail, a Pawsome! Resale and Thrift Shop! It is run by Life Unlimited of Va., Inc., better known as Rikki's Refuge Animal Sanctuary.

Description

Re-Tail is a thrift and resale store. We are a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. We accept donations Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and on Sunday from Noon until 5:00. We do not accept mattresses, boxsprings, car seats, or infant furniture.

Our goal is to help the animals at Rikki's Refuge, as well as others in our community. We have an area of the store designated to "Helping Paws". Every month, we will invite a different animal group in to sell their own items. If you would like your group to be considered, please e-mail us at Re-Tail@RikkisRefuge.org.

Hours   

Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

You’ll find all kinds of Rikki’s Refuge paraphernalia here -- T-shirts, Vincent Magnets and MORE

 

 

 

 

We have an area of the store designated to "Helping Paws". Every month, we will invite a different animal group in to sell their own items. If you would like your group to be considered, please e-mail us at Re-Tail@RikkisRefuge.org.

 

Stop n Shop today, 3503 Lafayette Blvd - business route 1 - Fredericksburg

the building was formerly Lacy’s Appliance Shop

We are missing Mary.

On Tuesday morning (1-7-14) at approximately 9:00 A.M. our EMU, MARY, was shot and killed in a fenced area of our property. This incident was investigated by Animal Control. A necropsy performed by the State Vet. Lab in Warrenton, determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound. The projectile splintered Mary's femur and bone shards subsequently severed her femoral artery, causing her to bleed to death.

We are offering a $5000 reward to the person(s) who supply us with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who committed this crime. Contact us at mail@RikkisRefuge.org or P.O. Box 1357, Orange, VA. 22960. We will keep the name of any informers confidential and also welcome anonymous tips. If you prefer to deal directly with the Sheriff, you may call 540-672-1200 or 540-672-9225 for Animal Control. 

PLEASE CALL RIKKI'S REFUGE AT: (540)-854-0870 X1 IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION!

Mary was well loved here at Rikki's Refuge! Here Mary is with Rikki's Refuge director, Kerry Hilliard.

Beau the pig also loved Mary a lot!

In fact, Beau isn't doing very well at the moment. He has been severely depressed since Mary was killed and we had to call the vet. to see him today.

When we get a true idea of how Beau is doing, we will let everyone know! Hopefully, with some time, tenderness, care and good nutrition, Beau will recover from the loss of his best friend. 

There are a few online newspaper articles about Mary:

1.   Reward increased for info on shooting of emu at Rikki’s Refuge

2.   Rikki's Refuge saddened, angered by shooting death of emu 

3.  Emu at Rikki’s Refuge killed by gunfire; reward offered 

There is also a televised news segment about Mary here, from NBC 29 WVIR-TV:

Animal Shelter Offers Reward for Finding Person Who Shot Emu  

There is a very nice article by Megan Drake on care2.com as well:

Why Was a Sanctuary Emu Shot Dead?

Mary was a gorgeous bird!

RIKKI'S REFUGE MARY MEMORIAL FUND

We have set up a “Mary Memorial Fund” on our donation page, please see the drop-down menu (top, middle of the page!). Many of our supporters have expressed a desire to help, and the best way to help us is to help us feed our refuge animals and keep things running here at Rikki’s. You may donate in Mary’s honor, and touch another refuge animal’s life through your help! Thank you!

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

We are sad and grieving this huge loss to Rikki's Refuge.

We are concerned for our staff, that despite this refuge being fenced and posted, someone could still get it in their head that it's OK to shoot our refuge animals through a fence. This could have been one of our employees or volunteers, as easily as it was Mary.

We worry for the over 1300 animals that reside at Rikki's Refuge, each with their own story, each finding care, shelter, love and LIFE...at a place that should be peaceful.

This is the road that leads to Rikki's Refuge. For many animals, this is the road that leads them to a second chance at life. We want this road to be one that leads to peace and safety. The animals here deserve this!

(Photo by Jenny Graves)

We wish to thank everyone for sharing for Mary, and getting her story out there. We wish to thank all the private donors that offered to help, raising our reward for Mary to $5000. The outpouring of love and support has come from all over the world, and we are grateful and humbled by it. We wish to thank NBC 29 WVIR-TV, Fredericksburg.com and Daily Progress for publishing stories about our Mary. Our thanks to Megan Drake for the well written article on care2.com. We wish to thank the Orange County Sheriff Department for their dedication to the ongoing investigation of Mary's shooting, and for the assistance of Orange County Animal Control and theState Vet. Lab in Warrenton for their invaluable assistance to us in this very difficult and sad time.

 And this entry shall be closed with one final photo of Mary, and one final plea for help. Please donate in Mary's honor and help us help all our animals at Rikki's Refuge. We can't do this without you!

Please donate in Mary's honor to help all our refuge animals! 

RIKKI'S REFUGE MARY MEMORIAL FUND

Happy New Year !!!

Happy New Year !!!

