Week of 11/1/08 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin



A sincere thank-you goes to Linda Christopherson this week, for her very generous donation to the Sierra County Humane Society of an absolutely gorgeous queen size quilt that she made by hand and for which she received First Price at the Sierra County Fair in 2008. The money to be generated by the sale of this very beautiful quilt will benefit Desert Haven Animal Refuge and its feathered and furry residents. Linda has been good to our organization through the years and we appreciate her on-going support. We are also very grateful to an anonymous couple who drove to Desert Haven this past Tuesday and donated dog bed, blankets, and dog food for our little ones at Dog Town.

Because of the generosity of the Moose Lodge who some years ago donated a sizeable number of insulated pre-fab dog houses for every indoor-outdoor kennel at the Inn at Dog Town, also because of the thoughtfulness of local and out-of-state folks, together with the creativity of an always resourceful DHAR crew, all our thirty-one Desert Haven canines have their very own comfy “pad” to call their own. We are now ready for the cold winter nights when each one of them will need lots of warm bedding. Also in Winter, we feed our canines twice a day – a mixture of dry and canned dog food. Canned dog food ( and cat food of course) is always on our wish list, especially as we enter the colder months.

This past few Tuesdays, several local and out-of town visitors were treated by DHAR seasoned Tour Guide Freddie Loveless to a walking tour of Desert Haven. The comments made by them during and after the tours were extremely positive. What impressed them most, they said, was the spiritual quality and the overall feeling of Peace felt as they walked throughout the property. They commented on the kindness of the crew towards the non-human residents, also on the cleanliness of the grounds and various habitats. They also mentioned the Old West charm of the entire sanctuary. We wish to thank Chet, one of the visitors who wishes to stay anonymous, for his generous donations to DHAR.

Contrary to comments made by uninformed folks, The Sierra County Humane Society and even Desert Haven Animal Refuge receive NO government support, local or otherwise. Our humane society, just as all animal welfare organizations in the entire nation, stands totally on its own. Its only connections with larger and national animal welfare organizations such as the Humane Society of the US or the ASPCA is through the yearly membership fees that our organization sends to them as a goodwill gesture towards all animal in need. Also contrary to popular belief, the local humane society - a non-profit 501-C-3 all-volunteer animal welfare organization, is not part of local businesses Hot Springs Animal Clinic or Sierra Animal Shelter. For more information on the SCHS, DHAR and also Paws & Claws thrift shop, contact us at 575- 894-2778 or 423-243-6530, visit DHAR on Tuesday, or check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com and at www.Facebook.com.

Week of 10/25/09 Humane Happenings

by Dolly Loftus


Reba (center), DH Animal Care Coordinator, supervises the guinea pig bathing/medical check round-up

It’s that time of year when Sunday drives in the country seem in order. This past Sunday found us traveling to Chloride, a picturesque retirement community a few miles from Winston. Dona Edmonds of Chloride gave a wonderful tour of all things interesting to the Desert Haven Work Camp Coordinator and one of the Desert Haven work campers from Buffalo, New York. Ms. Edmonds always treats our work campers special, and Sunday was no exception. We toured the saloon which has been turned into an art co-op for thirty-some talented local residents. The general store, which is now the museum, brought back many memories for the visitors. We got a glimpse of the first house in Chloride; it has been completely restored by Don Edmonds and is now a two bedroom guest house available to tourists. There is even a back porch to sit on and wait for the deer to come and feed. Finally, we got to see the restored bank building which may eventually house a restaurant. Everything was a Kodak moment, even though it was trying to rain. Don and Dona Edmonds are frequent contributors to the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws Thrift Store.

Tuesday is the best day to come out to Desert Haven and check out our new additions. Reba Wagner and Freddie Loveless do an admirable job of keeping track of the comings and goings of our four-legged residents that have boundless energy. One recent addition is a red four-year-old min-pin named Sally, who is a little bit shy. She came to us from the local shelter, because her owners moved and didn’t want to take her with them. Initially, she was very scared, but now with the love and attention she is receiving from all the volunteers, she has come out of her shell and blossomed into a sweet little dog that yearns for a gentle hug and a lap to sit in. She is just one of the many dogs and cats that you are welcome to get to know.

Tuesday is also the day that we do office work, and once again, we are asking for volunteers to do filing, note-writing, and computer work. There are no special skills involved except patience and a willingness to help and to learn. If you are interested, please call Dolly at 575-740-0715.

We also need volunteers at Desert Haven to help with the animals and at Paws and Claws to sort and tag all of our wonderful donations. For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven and also Paws & Claws thrift shop, contact us at 575- 894-2778, visit DHAR on Tuesday, or check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or at www.facebook.com.

Week of 10/18/09 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin


Joe Pack

This week, The Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary, wish to acknowledge William Holland of Elephant Butte for becoming the organization’s newest Life Member.

Our appreciation also goes to all the animal loving folks who responded so positively to our latest newsletter. We are very grateful for the show of confidence that we received from many caring folks, either local and from out-of state, as some of them started new memberships while others renewed theirs, or just donated to our animal welfare cause.

Desert Haven was very busy again this week. Several out-on-their-luck dogs were taken in. Two small, young females Manchester terrier mix, a frightened little girl-dog named “Ruffles”, because of the Mohawk style patch of fur on her shoulder blades, and outgoing and loving little “Annie Oakley”. Their pet-parent passed away and these little balls of fur are adapting to drastic changes in their short lives. We also have “Ash”, a young, medium sized, gentle Setter mix who came to us very emaciated and with a large deep and also very infected gash on one of his hind legs, seemingly made by a sharp tool. Here at Desert Haven, we were surprised that Ash kept his gentleness and his trust of people after the ordeal he obviously went through before being rescued at the sanctuary.

This week’s wish list:

Dog Food, canned and dry, is once again the high priority item at Desert Haven. Twenty-six healthy and active dogs eat a lot every day. We appreciate every bag and every can, either large or small, of dog food (no rawhide please) that is dropped-off at Paws & Claws or at Desert Haven. Interested in connecting with companion animals without the responsibility of owning one? Become a dog walker and join our crew one morning or two each week. Not only it’s good exercise, but it also allows you to enjoy the company of the canines of your choice (remember, we have 26 dogs of all sizes to choose from) as you walk on a leash some of the smallest dogs or you take the larger ones to the Old West Trail and let them play in small groups.

If you prefer to spend quality time with the kitties, we have thirty who love the extra attention every morning. Morning care starts at 8 AM and last two hours or so. If you are not a morning person, how does five o’clock in the evening sound to you? If interested, contact Desert Haven Animal Care Coordinator Reba at 423-343-6530, or Freddie at 894-2778.

We also need someone to help in the office for a couple of hours on Tuesday mornings. Our office is very busy every Tuesday morning and an extra helper or two is always a plus. For more information, contact Dolly at 740-0715.

For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven and also Paws & Claws thrift shop, contact us at 575- 894-2778, visit DHAR on Tuesday, or check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or at www.Facebook.com.


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Eliana Aubin
www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com

Week of 10/11/09 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin


Luke after amputation

Life is never boring at Desert Haven, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary. In the past several weeks, Dog Town has become a very busy place. Fourteen medium to large canines and twelve small furballs of all temperaments are enjoying life in a safe and loving environment, in groups of similar size and temperament. Here are the most recent arrivals: Sparky is a very loving four years old Pekinese who recently lost his beloved pet-parent. There is also Angel, a 3 years old blue heeler who loves to please. Zig is an 8 lbs two years old Manchester terrier with the manners of a perfect little gentleman.

And there is also little Sally. It’s very sad what happens to dogs when they are abandoned by their owners, and some dogs are more affected than others. Sally is a vivid example. She is a two-year old miniature pincher mix, recently relinquished at the city shelter. This sudden and difficult change in her life became very traumatic for her and she became fearful of everyone, acting like a little “tough guy” to protect herself. This was making adoption less and less an option for this otherwise sweet little girl-dog. As soon as her plight was discovered, Desert Haven took her in. With love and attention from the DHAR volunteers, Sally is slowly becoming herself again – a playful little girl-dog with a lot of love to give. This is what Desert Haven is about – giving companion animals out-on-their-luck a new chance at the life they deserve.

