HELPING ANIMALS AT OUR SANCTUARY AND AROUND THE WORLD!
RIKKI’S REFUGE IS A MULTI-SPECIES LIFE-CARE NO-KILL SANCTUARY
FOR THE MEDICALLY AND SOCIALLY CHALLENGED
SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS FROM KIND AND GENEROUS PEOPLE LIKE YOU !
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
Bissell MVP Contest
Vote daily Wednesday March 23rd thru Tuesday March 29th for Duke
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Rikki’s Refuge
Click here to Vote for Duke
Always happy, even with congenital eye defects, Duke is a Spokes Dog, inspiring hope in handicapped animals and humans everywhere. Duke is as sweet as he is cute!!!
I know he’s a dawggie, he can’t help it, he was born that way!!! Please vote for him anyway.
Round the Refuge
So much Good News since I talked to you !!!!! We won $1,000 in the Shelter Challenge for week 9. Yippeeee See what your clicks did!!!! You made 4,000 dinners for us!!!! That’s a lot of nums.
The Animal Rescue Site has decided to share more this year than before. So that means that we got named WINNER for Week 9 and then have to let somebody else win the rest of the prizes. Oh well. I’ll be a good sport and not merooowww.
It gives me an idea for next challenge that starts on April 4th!!! If we get the most votes in weeks one, we can either go on to be top three in the nation - and then win more money. Or we can pick who we want to win and start voting for them !!! Gotta work out the details but maybe we can help others win too who need help!!! isn’t that wonderful???
More Good News!! Most of the skunk smell is off Tess after three baths today!
And more Good News!!! Lots of work done on Sunday. Rabbit Rotunda II saw a lot of progress.
It’s got a terrific roof structure that is gonna hold up with any snow now!!
KiKi and Beauty greet Dave and want to know how long till lunch break. They love to eat his lunch.
Dave and his bro hard at work.
Mary came to help.
And so did Andy
And more Good News!!!! Andy and his lovely wife Patty want to adopt a kitty!!!! They adopted a doggie Starr from us five years ago. She was really shy and scared and they fell in love and they took her home and now she’s really happy. They have two other doggies too. And now they want a kitty!!!! Yeahhhh!!!!!
And even more Good News!!! Katarina was so busy Sunday, she did two tours!! Lots of people want to come and learn about the animals and shy it’s good to save them!! The whole world needs to know about this.
And Good News for our Volunteers!!!
March 26th is
Volunteer Appreciation Day!
Duke kisses new volunteer Robin
If you have volunteered at Rikki's Refuge you have helped save the lives of all the animals. Come out to the refuge this Saturday and let the animals say thank you! Of course, our favorite thing to do as volunteers is feed the animals we love their favorite treats. So, we will have plenty of treats on hand for you to give them. All the animals are going to love all over you as soon as the see you coming with those treats.
Then around 5 pm, we'll start up the grill and have a lovely vegetarian cook out. Come enjoy the day with your favorite animals and your favorite animal lovers. Please let me know if you can come so we'll know how much to bring for the cook out =0) E-mail me at katarinagalvin@yahoo.com
I have so much more Good News to tell you and I’m so tired I can’t think!!! Some of that Good News is that mom and me stayed up all night with three sick friends and they all are feeling good today and look great!!! Yeahhh.
Jessie the dawggie my big black old lady lab friend had a problem and like a small seizure and mom was scared it was her heart cus she’s real old and real fat, but not as fat as when she came!!! Lucky lucky, Doc Meredith said it was just a little seizure and Jessie seemed in really good shape, just watch her and if it happens more we’ll have to try and find out why. She’s eating and back to her normal self.
Buster is an old man diabetic kitty with no teeth. He’s real funny. He love to chomp down on hoomans chins when they hold him. They always get real scared and jump and then he just gums them!!! Last night a couple hours after his night time insulin shot I had to run get mom cuz Buster was looking sick and hanging over the water bowl. Uh Oh mom was afraid his blood sugar was gonna be messed up. She couldn’t even get blood cuz he was so dehydrated. So she gave him fluids and about an hour later he ate some tuna and was feeling feisty and looking better. She who opens cans is a stubborn one and wanted to know what his blood glucose level was anyway. She’s a worry wort. So they fighted and struggled and mom got his blood but he got more of her’s!!! His blood glucose level was fine, a little high but probably from the stress of the fight. Mom’s probably was too!! And her good news is that the claws marks on her belly and chest are healing up nicely and don’t hurt nearly as much tonight as they did last night!!!