I first said that to you in 1999 .... 

then 2000 ....

and now this is the  16^th time !

I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR from Rikki’s Refuge !! 

Sweet Sixteen !

Together we will make this a sweet year at Rikki’s Refuge !

A sweet year for animals the planet over !

Together we will work more miracles !

Save more lives !

From those of you who you who just joined us last night ....

to those of you who were there to hear about my first dreams,

my first thoughts, for that little farm in the country,

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE !

You ARE Rikkis’ Refuge !!!

May you prosper in 2014 !

May you have much happiness and joy !

I give you the same greeting I give to

every new animal at Rikki’s Refuge.

May today be the first wonderful and magical day

of the rest of a happy and wonderful life, filled with

love, acceptance, joy and sunshine !

Thank you for being a part of Rikki’s Refuge !

Love, Kerry

Double Your Impact !!!!

*** Double your Impact ! ***

Rikki’s Refuge $20,000 Challenge!
Between Friday 12-27-13 (8:00 AM) and

               Tuesday 12-31-13 (Midnight)

                    every donation ....  up to $20,000

                               will be MATCHED by a generous donor!

It's Baaaack! The Double Your Donation Challenge!

A very generous donor will DOUBLE any donation you make, up to -- drum roll, please -- wait for it -- TWENTYTHOUSAND DOLLARS!

You readthat right: $20,000.000

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

There's a bit of a catch, though: this double your donation challenge is ONLY valid from 8 AM (EST) Friday, December 27th until midnight on New Year's Eve, December 31st. So, c'mon! Pitch in, and help all of your animal friends at Rikki's.

Rikki's Refuge is home to almost 1300 animals, of over 20 species; and over 600 are cats (Yay, cats! Cats rule, dogs drool. Oops, sorry, getting distracted ...)

It costs about $1per day to take care of each and every one of us at Rikki's. For some, the cost is more per day, and for others, it's less, but it averages to about $1 per animal per day. In round numbers, that's about $1400 per day, EACH AND EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. In today's short-hand, that $1400/day X 24/7/365. Wow, that's a lot of money we need each and every day at Rikki's.

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

Now let's do some math. If, yes IF,we meet the $20,000 donation challenge, then that will mean a total of $40,000 for Rikki's. At $1400 per day, the $40,000 ONLY lasts about 28 days.

Gosh, that's scary, isn't it?

But this scared kitty can dream, can't he?

My daddy, Vincent, dreamed about stuff like this all the time,

and his dreams almost always came true.

Now I need to follow in my daddy, Vincent's, paw steps,

and help make my dream of meeting this challengecome true!

Will YOU help me?

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

And to do that, to meet thedonor challenge, I need YOU!

Yes, you.

The one out there reading this, the one following me on Vincent Cat's Facebook page. PLEASE! Make my dream come true. It's almost the end of the year, and you get a tax write-off for any donation you make.   www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

And, yourdonation will be doubled -- it's almost like magic.   Please give, please help us. Your $1 becomes $2; your $5 becomes $10; your $20 becomes $40; your $50 becomes $100; your $100 becomes $200, your $250 becomes $500; your $500 becomes $1000! EVERYLITTLE BIT HELPS.  www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

Rikki's Refuge is in its 15th year, and we'vesaved thousands of animals, with your help. Rikki's runs because of wonderful people like you, who have stepped up time and time again to help out.

We, the animals of Rikki's, cannot live without your love and support. And we want YOU to know how very much we appreciate all that you do for us.

Rikki's has run a number of donor challenges over the years, and we have never, ever NOT been able to meet a donor challenge goal. So, jump in, share this blog with friends, and help up meet this goal.  www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

Wishingyou the happiest of new years, and much love.

With LOVE, KiKi, Sally,Opie, Vincent, Duke, William

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

*** Double your Impact! ***
Rikki’s Refuge $20,000 Challenge!
Between Friday 12-27-13 (8:00 AM) and Tuesday 12-31-13 (Midnight) every donation up to $20,000 will be MATCHED by a generous donor!
Donation Link: www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

THANK YOU!
Please help us keep over 1300 animals warm and fed through Winter 2013/2014!
We cannot do this without you!
Rikki's on the Web:
www.RikkisRefuge.org

Rikki's on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/RikkisRefuge

Rikki's on Twitter:
@RikkisRefuge

Rikki's Blog:
www.RikkisRefuge.Blogspot.com

Rikki's on Pinterest:
www.Pinterest.com/VincentCat/vincent-d-cat-and-friends

Rikki's on Flickr:
www.Flickr.com/photos/Rikkis_Refuge

To make a donation to Rikki's:
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 450 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals. The refuge is home to almost 1300 animals of 22 different species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, emus, chickens, ducks, geese, a chukar, peacocks, and more. It is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. an approved not-for profit Virginia Corporation and IRS tax code 501(c)(3) corporation as determined by the IRS. Federal Tax-ID number 54-1911042. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION LINK: www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate