Rikki's Refuge: 2017

Rikki’s Refuge

PO Box 1357

Orange VA 22960

And please come see me soon !!

In the mean time, Keep up with us on Facebook and you'll get the minute to minute details about what's going on at Rikki's Refuge .... you'll be the first to see the new residents .... and the first to know about up coming events !!!

Rikki's Refuge

Opie and Vincent's Page

Duke's Page

https://www.facebook.com/DukeThomasPeabody

Re-Tail Thrift Store in Fredericksburg

https://www.facebook.com/ReTail.org

The Duke Thomas Peabody Antique and Collectables Shoppe in Culpeper

https://www.facebook.com/DTPShoppe

Opie's and Mom's Purrsonal Profile

https://www.facebook.com/Kerry.Hilliard

Opie's Edibles for Fun Animal Friendly Recipes and Cooking Tips: https://www.facebook.com/OpiesEdibles

Vincent D. Cat's Gathering Place, a place to hang out, chat, and have fun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VincentCat

Kitty Litter-Ature

https://www.facebook.com/RikkisReadingProgram

Rikki's Crazy Cat Person Club

https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCatPersonClub

For the Love of Black Cats

https://www.facebook.com/BlackCatAppreciationPage/

Our Website

www.RikkisRefuge.org

which needs help getting up to date .... if you "do" WordPress and would like to help, let us know Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org

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. Your donations provide direct support. A financial statement is available upon written request from the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

GOOD MORNING GOOD NEWS - YOU make THE difference

GOOD MORNING GOOD NEWS - YOU make THE difference

Wanda, Buttercup, Rick, Reese, Clarence, Buzz, Catina, Norman, Beauty, Doug, Tony, Obie .... missing from photo but working hard, Lauren, Katie, Willie, Opie, and on the roof Peter, Paul, Perry, and Pat.

Good Morning !!! I want to take a few moments --- out of that cold and the constant breaking up of ice and refilling water bowls -- to sit down here with a warm cup of tea and chat with you. Opie seems to have taken over all the fun parts of running the refuge, like talking to YOU.

The Three Little Pigs first winter ! Destined for market at four months old ... they'd never know the feel of snow under their hooves if it wasn't for YOU !

Did you know that in sub freezing weather, the humans here at Rikki's need to work thru the night to keep everyone safe and protected? And they do it without a complaint. They spilt up, they take shifts, they each take a section. Water gets checked and changed every 4 hours .... all thru the day and night.

Did you know that, especially with elderly animals, going even a few hours without being able to get some water can harm their kidneys? And what if somebody tosses somebody else out of the warm nest in the middle of the night?

Being a cat is GOOD. Not only do I have an all natural fur coat that keeps me warm. I can just WATCH as the hoomans carry hundreds and hundreds of buckets of water to fill water when the hoses are frozen. Did you know it takes 20 buckets to fill just one of dozens of livestock water bowls?

It's not just water ... food consumption goes up the colder it gets. Where do you get the fat and the fur and the feathers and the energy to burn to keep you warm .... FOOD !!!! Be it corn ... oh so much cracked corn in the winter for the birds .... or hay ... or canned cat and dog food. Consumption all the way round is UP and the temp goes DOWN.

By fall, Rikki's funds drop so low we worry every day, we beg, we borrow. Giving picks up as the holidays approach and as end of year giving and getting for resolutions in the new year approach.

Milo, our official unicorn (really, it was a botched home de-horning job before he came to know the safety of Rikki's Refuge) and CJ (who's been grinning ever since you saved her life) grinning at the snow !!

We must supply a steady level of care ... and lots of food ... all year round. Not just the last month of the year! We must keep up the feeding, medical care, housing and cleaning of the animals in the months our donors are vacationing and don't have spare money for the animals. In the months they are struggling with bills. When they're outfitting their kids to go off to school. Every month is just as important as the next here at Rikki's.

Seriously, Hooman? YOU still have to scrub everything clean when it's snowing? I'm glad I'm a cat. Hoomans never quit workin round here! Goliath .... happy at Rikki's where he can run and climb trees and be a wild boy, at tried the adoption route and being indoors and it wasn't for him, returned and returned .... till he made his way to HIS HAPPY HOME at Rikki's Refuge !!