This morning Buster has the sniffles so that’s what was going on, coming down with a cold, that always messes up his diabetes. He’ll be fine.
Mikey’s Good News is that he’s feeling a lot better and breathing pretty good today. Mikey is a feral guy with asthma and he has trouble breathing if he gets sniffles. He needed the inhaler and to be on the vaporizer last night. He don’t like the inhaler and the Good News is that mom’s finger, or what’s left of it, is healing nicely. Mikey has really healthy teeth!
All them made us real tired and I think I’m gonna fall asleep before I finish the Good News, so I say nighty and try to write you early tomorrow morning!! OK??
Vinspirational Visions
Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it.
Boldness has genuine power and magic in it.
I’m going to get under my lectic bankie and dream about something really good now!!!
Wayne loves to study an animal and capture their essence which he then turns into a whimsical work of art depicting them at work or play. Your pet’s whimsical custom portrait available for only $300 (donated to Rikki’s Refuge). Contact me and I’ll put you in touch Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Prints available, 8” x 10”, on heavy stock, suitable for framing, $25 each, resolution may vary so you may want to ask first. Specify which print you want and shipping address. http://bit.ly/WayneMorrisPrint
Stelly prefers to ice skate
On this Day
Well yesterday March 22, in 1903, Draught caused Niagara Falls to run dry. Well history is not repeating itself this year!!!!
March 22, is World Day for Water - so it’s a day early - it’s POURING buckets and buckets out there.
Because I Love Somebunny
Love,
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
If you have volunteered at Rikki's Refuge you have helped save the lives of all the animals.
Come out to the refuge this Saturday and let the animals say thank you!
Of course, our favorite thing to do as volunteers is feed the animals we love their favorite treats. So, we will have plenty of treats on hand for you to give them. All the animals are going to love all over you as soon as the see you coming with those treats.
Then around 5pm, we'll start up the grill and
have a lovely vegetarian cook out.
Come enjoy the day with your favorite animals and
your favorite animal lovers.
Please let me know if you can come so we'll know
how much to bring for the cook out =0)
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
Round the Refuge
I love you, my awesome friends, you all are so special. Thank you Melissa, Deb from Indiana, who worked with India and Me throughout the night reminding our friends to vote. The shelter challenge is a planet wide contest, and we have friends in every time zone across the planet, so reminding them to vote as they woke up and came on line can win the final few needed votes.
You all did a fabulous job turning your clicks into dollars!!! YOU won week 9 with the most votes and that brought in a $1,000 check today!!! Yeahhhh. That will feed 4,000 meals at Rikki’s Refuge. What a huge amount of food. With 1,259 of us to feed every day ..... we need all the help we can get.
Now we sit with paws crossed till Wednesday morning when they announce who the state winner is. We started the day three hairs ahead - let’s hope we were able to maintain it!!!!
Helping to feed everybody is why I need YOUR help tomorrow, Tuesday, in the mid afternoon. We’re expecting a donation from Purina of 10 pallets of nums. Paws crossed it’s good nums. Some for the doggies and lots and lots for the kitties. Not cuz they love ME more but cuz there are more of us kitties!!! Can you come out and help us unload?? We form a fire brigade and pass the food off the truck into our storage trailer. Over and over and over !!! Please come help us.
So much good help and so many good volunteers yesterday. I wanted to share the pictures with you this morning but mom has to take the puter cuz she’s got to get Duke’s photos ready. He got chosen, as the only doggy, to run in Zoe’s line of handicapped or service animals in the Bissell contest. Somebody else had been scheduled to run this week and she got really sick from her handicap problem so she had to step down. Lots of nominations were looked at and the vote fell in favor of Duke. So now mommey has to get his pictures ready. He and me did a photo shoot this weekend and I think if she who opens cans picked a picture of Duke with me standing in front of him - it’d be the winner!!!!
SO cuz she who opens cans is gonna be she who fixes up pictures - I’m not gonna get time to download my weekend pictures till later. So instead of writing Goon Midnight Snack time - I’m gonna write now and show you the pictures tomorrow. It that ok?
Dave and his brother and Mary and Andy worked on the roof at Rabbit Rotunda II and really got an awfully lot done for four people. Dave said Gee if only 8 or 10 had been here think of what we could have done. So please think about helping next SATURDAY.
Katarina was real busy all weekend. We were really short staffed. Only 3 people. Yikes. It takes five to keep up well. Four for a day or two and you can catch up. But we’ve been four for almost a month now and then Sean had a few vacation days off for a family event and that made three. Yikes!!! Thankfully a new guy starts today. He was gonna be part time fill in, but he gets promoted to full time on his first day!!! Paws crossed that he keeps loving us no that he has to clean up our poo. Two interviews for people who sound good on Wednesday to be back up on call people to help out. Paws crossed they work out.
So Katarina was helping out here and there. Scooping a cat box and getting a volunteer started. Washing dishes and giving a tour. She had enough tour people to make it two tours yesterday. We hope many of them will come back as regular volunteers.
Gosh it’d be wonderful to have enough money to have like 10 or 12 people working every day!!! But we don’t!! So we really need YOU to volunteer to help scrub floors and clean litter boxes and pooper scoop. And if you really can’t stand the poo, well there are dishes to wash and grass to mow (there will be real soon) and things to build and fix. So what ever you can do, we need you!!!!
This is how I feel when I get a can of Fancy Feast
This Saturday, March 26th, we want YOU to come and buy OUR collectibles and other wonderful stuff! Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary has a booth at a huge, INDOOR craft/yard sale event at the Locust Grove Middle School (31208 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove, VA 22508) from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. About 10 miles from Rikki’s.
All sales from our booth go directly to help feed, medicate and shelter the 1200 plus creatures at Rikki’s. You can purchase something great (for yourself or a gift for a friend) AND help keep Vincent D. Cat in Fancy Feast and the dogs in kibble – how great is that? Cash, please.
We have a large cardinal collection, a small bulldog collection, a huge collection of hand carved stone animal totems (frogs, buffalo, coyote, bears, seal, large white buffalo and so many more!), some housewares, catnip sacks, handmade fleece rope dog toys, jewelry, candles, statues, chimes and trinkets galore.
We also have a nice collection of size 12 and size 14 clothes (only $3.00 per item and many still have tags) and a few stuffed toys for the kids. We also have some Christmas ornaments, a pair of black end tables and a bit of this and a bit of that. Whew!
Everything is clean and in great shape – no junk here!
We are supposed to be at spot #10, but if we have been moved, just ask the Lionesses who are hosting the event where they have moved us – or look for our purple Rikki’s Refuge banner. ---Kathy Doucette
We didn’t get very good pictures of the Super Full Moon Saturday night but some folks did!!!
This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest point.
And, you also see the sun below the moon.
That is probably the most spectacular one I’ve seen. But here are lots of other beautiful ones too.
Is Lake Superior, Minnesota covered in ice or snow?? But gosh is that spectacular. just imagine the set up and the waiting and the timing and all the work that went into getting these wonderful pictures.
And don’t you forget WE are just as beautiful!!!!!
It was really nice to see Kerri from Magpi Studios last weekend too. It was a surprise visit and here’s what she shot!!
Vote daily Wednesday March 16 thru Tuesday March 22nd for Sugar
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Purr Angels
Click here to Vote for Sugar
Sugar is a therapy cat for my 12 y/o Asperger's Syndrome son. He teaches my boy it's ok to have emotions and taught him about body language. He is 4.5 yrs. old and neutered. His organization is PURR ANGELS.
Vinspirational Moments
Life is a rope that swings us through hope,
always believe today is much better than yesterday and
tomorrow will be better than today!
Life gives answers in three ways,
it says YES and gives whatever you want,
it says NO and gives you something better,
it says WAIT and gives us the best.
I’m taking this to mean yesterday all my friends were voting for our success!!! Tomorrow will bring wonderful donations of tons and tons of delicious nutritious nums. And Wednesday will bring the announcement that Vincent is the Virginia State Varmint !!! But if not ..... what will be waiting for us !!!!
Wayne loves to study an animal and capture their essence which he then turns into a whimsical work of art depicting them at work or play. Your pet’s whimsical custom portrait available for only $300 (donated to Rikki’s Refuge). Contact me and I’ll put you in touch Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Prints available, 8” x 10”, on heavy stock, suitable for framing, $25 each, resolution may vary so you may want to ask first. Specify which print you want and shipping address. http://bit.ly/WayneMorrisPrint
Marco’s favorite winter sport is sledding
On this Day
We have a lot to do today!!! March 21, is Memory Day - so we have to remember all the good things in life and all the good things we’re so thankful for. Rikki’s Refuge is the first good thing that comes to my mind. Without them I’d be ... well ... this is Good News so let’s not think about that!! The next if Fancy Feast, num num. And of course all my wonderful friends!! My HEROES who make life here possible. I love you all so much. You all give me so much to be happy for every day!!!