Good news on little Whitney, Desert Haven’s “Million Dollar Dog”. Whitney is now making up for lost time when she came to the sanctuary as a very sick puppy with no chance of survival, unless she underwent a difficult – and costly - surgery to repair a ruptured diaphragm. Two successful surgeries later, Whitney is now fully recovered and available for adoption into a very special home.

Remember Luke? This kitty was recently relinquished to DHAR with a grossly distorted and lifeless back leg. Soon after Luke’s arrival at the sanctuary, the DHAR staff decided that amputation was necessary, to help give him a normal life. The surgery went well and he is fully recovered now. Luke loves his new life a at The Cool Cat Neighborhood as DHAR’s three-legged kitty.

This week’s wish list: DHAR’s high priority item on the list is dog food – dry and canned. Twenty six dogs eat a lot every day and we sincerely hope that our animal loving friends will help us take care of this important expense. We also need a good used chest freezer.


For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven and also Paws & Claws thrift shop, contact us at 575-894-2778, visit DHAR on Tuesday, or check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com.

Week of 9/27/09 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin


Sophie with her new owner

The property that is now Desert Haven Animal Refuge was purchased by the Sierra County Humane Society in May 1999. In 2001, while the sanctuary was being built, one project at a time, the first residents arrived – a large number of domesticated ring-neck doves relinquished by an older gentleman who cared enough about them to give them up when he realized he could no longer take proper care of them in his backyard aviary. The sanctuary volunteers built a temporary aviary for the doves. These first residents were soon followed by a family of guinea pigs, taken in the early part of 2003. From then on, and as the sanctuary continued to be built, several orphaned baby rabbits who had outlived their usefulness as Easter Bunnies were accepted at the facility and they became the guinea pigs roommates. An abandoned pregnant kitty arrived soon afterwards, followed by Lucky, a young pup found by a traveler, as he was wandering on a highway between T or C and Elephant Butte some Saturday morning. Lucky became DHAR’s very first canine resident, until he passed away from an aggressive for of lymphoma at the sanctuary in 2007.

Nine years have passed since the SCHS Board of Directors signed-off on the purchase of the Desert Haven property. The sanctuary is now completed. Built out of donated barn wood, it has an Old West charm of its own that many visitors find attractive. Desert Haven is an inspiring and a very peaceful place for humans and non-humans alike – a homelike environment for unwanted feathered and furry creatures who find a haven there until they are adopted into a loving home or to the end of their natural life.

It takes many volunteers to keep a facility like Desert Haven open and also thriving. At this time, we especially need dog walkers and folks to help care for the kitties during animal care, which starts every day at 8 AM and also at 5:30 PM. Contact Reba at 423-243-6530, or Freddie at 894-2778.

We need help at Paws & Claws thrift shop, operated by our animal welfare Society. Contact Eliana at 894-2639. We also need office help every Tuesday morning. Dolly Loftus, Freddie Loveless and Joy Arnold are part of the office crew. They would be thrilled to train someone interested enough to give a couple of hours each Tuesday morning, when they are all in the office. For more information, contact Dolly at 740-0715.

This week’s wish list: dry and canned dog and cat food, dog and cat treats. Metal trash containers, chest freezer.

Visit DHAR on Tuesday, or check us out at www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com or at www.Facebook.com.


“ Be the change in the world you want to see”

Week of 9/20/09 Humane Happenings

Janelle and Eliana at Paws & Claws Thrift Shop

Two absolutely adorable little dogs have become the newest residents at Desert Haven, the Sierra County Humane Society owned and operated domestic animal sanctuary. They are 18 months old - brother and sister – about 8 lbs each - shiatsu poodle mix. Now groomed, they will soon get their shots and be sterilized. We will be looking for a very special home who will take both of them, as they have been together since birth and are very attached to each other.