And that is why we count on YOU to help us with the big end of year DOUBLE YOUR DONATION challenge. The fund is calculated to get us thru the winter, to keep the pantries filled, to feed meals of hay and grain when there is snow on the fields, to keep every one warm and happy and well fed. To provide for those emergency medical issues that come up so unexpected.

Always together .... no matter what .... absolute loyalty and devotion .... You find it in the strangest mixes at Rikki's Refuge where love blossoms in so many ways !

If you help us real our goal with this end of year challenge ..... together, we'll make it thru 2018 !!!

Thank you for always being there. So many of you I miss being able to sit down and talk to. Who knew when I left to "do" Rikki's almost 20 years ago ..... Yes, Aug 14, 2018 will be the official 20 year mark .... that it would become the obsession of my life.

Do I ever get tired of it? Tired of the hard work, tired of the long nights, tired of seeing the sad faces that come to us? Yes, oh yes I do. Tired of seeing those sad faces become happy, tired of seeing someone they said would never walk again out climbing trees !! No, oh no I don't !!!! And it makes all the hard parts so totally worthwhile !!!!

The geese never tire of any weather .... let it rain ... let it snow .... they LOVE nature .... and they love YOU for letting them live a beautiful natural life.

At Rikki's, the Christmas Goose is a HAPPY goose !

Thank you for loving the animals like I do ..... You keep sending those funds to make this happen, and I'll keep scooping that poop, breaking up that ice, carrying the sick ones to their doctors, and sending you photos of the smiling faces YOU have given that second chance of happiness !!!

Nooooooo ..... DADDY .... what IS that horrible white stuff all over ??? Don't make me step in it !!!!!!! Mouky, who came from Egypt a couple of years ago, once paralyzed hind legs, now leaps to tall shoulders in a single bound when he stepped out this morning and discovered .... snow ..... !!!!!

May your 2018 be as wonderful as the 2018 YOU will give to Rikki's Refuge !!! Back to the ~~salt~~ ice mines! Kerry

LAST MINUTE DONATIONS ON-SITE

The Rikki's Refuge LIFE CENTER will be open for last minute donations ($$, food, goods for our thrift shop!) from 11:30 - 2:30 pm SATURDAY (Saturday, December 30).

We are at 21410 Constitution Hwy, Rapidan, VA (at the corner of Route 20/Quarterhorse) with a row of mailboxes in front). The gate will be open!!

Drop off your check for the End of Year DOUBLE Your DONATION Challenge!

donate on line NOW http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double

mail@paypal.com thru your paypal account

or mail a check dated in 2017 to

Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960, USA

When you visit the Vincent D. Cat Memorial Life Center for Donation Drop off on Saturdays between 12 and 2 AND drop off your donation .... you can visit with the cats there, and with the sheep and goats and horses and the cows !!!! It's not a full a tour, but you can bring treats of fruits and veggies to feed them ... well not the cats ... but only healthy natural fruits and veggies .... no bread or cookies please !!!

APPRECIATED SECURITY DONATIONS MAKE GOOD GOAT SENSE

Would you like a year-end tax deduction that may SIGNIFICANTLY lower your tax obligation AND help Rikki's Refuge too?

Consider donating stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

When you give a gift of publicly traded stock that you have owned for more than one year and has increased in value, you may realize greater tax benefits than by giving a cash donation. YOUR charitable income tax deduction becomes equal to the fair market value of the appreciated stock. You may also avoid paying capital gains tax on any increase in the current value over the original cost of the stock. AND because you are transferring ownership of the stock, not selling it, you may save the brokerage fees, too.

When you donate stock directly to Rikki's, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20%. When you donate bonds or mutual funds, the same rules apply.

It's a win-win strategy!

You get a tremendous tax break and the 1,300 residents of Rikki's get food, shelter, medical care and lots of love! Get out that portfolio and put your stock broker or accountant to work at the end of 2017!

HELP KEEP

SMOKEY JOE SINGING!
—Donate now at www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe !!!—
AMAZING END OF YEAR DOUBLE YOUR DONATION CHALLENGE
We have a generous sponsor who is wants a tax break as much as YOU do! They will DOUBLE all donations UP TO $52,775 NOW through December 31 at 11:59 pm! Wouldn't you rather donate your money to Uncle Vincent Cat at RIKKI'S REFUGE (yes!) than to Uncle Sam?!

FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!
SINGS SMOKEY JOE !!!!
Donate now at www.RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMe !!!!