March 21, is also National Common Courtesy Day. Sometimes it seems like that’s sorely missing doesn’t it? I can be standing in line at the grocery store, clutching my cans of Fancy Feast, struggling to reach up and get it on the check out counter and the guy behind me is more likely to shove me out of the way and say, “hey you little runt, who let you in here anyway, I’m an important hooman, I have opposable thumbs and I need my beer now, so get out of my way” than he is to say, “can I help you set that up there?”
You know it takes so little to be a hero instead of an ... uppps mom’s coming, if I say words like that she washes my mouth out with soap. But you know what I mean, don’t you? Just a little bit of kindness goes so far.
And March 21, is National Dance Day - oh that should be Wednesday!! I hope I get to do the happy dance and I hope I get voted the Virginia State Varmint !!!! Paws crossed we win the Shelter Challenge. YOU all worked so hard to be HEROES, you deserve to win!!!
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, Pet smart 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
I’m India D. Cow 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
Great Big Red Alert!!!!
HI, I’m India, and I’m the biggest critter at Rikki’s Refuge, so I think I deserve my say. It’s not just cats and dogs around here. They seem to get all the press. But what about us cows and goats and horses and sheep and pigs? We have rights too.
That little black and white cat friend of yours seems to be slipping on the job.
Did you know we are only three hairs ahead of that doggie only rescue trying to tromp us?
Well, that’s a total outrage! More species, more animals, more wonderful voters !!! You’re not gonna let them get ahead are you?? Last contest you pulled us so far ached we had nothing to worry about. This time, we’re flapping in the wind. What’s going on?
And we only have till midnight Pacific Standard Time. That’s 3 am tonight, well actually tomorrow morning. SO YOU GOTTA VOTE, INDIA !!!!
It is SO easy, SO simple, SO quick, even I voted this morning and I’m a cow !!! You can do it. We need your vote. We need all your friends to vote. Call everybody you know with a ‘puter and walk them thru the steps. VOTE.
Get us far enough ahead today that Mom won’t be compelled to stay up all night begging friends all over the world to vote - PLEASE - she’s a grouch when she has to stay up all night and then I don’t get my apple in the morning. So this is really important.
And just to seal matters and make sure we’re gonna win - well - I had to take drastic steps. Don’t worry, I haven’t stepped on HIM ... yet! I’m holding Vincent hostage, until I’m clearly the winners of the Shelter Contest. Hush up little kitty, you can live on hay like the rest of us out here!!
Want to see Vincent eat Fancy Feast again? Well get your votes in!!! Want to even see that wrascly little varmint again? Well get your votes in!!!
Us cows is usually mellow grass chompers, but when we get annoyed we get FIERCE !!!! Trust me, don’t test me!!!
Vote now, win this contest, and you’ll see your beloved little black and white pal back tomorrow.
OR .... well mom says this has to be friendly and upbeat so I guess I can’t say ....
Mooooo tooooo youuuuuuu. We need volunteer help Tuesday afternoon. Mid afternoon. Mike is driving up to Pennsylvania for a huge load of cat and dog food. Worthless stuff. You’d think he could get corn and oats and hay. But no, it’s cat and dog food. Ick. That little black and white cat friend of yours promised Mike he’d get volunteers out to help unload all the nums. If that cat hasn’t won his freedom it’ll be up to me to fill his obligations.
So please put Tuesday afternoon on your schedule.
Come out RIGHT NOW to help with Rabbit Rotunda II. Hey, why aren’t we building Bovine Boulevard II? What is it with all these little animals. And next SATURDAY more work on Rabbit Rotunda II.
Tour today at Noon! Bring lots of apples and carrots and celery, I just love celery!!! Alfalfa cubes, yuuummmmm.
Lots of wonderful volunteers were helping out yesterday. So much getting done!! Spring cleaning in Rabbit Rotunda, Cat House #1 extension. Thank you Beth for the donation of the cages for the new quarantine building!!! That’s really taking so much longer than planned. It’ll be so nice when it’s finished and it’ll make more space in the 9th Life Center. Not that I’m allowed thru the door to the 9th Life Center - not that I’d fit thru .....
Thank you Ron for the truck full of lumber for Cat House Number 1. Thank you Dave for the great big huge truck full of lumber for Rabbit Rotunda II. Where’s the lumber for the new cow barn and spa?
The full moon was lovely last night. Them hoomans were touring about watching the critters and they didn’t even need flash lights. WE cows NEVER need flash lights to get about at night.
As lovely as the moon was last night, there was a sadness too. Mountain, my favorite howler, crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I could hear him howling his beautiful blue tic howl all the way up at Bovine Boulevard every night, maybe it was the moon, the deer out and about, a cat walked by, or he saw a star. Mountain loved to howl.