Our animal welfare organization wish to thank a mystery benefactor: often, a $$$ deposits shows up into the Sierra County Humane Society account at Sierra Feed in T or C. Since we can’t thank that special individual by name, we want to express our gratitude through the media for her wonderful generosity which allows us to purchase needed feed for the furry and feathered residents of Birdland & Animal House. Women of the Moose, your generous response to our organization’s yearly request for donations to go towards specific needs at Desert Haven is also very appreciated.

This week, we wish to congratulate the “unsung heroes” of Paws & Claws thrift shop: its dedicated volunteers. These folks are special: all of them donate their time, from Manager Eliana Aubin to Diana Bellack who sorts and prices all sewing and craft material from her home and to Jan Haley who serves as the liaison between her and P&C, 35 miles away. Everyone works together for a very honorable cause: help run a very busy shop, all the profits of which benefit the animals of Sierra County and the entire community.

Even the customers are making comments: Last Friday, a local shopper told the volunteers that someone relatively new to town had recently come to his place of business, mentioning having stumbled across P&C thrift shop by accident some Friday, as she was checking out the local stores in T or C. She told him “ Everyone is joking and smiling and so helpful, it’s a great atmosphere”. (Janelle Clasen, Ellen Farrester AKA Bootz, John Jamiesen, Linda Clayton, Diana Rivera, Bill Gwynn and Eliana Aubin are the Friday crew). The gentleman added: ”I usually go directly to the book section - so many interesting books in there, and good prices too!” (Dolly Loftus prices the books and keeps the book-nook well organized and inviting). The newcomer to town had also mentioned the great selection of designer clothes and their “very decent” prices (Estella Groff, Linda Clayton, Janelle Clasen and Diana Rivera handle the clothes and shoes section and Freddie Loveless prices them.)

Not mentioned here but just as valuable to the smooth running of the shop are: Jody Koch, who continues to be an inspiration to all of us who know her, as she does not let her confinement to a wheel chair keep her from volunteering. Jody is the wife of Reverend Frank Koch and she is also raising two boys.

P&C also acknowledges Stephen Wagner and Bill Gwynn who sort, check and price the electronics and electrical appliances, a section they took on recently and completely revamped. Last but not least, our Stand-by cashier member: Joy Arnold, and Spencer who helps wherever needed and when he is in the area.

This week’s wish list: Dog and cat treats ( no rawhide please) - Metal garbage cans, any size. Volunteers interested in getting their “Puppy Fix” for a couple of hours each week ( or more often if they prefer) are needed to help walk the small dogs at Dog Town. Animal care starts at 8 am and until 10AM, and also at 5:30 PM. For more information, contact Animal Care Coordinator Reba at 423-243-6530.

For more information on our organization, contact us at 894-2778,visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com.

Cedar Cove RV Park Newletter

Desert Haven was honored with a feature in the September issue of the Cedar Cove RV Park newsletter. On page 6, read "Cheryl's Corner" and the story of Parker, a dog who found his forever home through residents of Cedar Cove and Desert Haven. There's a great photo of blue-eyed Parker too!

Thank you Bev & Bob! And thank you, Cheryl, for sharing this heart-warming story with your readers!

Week of 9/9/09 Humane Happenings

Sprinkles with her new family and her new home!


Desert Haven Animal Refuge, owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society, is home to 22 dogs at this time. It is the largest number of furry residents at Dog Town for many months. They come in all sizes and temperaments and each one knows that he or she is very important to all of us who care for them. With all these fur-balls living at DHAR at this time, there is a good selection for potential adopters and pet-sponsors to choose from.