Hurry Hurry Hurry

LAST CHANCE !!!!!

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION !!!!

HELP Rikki's Refuge No-Kill Life-Care Multi-Species Sanctuary raise the funds they need to continue operations in 2018.

All Donations thru 2017 will be MATCHED and DOUBLED by special donors.

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double to donate on line right now !

mail@paypal.com if you'd like to go thru your paypal account

or mail a check dated in 2017 to

Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960, USA

These funds are absolutely vital to our on-going efforts to save lives each and every day in 2018 !!!

Please, won't you help? NO donation is too small. Just $1 feeds four meals !!

Please help, donate and SHARE .... urge all your FRIENDS to help and SHARE TOO !

Thank you from the almost 1300 animals of 22 species who call Rikki's Refuge HOME !

NEW YEARS DAY NATURE HIKE
It's gonna be a COLD one folks !!!! And it might be white! Absolutely positively last chance to sign up for the traditional wild and wonderful, all pristine, get lots in the woods, nature hike !!! Not for the feint of heart or if you're not up to serious trekin! Noon on New Years Day. RSVP events@RikkisRefuge.org

OR STAY WARM AT RE-TAIL

Thank you for making Re-Tail .... Rikki's very own thrift shop so very successful !!! We thank you for your gently used donation of furniture, household items, toys, clothing and equipment !!! It's been a wonderful success selling your items so we can buy food for the animals !!

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ALL OF US AND

TAKING THE TIME TO SAVE A LIFE TODAY

CUZ EVERY ONE OF US MATTER S

DON'T YOU THINK ?

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate?purpose=Double

Love,

Opie

Don’t forget to SAVE A LIFE TODAY !

Rikki’s Refuge

PO Box 1357

Orange VA 22960

And please come see me soon !!

Rikki's Refuge

Opie and Vincent's Page

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double

Duke's Page

https://www.facebook.com/DukeThomasPeabody

Re-Tail Thrift Store in Fredericksburg

https://www.facebook.com/ReTail.org

The Duke Thomas Peabody Antique and Collectables Shoppe in Culpeper

https://www.facebook.com/DTPShoppe

Opie's and Mom's Purrsonal Profile

https://www.facebook.com/Kerry.Hilliard

Opie's Edibles for Fun Animal Friendly Recipes and Cooking Tips: https://www.facebook.com/OpiesEdibles

Vincent D. Cat's Gathering Place, a place to hang out, chat, and have fun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VincentCat

Kitty Litter-Ature

https://www.facebook.com/RikkisReadingProgram

Rikki's Crazy Cat Person Club

https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCatPersonClub

For the Love of Black Cats

https://www.facebook.com/BlackCatAppreciationPage/

Our Website

www.RikkisRefuge.org

which needs help getting up to date .... if you "do" WordPress and would like to help, let us know Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org

Thursday, December 28, 2017

GOOD MORNING GOOD NEWS - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT

GOOD MORNING GOOD NEWS - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT

Rikki's Refuge believes that everyone deserves life, regardless of physical, mental or emotional challenges

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary is a no-kill life-care multi-species facility, which means we handle and care for animals other organizations can’t or won’t. Most of the animals we take in are considered "un-adoptable" and will receive love and care at Rikki's for the remainder of their natural lives. We specialize in feral cats, cats with FIV or the leukemia virus, elderly animals, differently-abled animals, animals with chronic health issues like diabetes, and farm animals from various situations to keep them from entering the production market (i.e. being slaughtered). We care for domestic and farm animals from 22 different species - ranging from dogs and cats to cows, pigs, emus, goats, turkeys, peacocks and everything in between!

We are able to positively, responsibly & humanely assist humans AND animals through our multi species refuge for abused, abandoned & homeless animals; promoting speuter, TNR; assisting the elderly and/or low income, enabling them to keep their pets; teaching humane education, tolerance & acceptance for the handicapped (physically and/or mentally) of animals & humans; providing safe haven to native wildlife; maintaining biological diversity of native flora & fauna.

Rikki's Refuge is a 450 acre sanctuary, managing 100 acres for farm and domestic animals, with 350 acres preserved for native wildlife and flora/fauna.

Your gifts of generosity and love, give our 1293 residents a peaceful home.

Our gifts to you are the love and warmth you feel in your heart, knowing that you have given life and kindness to countless animals, who, without you, would never have known a gentle touch or the comfort of being loved.