The Mount Everest of Hound Dogs
by Cindy Wright
On March 19th, the handsomely rotund and perpetually optimistic blue tick coon hound from Dog Run #6 passed over to the Rainbow Bridge under the big full moon at Rikki's Refuge. He was about four years old and had been suffering from bone cancer. Mr. Mountain never met a human he didn't love (to beg a treat from) or a cat he didn't want to chase. One of his favorite ways to charm extra treats from people was the "sit down and shake your hand" trick -- a feat he could accomplish with either his left paw or his right paw. The sweet boy was an ambidextrous hound. And he was a skilled escape artist -- working in conjunction with is partner in crime Ms. Summer, he could sneak out of any gate on the farm. His next door neighbor Mr. Navigator often said "his nose just knows how to defeat a gate latch!" He spent most of his adult life in the Doggy Downs neighborhood of Rikki's Refuge, where he and Summer liked to spend their days eating treats, receiving head pats and ear scratches, and melodically baying at, well, almost anything that struck their fancy. Mr. Mountain was abundantly affectionate to everyone he ever met, and his dark yellow eyes always shined with love and gratitude. With a heart the size of a mountain, he was one unique blue tick hound that remained true to his name until the very end.
Vote daily Wednesday March 16 thru Tuesday March 22nd for Sugar
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Purr Angels
Click here to Vote for Sugar
Sugar is a therapy cat for my 12 y/o Asperger's Syndrome son. He teaches my boy it's ok to have emotions and taught him about body language. He is 4.5 yrs. old and neutered. His organization is PURR ANGELS.
Guess what? Duke starts running on Wednesday!!!!
My Favorite Quote, Today
Life is better when you were happy.
But life is at its best when other people are happy because of you.
“Yes, everybody, HELP, you’ve got to vote, you’ve got to win this one for me, India is holding me hostage at Bovine Boulevard and making me eat, ukkk, hay!!! HELP, vote and prove you love me and India will let me go unharmed. Gosh have you ever seen how big her feet are??? It’s scary in here! HELP, I need YOUR VOTE RIGHT NOW! Thank you, I love you, I hope to see you again soon. Vincent”
Wayne loves to study an animal and capture their essence which he then turns into a whimsical work of art depicting them at work or play. Your pet’s whimsical custom portrait available for only $300 (donated to Rikki’s Refuge). Contact me and I’ll put you in touch Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Prints available, 8” x 10”, on heavy stock, suitable for framing, $25 each, resolution may vary so you may want to ask first. Specify which print you want and shipping address. http://bit.ly/WayneMorrisPrint
Hilary Dressed to the Hilt for Winter
Tails of Trivia
A scallop has 35 eyes and they are all blue. Their eyes can't see shapes, but can detect light and motion.
Greyhounds have the best eyesight of any breed of dog.
Goats do not have upper front teeth.
Beavers have orange teeth!
On this Day
Did you know that today is, March 20th is the Great American Meat Out Day? Do you know what that means? It’s a day when we ask you - no we beg you - don’t eat any of us today. I’m a cow. I say Moo. I like to eat grass. I like to lay in the sun. I like lots of the things you do, like to be happy, to feel loved and cared about, to have my life free to be me ... not to be MEAT .... I wouldn’t eat you. Please don’t eat me. We’ve never tried to bring violence on you, please stop this violence on us, because if it goes on sooner or later ......
The 24th Species
Rikki’s Refuge’s Human Habitat
Rikki’s brings cooperative marketing to local businesses
SUNDAYS TOUR THE REFUGE - NOON, mini tour, take a walk around and see the animal neighborhoods. Every week on Sunday you can join a mini tour where you can walk around from animal neighborhood to neighborhood, from Piggy Paradise to Horsey Haven and see the animals. One tour only, starts at noon. Please be prompt.
March 20, 2011 SUNDAY RAISING THE ROOF AT RABBIT ROTUNDA II 8 am till 4 pm, strong individuals willing to listen, learn and take direction, need 8 people
March 20, 2011 SUNDAY JOIN THE PEACOCKS - Celebrate the Vernal Equinox, and watch as Mr Peacock's fancy turns to…Mrs Peacock, hens, roosters, dogs, sheep, lawn mowers. Watch him fan his magnificent tail feathers and shake them at any potential mate.
Because I Love YOU
Love,
INDIA
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
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
Great Big Red Alert Need Your Help Down on the Ranch !!!!