The newly arrived doggie-troups consist of 10 lbs, one year old rat-terrier with personality we call Tootsie. Now comes 7 lbs one year old miniature black poodle mix: Obie. We also have 5 years old fox-terrier Oscar who learned a lot of good manners along the way. Little Maggie is a 5 lbs, 2 years old tiny Chihuahua, who not long ago, was found dehydrated and starved on someone’s doorsteps. This little tea cup size Ball o’ Fur was recently brought to DHAR and we felt so sorry for her that we took her in, even though we were full to capacity at that time. After all, what could another 5 lbs of fur-ball add to our already full Dog Town and Inn at this time? Lots of smiles and good feelings, that’s for sure. Now comes Bubba, the dashound ( mom) Chihuahua ( dad).. If you love little dogs, we have plenty at Dog Town to make you smile and warm your heart.

At Desert Haven, we are very careful when we adopt out any of our dogs and cats. We screen the household, and when there is a potential adoption taking place locally, we make visits, before and after the adoption is finalized. After all, each one of the little furry guys and girls is a beloved fur-ball of ours, and we want to make sure that the little one goes to a very special forever home. If, after a few days, weeks, even months, the adoption is not what it was planned to be, Desert Haven always leaves its doors open for the little one to be returned - no questions asked.

Then there is Luke, the newest of the fur-ball group. He now lives in the Cool Cat Neighborhood, “The Neighborhood “, for short. He is a cuddly one year old Siamese mix Kitty-With-Spunk. Little Luke had to have spunk and a strong will to live to make his mark in a world that shuns handicapped animals. Luke will soon undergo an operation, courtesy of the Sierra County Humane Society, to remove a cumbersome back leg that was turned the wrong way as he came out of his mother’s womb. We could not shut our doors on the little guy, so we took him in at Desert Haven.

Visit Desert Haven and see for yourself that all the doggies and kitties have plenty of food, a warm and cozy place to stay, and most of all: LOVE. They have it all, except perhaps a lap to lay on as one watches TV, or a human bed to sleep in during the coldest of the cold winter nights.

This week’s Wish list: doggie and kitty treats, metal garbage cans. Your donations can be dropped off at P&C when we are open for business on Wed from 1 to 4, Thursday and Friday from 10 to 4, also Saturday from 10 to 3PM. For more information on our animal welfare organization, or to volunteer in any capacity, contact us at 575-894-2778. You can also check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or at www.Facebook.com.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Dr. Martin Luther King.

Week of 8/30/2009 Humane Happenings

Frankie (above) & the Cat Patio (below)


This week, a huge pat on the back goes to Bar- 2 Sand and Gravel. In a phone conversation to DHAR CEO Eliana Aubin, Bar-2 representative - Jerred - told her:”Times are tough, but we love our little animals, and you take good care of them, so we are going to donate two trucks loads of crusher fine”. Both truck loads were distributed to Desert Haven Animal Refuge this past Tuesday, courtesy of Bar-2. Thank-you for your show of trust, Jerred. We will make good use of the crusher fine.

The crew of volunteers at Desert Haven Animal Refuge was busy recently with the summer 2009 newsletter that was sent to the members and supporters of the Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. While 300 copies arrived in the mailboxes of Sierra County animal loving folks interested in what we are doing, more than two hundred more copies went to members and supporters from around the US as they continue to follow our progress. Certainly not a bad report card for our animal welfare organization, who does not receive government tax dollars, local or otherwise.

If you have not yet renewed your 2009 membership, please consider doing so now. We continue to need YOUR support. If you received the summer 2009 newsletter in duplicate, please contact us at 740-0715 to help us correct the error. In the meantime, please pass the extra newsletter along to a friend and introduce him or her to Sierra County’s no-kill domestic animal sanctuary.

Carman Delviso, who work camps at Desert Haven, visited the Veterans Home this past week, accompanied by Oreo, one of Desert Haven’s young dogs. Carmen is a veteran who served four years in the Air Force, two of them between 1967 and 1968, while stationed South of Saigon in Viet Nam. He then continued on as a Reservist. The visit was very good and little Oreo seemed to love the attention from the folks who wanted to touch, feel or hold him. Thanks, Carman for taking the time to visit the veterans.

Anyone interested in giving a good home to a Maccaw? Please check us out on Petfinder.com or contact 894-5943 for more information. We have several newcomers at DHAR, little girl and guy-dogs who need a very loving forever home. Call Freddie at 894-2778 to find out more about them. You can also visit Desert Haven on a Tuesday and check on the dogs and cats available for adoption.