Thank you for your generosity and support as we enter 2018, our twentieth year. We hope you come to visit in 2018 and meet the happy residents of Rikki’s Refuge whose lives you have saved.

I heard my hooman mom, Kerry, talking to somebody who wondered if it was important for people to share the green papers they earn with charity. Her answer made me stop and think. This is what she said:

It was to me, when I first worked with a humane society 40 years ago, I pledged to myself to always share at least a certain % of my income as my contribution for my life, my opportunities, my wonderful things and my lessons (even when I didn't understand them or how they could be lessons) here on earth. It was easy for me as I was contracting and got a check every month or six weeks or so and would just write a check for my % at the same time I deposited my money, then when I was working for commission later on, I'd just do a % of that when I got it.

I don't know where my notion that I should always pay rent for my space on earth came from, my parents didn't teach me that when I was growing up, somehow it just always seemed the right thing for me to do, I saw what the earth gave to me, home, food, air, and felt I should be grateful and give back.

I always made my parents give more to god in the basket in church than they were going to spend on eating the food we were so graciously going to when we went to brunch after church. As my ideas of god broadened and I came to feel all is god, it could be given back in broader ways.

I think a lot of people feel that need to give some designated portion and they've set that % in their mind based on their own internal calculator of give and receive to keep their lives on an equilibrium. How can you expect to take more than you contribute?

Haz you ever heard of paying rent for your space on earth?

Not sure Iz understand it all, but goes somethin like this: we alz use some of the planet to grows our food (why don't we have somz Fancy Feast plants?), give us water, produce the trees that give us the oxygen we breathes, and stuff which gives us shelter.

Most two leggers (without feathers) pay rent/ house payment to others for shelter, but Mom Earth doesn't get paid. Doesn't seem fair to me.

If everyone could help out the creatures on earth (like all us here at Rikki's), it's sorta like paying rent to the planet, taking care of the other life on Earth.

I'd like to be paid with Fancy Feast, but as spokescat, I have to think of others. (So hard when I'm drooling on this machine thinking of nummy Fancy Feast.)

So how about helping Rikki's Refuge where our people have devoted their lives to trying hard to help Mom Earth take care of her kids that got left behind.

Give money, time, or what ever you can.

If you want to think of it like people rent, you could sign up fer a recurring monthly donation, it's easy, right on our web page !!! www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

However you do it, please thank Mom Earth for her kindness in helping us all and letting us live here

Won't YOU please help us in any way --- LARGE or small -- that you can !!

DOUBLE your donation NOW thru the end of 2017.

When mom was asked how she got this idea about paying rent, this is what she said:

I don't know where or when I was told I owed for my space on earth. In my circles most the folks I know / meet have the same belief, and balancing your give and take, down to, "for every breath you take, what do you give in return?" is a common thread in the spiritual groups I participate in. For one cannot receive something one has not given. To be loved, you must love. To be happy, you must give happiness. To be appreciated, you must appreciate. It's sort of the philosophy of, "No matter how much you hurt, there is someone who hurts more, give them comfort, and you too shall be comforted.

I was about to say my parents weren't really into charity until Rikki's except for monetary donations to organizations about animals, kids, environment, then I thought that my mom started and ran Pets on Wheels in conjunction with Meals on Wheels in FL and supplied all the cat food - she got a couple people to buy the dog food - and would do cards, and cute things like for Christmas they all made cats or dogs on skateboards as Christmas ornaments to go with the food.

She did crafts for church bazaars and would get the group to do things for the elderly and kids hospitals and stuff too. For holidays as a kid she always made sure we also did something in a group, usually for old folks, like sing carols at Christmas at a nursing home, or go visit with little Easter baskets for folks at Easter and go trick or treating for Halloween but also take bags for the residents.

She did a lot of individual work for people, elderly, new moms, ill people, folks who'd been thru a tragedy, taking them groceries, babysitting, getting them library books, reading to them, being there, taking them to doctors, we always had lots of "adopted grandparents" she called them, around the neighborhood. I was thinking Daddy didn't do much hands on, but he went and fixed things for people who needed it and belonged to service organizations. He didn't talk about it, he didn't round up others to help, he just stopped and helped when he saw it was needed, never expecting or wanting a "thank you" in return. It's just what you did as a human sharing planet earth.