I’ve been working for years to help the hoomans keep Rikki’s Refuge running. It’s good to get up in the morning and know I have a task that’s so worth while. Don’t you love knowing that your life matters to others? Well it’s important to us too. And so We’ve banded together with a new idea!
Animal Artists. We’re taking turns doing pieces of artwork that can be sold to raise funds for the refuge. Hey, I heard of an elephant who gets thousands for slashes of bright paint across canvas. Well some of us are really talented!!
Little Mystique is the first Animal Artist of Rikki’s Refuge I’d like to present to you.
Mystique is one of a litter of 5 who came to Rikki's Refuge. Only she and one of her brothers is still surviving. They have a genetic heart defect, and Mystique, at age 7 months, has lived far longer than anyone would have expected. She is petite for her age, but otherwise shows no hint of having a problem. Her brother, who is a black and white tuxedo, is the same. Mystique is one of the favorites at Rikki's, and likes to ride on the shoulders of Valerie, one of the employees at the Refuge. She will also volunteer to eat anyone's food, whether they want a volunteer or not. Heaven forbid that anyone is eating cheese -- Mystique won't beg, she will simply jump on the table and try to help herself!
Meet Mystique the Animal Artist
Mystique has worked hard to create a line of lovely jewelry for Easter!! What a lovely gift for everyone on your list! Safe and durable, the recipient will remember you forever! Lovely to wear or hang in any setting. Each piece is purrsonally painted by the artist!!
Easter Egg necklace, "pawtographed" by Rikki's Mystique
Your choice of color (shown in pictures) of Easter Egg necklaces. The pendant is made from a 1 3/4" wooden egg, which has been painted either green, pink, peach, blue, yellow, or purple. Then, Mystique, a feline resident of Rikki's Refuge, added her paw print in black. I wrote her name, and Rikki's Refuge on the back of each. Then, a clear sealant was added. Each comes on a 26" ribbon, the color of which coordinates with the color of the egg. You choose the color of egg that you would like. I have 4 of each color, so you tell me how many of each color you would like. Colors may sell out fast, so act fast!
Proceeds from the sale of these necklaces will help Mystique and the other 1200+ animals at Rikki's.
Vote daily Wednesday March 16 thru Tuesday March 22nd for Sugar
quick, simple, free
Your daily vote could win up to $10,000 for Purr Angels
Click here to Vote for Sugar
Sugar is a therapy cat for my 12 y/o Asperger's Syndrome son. He teaches my boy it's ok to have emotions and taught him about body language. He is 4.5 yrs. old and neutered. His organization is PURR ANGELS.
Interview with Sugar
Vincent: Hi Sugar! So glad to be supporting you this week in Bissell. Tell me something about yourself?
Sugar: I just turned 5 on St. Patrick's Day. Oh I had so much fun on my birthday this year, and it's even more special this year! As a present, I was given my degree as Dr. Sugar Dial. Chazz recently told Mother he wants to become an Animal Cop, so he can take care of other animals the way I take care of him.
Vincent: Well Happy Birthday, Sugar!! And congratulations Dr. Dial, that’s quite impressive! Tell me why you wanted to run in the Bissell contest?
Sugar: I wanted to show humans that other humans that are different are nice people. See, my boy, Chazz, has Asperger's Syndrome, and I've been his therapy cat since almost day 1! When he was in second grade, and me just a kitten, Mother noticed that Chazz calmed down so much if I was with him during a 'meltdown'. I wasn't made to be with Chazz, I just went to him when he was down. Now, 4 years later, I take my job very seriously, especially now that he is being bullied so much at school. *looks away for a moment, then looks back at Vincent* It's been rough, because he also stutters. But when he's with me, he doesn't stutter. The days he comes home, with that certain emotion swirling around him, because the kids at school have been bullying him, are the days I am needed most.
Vincent: Oh Sugar, I bet Chazz is a great hooman. It is sad how hoomans have do much trouble accepting each other no matter what. I like to help the hoomans who feel bad and unloved too. I’m so glad you found Chazz to take care of. Tell me about the rescue group you support and why you love them.
Sugar: My rescue group is PURR ANGELS, in Siskiyou County, Ca. Miss Gloria, who runs it, reminds me of Miss Rita of Purrever Sanctuary, the Sanctuary that received Gracey (The Tiniest Tiger's) winnings from the Bissell contest last year. PURR ANGELS is a very small organization, that spays/neuters feral kitties in my area. I support small organizations-they need us!