This week, Joe Pack added several 4” to 6” wide plastic pipes to the DHAR wish list of insulation, roofing and construction material. Joe Pack and his wife Joy are newcomers to this area who became involved with DHAR soon after settling down in T or C. Joy is DHAR’s Administrative Assistant while Joe Pack works on Tuesday projects. On request and as needed, he also searches the internet for specific information. Joe is currently revamping Miss Piglet’s Boarding House, home to almost two dozens female guinea pigs, and new plastic pipes are being included in the upgrade. It’s great to have you aboard, Joe and Joy.

For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven, also on Paws & Claws, we can be contacted at 894-2778 or 894-2639. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com. Saving a life is a beautiful thing – sponsor a pet today.

Week of 8/23/09 Humane Happenings

Scruffy - still in need of a forever home!

The leadership of Moose Lodge 2050 deserves a show of gratitude from all animal loving Sierra County residents for the very generous donation made recently to the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge. When Ron Alleman, Moose Lodge 2050 secretary, handed an envelope to Eliana Aubin, SCHS President and DHAR CEO, who was volunteering at Paws & Claws thrift shop that day, she realized that, this year again, MOOSE Lodge 2050 had come through for the animal welfare organization she has been heading since 1989. After glancing at the amount on the check, she and every volunteer at Paws & Claws thrift shop that afternoon were moved by the Lodge’s generosity. Through the years, Moose Lodge 2050 continues to be very generous to good-will projects and local non-profit causes such as the Sierra County Humane Society. A heartfelt “Thank-you” is in order to every Moose Lodge member and leader involved in contributing to our cause this year.

Skip Higgins and Oreo recently visited animal loving residents at the Veterans Home last Friday. Oreo is one of the last of Scruffy's puppies residing at Dog Town. Little Scruffy was rescued at DHAR several months ago, starving and also very much pregnant. The Veterans Home visit went so well that Skip has been asked to return every week with a companion animal from DHAR.

This week’s kudos go to Mary Cwerenz of Winston for the substantial donation of dog food for DHAR that she recently dropped off at Paws & Claws thrift shop. Kudos are also due to Jan Haley of Hillsboro who not only regularly contributes time and money to our cause, but she and two friends, Steve and Becky, also volunteer with animal care at DHAR one morning a week. Jan recently accepted to become the new liaison between P&C thrift shop and Diana Bellack who lives on the other side of Hillsboro. Since the thrift shop moved last year to more spacious quarters across the alley from Family Dollar in T or C, Diana tags and prices all the craft and sewing items for sale at Paws&Claws thrift shop. This very nice lady takes a lot of pride in lovingly preparing them for display in the shop’s craft section.

Welcome back, Diana Rivera, from your long well deserved R & R ( Rest & Recuperation). After over 5 years of faithful volunteer service at P&C thrift shop, your friendly face and pleasant personality have been very much missed at the shop the past few months. Great to have you back!

This week, a very special thank-you goes to the entire Friday Paws&Claws crew. While some handled the more-than-usual number of incoming donations, others cleaned-up and revamped the storage and work area reserved for small appliances and electronics. Great job, Crew! Bill Guynn of TorC is now ready to take charge of the electronic and small appliance section at the shop. We continue to need volunteers willing and able to give at least two hours at P&C thrift shop, to help sort and tag donated clothing and other items. We can be contacted at 894-2778 or 894-2639. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com.






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Eliana Aubin
www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com

Week of 8/16/09 Humane Happenings

Pat & Mosey (who still needs a "forever" home) in the Old West Pavilion

It was business as usual this past Tuesday at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary, which is owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society. Sunny, a female terrier-poodle mix rescued at DHAR last Tuesday morning, is now adopted by a couple who came all the way from Las Cruces after seeing her on the Petfinder web site. It was very heartwarming to observe how well she took up to them and them to her. By the end of Tuesday afternoon, Sunny was happily traveling to Las Cruces to start her new life in a spacious home with a large enclosed yard to explore and a green lawn for her to roll on.