Just look at how much in the world is done by good people paying their rent and helping others, be they hoomans or animals or simply the earth. So much more is done when people go out and do .... that's the premises behind the IRS letting you deduct charity work .... so much more will be done by the people and spent by the people for the good of others when you help make it possible. If just the right atmosphere was abundant for all to participate and those with greed realized giving gets you so much more than getting does ...... we'd have about a perfect world !!

Well ... I don't know bout perfect .... but it would be if I had all the Fancy Feast I ever waned !!!

AND you know your donations to Rikki's Refuge for our

END OF YEAR DOUBLE YOUR DONATION

challenge is TAX DEDUCTIBLE .... so you can help make more happen with your dollar !!!

You DOUBLE your POWER !!!

You save TWICE as many LIVES !!!!

So please click now: http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double

Paypal: mail@RikkisRefuge.org

Mail a check or money order: PO Box 1357, Orange VA. 22960

Just date your check by December 31, 2017 and it will DOUBLE !

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ALL OF US AND

TAKING THE TIME TO SAVE A LIFE TODAY

CUZ EVERY ONE OF US MATTER S

DON'T YOU THINK ?

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate?purpose=Double

Love,

Opie

It's OK Timmy, I promise, they LOVE us, they've got out backs!

I KNOW we can count on them to help us thru another year !!

Don’t forget to SAVE A LIFE TODAY !

Rikki’s Refuge

PO Box 1357

Orange VA 22960

And please come see me soon !!

Rikki's Refuge

Opie and Vincent's Page

http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double

Duke's Page

https://www.facebook.com/DukeThomasPeabody

Re-Tail Thrift Store in Fredericksburg

https://www.facebook.com/ReTail.org

The Duke Thomas Peabody Antique and Collectables Shoppe in Culpeper

https://www.facebook.com/DTPShoppe

Opie's and Mom's Purrsonal Profile

https://www.facebook.com/Kerry.Hilliard

Opie's Edibles for Fun Animal Friendly Recipes and Cooking Tips: https://www.facebook.com/OpiesEdibles

Vincent D. Cat's Gathering Place, a place to hang out, chat, and have fun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VincentCat

Kitty Litter-Ature

https://www.facebook.com/RikkisReadingProgram

Rikki's Crazy Cat Person Club

https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCatPersonClub

For the Love of Black Cats

https://www.facebook.com/BlackCatAppreciationPage/

Our Website

www.RikkisRefuge.org

which needs help getting up to date .... if you "do" WordPress and would like to help, let us know Volunteers@RikkisRefuge.org

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Good Morning Good New -- End of Year Special

GOOD MORNING GOOD NEWS

Only FOUR days left in 2017 !!!

In just a minute, I'll tell you about a very special end of year DEAL !!!!

GOOD for YOU and GOOD for the ANIMALS !!!!

But FIRST .... I wanted to share our Christmas Day Tour with YOU !!!!

So MANY MANY of you got to come !!!

I wish every one of you did ..... We still LOVE you and wish you a wonderful full and exciting rest of 2017 even if we couldn't give you a hug and good wishes in person on Christmas !!!!

Here's our 2017 Christmas Tour Album. I love that some of you come every year at Christmas to see where your donations have been used. What's getting better. Who's life was saved. Who got adopted. Who's new to meet !!!!

I have told you that our tour are UP CLOSE and PERSONAL, haven't I?

No matter how much you hear it ..... folks are always surprised at how closely the animals want to interact with them !!! A kiss here and a lick there and checking out your pockets for treats !!!

Everybody brought wonderful gifts for the animals !! Just look at how full that truck is !! It was a beautiful sunny day to stroll the couple miles around the refuge to see the animals. With 1300 animals of 22 species, the animal area is spread over a little more than 100 acres. That area is in the middle of 450 acres and all the rest is wooded, with creeks and wetlands, for native wildlife friends.

Thank goodness you've helped us save this land. More and more around the Refuge is being logged and these poor animals are loosing their homes. Our wildlife population is definitely on the rise !

As we strolled along on Christmas Day, there were frequent stops so everyone could feed the animals. The animals love it .... and so do the people.

After a few hours out in the sun ... and a bit of chill ... we wrapped up with a reception and refreshments in the Life Center, where Goldie and others helped themselves to our guests nums!

One thing visitors always talk about on tours are the bonds of friendship our animals form. Some with their own species, some with other species. In either case, they certainly pair up and form bonded groups. It's always interesting to see where a new resident is going to settle in !!