Vincent: You’re absolutely right Sugar. These organizations need us helping them. So many many good hoomans working so hard to help us. We need to work to help them. Being a working cat is rewarding. I remember when I was an ordinary cat. Just lazing around the place 23 hours a day. Yeah, that was the life. Now that feeling I have when I finally put whisker to pillow at night, knowing I’ve made a difference in the world, well, there’s just nothing like it, is there? Do you have a message for the world?
Sugar: A message? Oh, goodness me! With what is happening in Japan, and what happened in Australia at the beginning of this contest, it makes me feel very fortunate to be with my boy. I wasn't a rescue, but before Chazz took me home, I was part of barn cat family. I was fed, along with the rest of the family, because the little girls who found me living under her new house's steps. She petted me and loved me, and she found me Chazz. We all need to loved, not matter what we may look like, or who the person we take care of sounds like. Words hurt, and I would like everyone to think before they speak next time. I guess it's a mixed message, Vincent!
Vincent: But a very important message Sugar. Love and kindness is so important in our world. It takes so little to reach out and be somebody’s HERO. Just a little caring and kindness can mean the absolute world to somebody. No matter what their species is. I’m so happy to know you and to have you as a friend. Thank you for running in the Bissell contest and thank you for caring and helping our hoomans and all species, Dr. Dial !!!!
Sugar: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Vincent. I know you are an extremely busy cat!
My Favorite Quote, Today
So long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist.
For now I know one of the greatest principles on success;
if I persist long enough I will win.
-----
I know what I want. I want to win the Shelter Challenge. I want YOU to be my HERO. I want YOU to vote vote vote and I want you to ask your friends to vote vote vote!!!!
Wayne loves to study an animal and capture their essence which he then turns into a whimsical work of art depicting them at work or play. Your pet’s whimsical custom portrait available for only $300 (donated to Rikki’s Refuge). Contact me and I’ll put you in touch Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org Prints available, 8” x 10”, on heavy stock, suitable for framing, $25 each, resolution may vary so you may want to ask first. Specify which print you want and shipping address. http://bit.ly/WayneMorrisPrint
Helmi, headed home from a long day
at Quin Investigations -
another case of Cat Burglary
Tails of Trivia
Walker offers some silly jokes for the daily good news reports!
New Dog Cross Breeds
They crossed a Irish Water Spaniel and a English Springer Spaniel.
The new breed is a Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean.
They crossed a Bull Terrier and a ShihTzu.
The new breed is a uhh, I'll get back to you on that.....
On this Day
March 19, Saturday, is Act Happy Day, and that means Rise and shine, vote for Vincent, hustle to the grocery store and stock up on Fancy Feast and other goodies and head on down to Rikki’s for the Noon - 2 pm Donations Drop off. Volunteer for the afternoon, scooping lots of icky poop - we don’t like it either and we need your help to make it go away!!! And then stay for the best Full Moon Walk Ever. Remember it doesn’t start till after dark !!!!!
March 19, Saturday, is also Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day
March 20, Sunday, is the Great American Meat Out Day, can you go without meat for a day? Just give it a try. For every meal there’s lots of other yummy things to eat. Just for one day, try, please try, and leave us off your plate!!
Music and Motion
Good Times in the News
A-roar-matherapy
Zoo treats its pride of lions to the modern-day spa experience
Aromatherapy for lions? Massages for tapirs? It might sound like something you'd only see in a Disney cartoon but the luxury answer to animal care is happening for real in a Devon zoo.
Indu the female lion is responding well to the aromatherapy trials at Paignton Zoo, while Misha the tapir thinks having her back rubbed with almond oil is to die for.
The trials came about after staff from a leading health shop chain learned that animals responded well to new and interesting smells.
Aromatherapy seemed to hit the nail right on the head,' commented a zoo spokesman. 'When Holland and Barratt offered us a free consignment of the oils to see if animals would respond well, we jumped at the chance.'
The zoo's senior head mammal keeper, Julian Chapman, said: 'We use a wide variety of environmental enrichments to stimulate our animals physically and mentally. Many animals, particularly big cats, respond well to smells, whether they are the scents of other animals or fragrant herbs and spices.'
Acting senior keeper Lucy Manning explained: 'We dilute the oils and put drops around the paddock or den. Lavender may relax human beings, but it excites big cats. In fact most fragrances stimulate them - the novelty gets them going. When we put a few drops on a hessian sack filled with hay the cats will play with it, carry it about and curl up to sleep with it.
'Cats have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as people and also have an extra scent organ in the roof of their mouths.'