Stan Brodsky handles the Petfinder web site from his home outside of Hillsboro and he keeps it up to date, together with photos and animal profiles sent to him regularly by Animal Care Coordinator Reba Wagner, who lives at DHAR. Stan, who can be reached at 575-895-5551 (a local number by the way) also handles of the SCHS Adopt-a-Pet Referral program, which allows folks to adopt animals directly from their owners. Our organization serves as a referral agency. We are very grateful to Stan and to Reba for keeping the program up-to-date.

This coming week, the SCHS & DHAR summer newsletter will be sent to the members and supporters, locals and out-of state - of our animal welfare organization. Animal loving folks who wish to become an integral part of our organization are reminded that it is because of their continued support that the SCHS can best serve Sierra County. Our volunteers, through Paws & Claws thrift shop and also Desert Haven and the Society’s programs, are very productive on behalf of the animals who otherwise would have no one to protect them and speak out for them.

This week, we thank the management at Foxworth in T or C, for the business’s in-kind donation that will be well utilized at DHAR. We also wish to thank Skip Higgins for the many attractive book marks that are being offered for sale at Paws & Claws. The book marks are photos of our dogs and cats and each one is unique. Skip is also working on individual name tags with photos for the DHAR and Paws & Claws thrift shop volunteers. Skip and his charming wife Marge have been a wonderful addition to our DHAR family for several months now, and when they leave the sanctuary grounds to new RV’ing adventures at the end of next month, it will be sad for the rest of us who have gotten to know them and appreciate them and count them as friends.

There are many ways for animal loving folks to help us help the companion animals of Sierra County. For any information, contact us at 575-894-2778. You can also check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com.

Week of 8/9/09 Humane Happenings

A little snack for a guinea pig

Desert Haven Animal Refuge, the Sierra County Humane Society owned and operated no-kill domestic animal sanctuary, is open to the public every Tuesday. Animal loving folks interested in learning more about what DHAR is all about are invited to visit the facility and its residents as early as 8AM, when the day starts at the sanctuary. Every Tuesday is always very vibrant with activities and folks who love animals are most welcome to take part in any of them. The crew is warm and caring and its members also get along well with one another, which makes for a great environment all around.

Animal Care starts at 8 AM every day, including Tuesday. As the volunteers get busy setting up the food stations in each one of the habitats, we can hear joyous animal and bird sounds coming from everywhere. They know Breakfast is about to be served and they express their pleasure in their most vocal way. It’s a lot of fun to be involved with the morning feeding of the residents at the sanctuary - quite a heartwarming experience to know that we are making a difference in their lives. We can’t save all the unwanted, abused or neglected domestic animals in Sierra County but we certainly are saving the ones that we routinely rescue at Desert Haven. We are pampering them and loving them and giving them the life that they deserve. It makes it all worthwhile to us.

Together with doves, peacocks and miniature chickens, there are also 36 male and female guinea pigs and several rabbits at Birdland & Animal House. Every morning, they wait impatiently for their scrumptious cut-up fresh veggies, served on beds of lettuce in large, shallow stainless steel pans. Boxes of vegetables are graciously donated by Bullocks grocery store in T or C and picked-up several times a week from the store’s produce Department.

This week, we wish to thank Mark Humble and Barbara & Bob Barth of Elephant Butte, Theresa Perez of El Paso, Texas, also Kirikos Family Funeral Home in T or C, for their recent generous donations – in kind and otherwise. We also very much appreciate the kind folks who drop-off dog and cat food and also bags of pet treats at Paws & Claws thrift shop during business hours. The residents of Dog Town are very lucky! There are always tasty treats handy for the volunteers to give to them. Kitty treats are less often donated for the felines of Desert Haven, and around the kitty-round-table at the Cool Cat Neighborhood, rumors have it that the dogs get more treats than they do, and they would like to change this trend a bit. Can YOU help?

We can be reached at 575-894-2778. You can also check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, or at www.Facebook.com