Feline Fields is a favorite spot on the Tour ! So many cat lovers ! And we have enough cats to go round !!

Christmas was such a beautiful day for laying about sunning, taking a stroll ..... or rolling in some luscious mud !!!

NOW to tell you about RIKKI'S END OF YEAR SPECIAL

We got a BIG job ahead of us, friends. Every year Opie's GGP would challenge us to a DOUBLE YOUR DONATION end of year TAX SAVINGS challenge by putting up a big donation

BUT with a CATCH ....

We had to raise an equal amount .... or we wouldn't get it !!!!!

But you all know we have a SAD this year .... cus GGP went to Rainbow Bridge so he can't help Rikki's Refuge this year.

MOST IMPORTANTLY of all ....

did you know around the end of the year is when most people make their donations for the WHOLE YEAR ???

So it's really important to fill the pantries NOW, cus some months out of the year it gets real bare and slim .... like in January and February when people are paying off their crazy holiday buying sprees and their wonderful holiday vacations .... they don't have anything to spare for the animals.

So WITHOUT that big end of year DOUBLE YOUR DONATION time .... we'd all starve to death in the lean months.

And so our wonderful Board of Directors put their heads together and said

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ?

And THIS is what they came up with !!!!

$52,775 to DOUBLE .... yes !!!!

And when that is all done ... us animals will be safe for all the lean times of 2018 !!!!

So won't you PLEASE help me out and help Rikki's to reach this goal?

Be sure to tell all your friends too !!! Tell everybody at work !!!

It only take a few dollars from everyone to make miracles happen !!!

Everybody needs a TAX BREAK .... donate to OPIE's RIKKI'S REFUGE not to the IRS !!!!

Don't miss it !!!

End of the Year $52,775 Donation Match Challenge!

NOW through MIDNIGHT 12/31/17

Double your impact for the animals!

These generous donors have offered to match all donations through 12/31/17 up to $52,775 !

Will you help us make it through the cold winter months, ensuring that everyone gets fed??

$20 becomes $40, $50 becomes $100, $250 becomes $500

Will you share with everyone you know!

We need your help!!

www.FeedOpie.bigbig.com

Paypal: mail@RikkisRefuge.org

Mail a check or money order: PO Box 1357, Orange VA. 22960

Click right here: http://rikkisrefuge.org/donate?purpose=Double

I just LOVE to hear from Rikki's Refuge's Alumni !!!

Most of our animals will live with us the rest of their natural lives. They come to us cus nobody wanted them, and no one was willing to adopt them. Many are simply older. Some have serious physical or health issues. Some need expensive on-going medical care for life. Some have behavioral issues. Some have awful injuries. ALL were unloved and unwanted.

At Rikki's Refuge, EVERYONE is loved and wanted !!!! And they're always welcome here for the rest of their lives.

BUT sometimes someone heals, or looses their fear of people, or captures a heart .... and they get adopted !!!

I always wonder how every one is .... year after year ... I think about them and I hope they are happy and healthy .... it's hard to see someone you love move on .... but sometimes it's the right thing to do ... but I always worry about them, always pray for them.

And sometimes I'm made SO VERY HAPPY when their new parents send photos and keep us up to date on their lives !!!

This is Winslow ! He was adopted 11 years ago. His wonderful mom send a photo of him every year !!! We're all so excited when we hear about him. It sparks a conversation about his antics when he was a Rikkite !!! May you live long and prosper, Winslow !!!

This handsome young man is Max, an alumni of Rikki's Refuge. He spent some time at the Refuge and then was in the adoption room at our Re-Tail store in Fredericksburg and many folks fell in love with him, but none more than a wonderful man named Nate. Nate adopted Max about a year ago and just sent us this wonderful photo of sweet Max ready for the holidays! This makes our hearts happy that Max and Nate found each other!! Even if we do miss Max here !!

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ALL OF US AND

TAKING THE TIME TO SAVE A LIFE TODAY

CUZ EVERY ONE OF US MATTER S

DON'T YOU THINK ?

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate?purpose=Double

Love,

Opie

Don’t forget to SAVE A LIFE TODAY !

Rikki’s Refuge

PO Box 1357

Orange VA 22960

And please come see me soon !!

Rikki's Refuge

Opie and Vincent's Page