Smells good to me: Mwamba appears to be thoroughly enjoying his hay pillow sprinkled with peppermint
Peppermint princess: Lioness Indu has taken to her scented pillow, carrying it around and sleeping on it
Monkey keeper Andy Fry has also been trialling the aromatherapy. He said: 'We use scent-based enrichments and have had some good results. Monkeys respond to fruit scents like orange and lemon.
'However, we have never had such a wide range, so this is an excellent opportunity. It will be interesting to see what effect lavender and tea tree oil have.'
There is also a veterinary use for the oils. Ghislaine Sayers - the zoo's head of veterinary services, said: 'You can mix almond oil with water and spray it on pigs and primates with dry skin. If a monkey has a cold, you can nebulise olbas oil with water or put it on a wet towel somewhere where the animal can smell it but not reach it."
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has won awards for its environmental enrichment work, which encourages natural behaviours and stimulates mental and physical activity.
Enrichment can include wind chimes, background music, balls, bubbles and CDs hung up to catch the light.
In the wild, animals walk miles in search of food or migrating with the seasons. In zoos they cannot.
A Paignton Zoo spokesman said: 'Environmental enrichment helps to replace these activities and occupy the time of animals such as primates, elephants and big cats.'
... but please don’t leave any out by the front gate!
Upcoming Events
SATURDAYS DONATION DROP OFF, noon - 2 pm, got something to drop off quick? The gates will be unlocked. No tour at this time, just drop off. Donation Drop Off will be available every Saturday from noon - 2 pm in 2011
SUNDAYS TOUR THE REFUGE - NOON, mini tour, take a walk around and see the animal neighborhoods. Every week on Sunday you can join a mini tour where you can walk around from animal neighborhood to neighborhood, from Piggy Paradise to Horsey Haven and see the animals. One tour only, starts at noon. Please be prompt.
Once a month, we’ll have an EXTENDED TOUR where you can visit the animals in their neighborhoods and have the chance to interact and give them treats. These tours also start promptly at noon, and there’s only one tour for the day, so please be prompt. 3/27, 4/17, 5/22, 6/12, 7/4 Monday, 9/4 Monday, 10/31, 11/12 Saturday, 12/25
SATURDAYS ON OR BEFORE THE FULL MOON FULL MOON WALK, Bon Fire, vegan bbq, pot luck 3/19, 4/16, 5/14, 6/11, 7/16, 8/13, 9/10, 10/8, 11/12, 12/10
2nd SATURDAY OF THE MONTH SINGLES DAY - 10 am - 4 pm
Something for everybody. Come and do a day of service at the refuge and meet like minded souls. The leader who puts together the biggest work party wins. 4/9, 5/14, 6/11, 7/9, 8/13, 9/10, 10/8, 11/12, 12/10
NEXT TO LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH VOLUNTEER TRAIN BASIC 11 am- 3 pm, Learn the basics about volunteering at Rikki’s Refuge. Help with donation logging, washing dishes and liter boxes, socializing the animals and much more. 3/19, 4/23, 5/21, 6/18, 7/23, 8/20, 9/17, 10/22, 11/19, 12/24
LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH VOLUNTEER TRAIN SELF SERVICE 8 am - 1 pm, Learn to earn your Self Service Volunteer Badge. 3/26, 4/30, 5/28, 6/25, 7/30, 8/27, 9/24, 10/29, 11/26, 12/31
LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH SPIRITUAL GROWTH NIGHT, last Saturday of the month, come and join is in a discussion / study of what ever feels right tonight, as we reach for our highest spiritual goal, who knows where these discussions may take us. Bring something for a Vegan Pot Luck Dinner. Call for time and study plan.
March 19, 2011 SATURDAY ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS FOR GREEN - Come and help make the refuge green again. Everything is so muddy after all that rain and snow this winter! Bring a bag of grass seed (the legal stuff!) and help spread it. It will grow year after year and give lots of your friends something to chew on, to roll on, to scratch on, and to p......p on !
March 20, 2011 SUNDAY RAISING THE ROOF AT RABBIT ROTUNDA II 8 am till 4 pm, strong individuals willing to listen, learn and take direction, need 8 people
March 20, 2011 SUNDAY JOIN THE PEACOCKS - Celebrate the Vernal Equinox, and watch as Mr Peacock's fancy turns to…Mrs Peacock, hens, roosters, dogs, sheep, lawn mowers. Watch him fan his magnificent tail feathers and shake them at any potential mate.
March 22, 2011 TUESDAY HELP UNLOAD CAT AND DOG FOOD mid afternoon
Because I Love YOU
Love,
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
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
