Week of 10/21/07 Humane Happenings

These past few weeks have been very productive at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s domestic animal sanctuary owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society. The Winter work camping crew has arrived and is now settled at the campground, and, together with the “Old Timers”, these animal loving folks are showing a genuine interest in making a difference. There is a strong team spirit among all members of the crew, and it affects everyone positively.



Terry Mayfield and Ron Gjudovich have almost completed the Old West Pavilion - the new covered bench that is now proudly overlooking the Old West Trail and it fenced exercise area, where the Desert Haven dogs are allowed to run loose twice a day, until they themselves decide that they can’t play anymore. Then, they walk back to the entrance gate, tongues hanging and eyes shining, ready to return to Dog Town, in anticipation of enjoying their twice-daily bowl of food. Terry and his building partner Ron have done a great job: The covered bench sure looks good, and the dog walkers will enjoy it so much.



After a busy morning handling animal care, painting, building, pulling weeds, answering phone calls, handling paper and computer work, everyone raved over Beverly’s delicious chicken gumbo and all the other tasty buffet dishes, including newcomer Pat, who is spending a couple of weeks at the sanctuary in anticipation of coming back later on this winter.

The Adoption Clinic was held this week at The Movie Gallery, and we thank owner Pat Armijo for her support in offering a free movie rental in exchange for pet food for DHAR.

Kevin of “Red Bone” in Downtown T or C, has also been very generous with the space he is letting us use to hold our Adoption Clinic.

This week’s Wish List: Canned dog and cat food - Good used refrigerator for the DHAR kitchen - Helping hands at Paws & Claws thrift shop – Dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at DHAR. For information on how to support our non-profit, all-volunteer animal welfare organization in some way, contact us at 575-894-2778 or 894-1694. You can also check-us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 10/14/07 Humane Happenings

Linda (Facilities Mgr. of DHAR), Eliana (Pres. of SCHS and DHAR), and Deb, (volunteer work camper at DHAR) in front of Paws & Claws Thrift Shop

The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. wishes to give a huge thank-you to a supportive community! The Cash-for-Clubs program, offered each year by Bullocks, is designed to let the hometown grocery store’s customers decide where their donations should be directed. A wonderful program, it has greatly helped our non-profit animal welfare organization raise the necessary funds to keep it’s Spay-Neuter program alive over the 17 years of that program’s existence. Participating non-profit local organizations receive cash donations equal to 2 per thousand of the cash register receipts total they collect between September First and July 31st, year after year after year.

Between Sept 2006 and July 2007, our organization collected $ 3,739.89; exactly $1,437.71 more than the second largest recipient, the ZIA PTO. This is Community support at its best! A sincere "Thank-you" goes to each and everyone who, in their own way, helped us collect so many Bullocks receipts! We also appreciate the on-going efforts of Josephine Varnum for tallying all of them - quite a task indeed!

Animal loving folks are invited to continue to drop-off their Bullocks receipts at Paws & Claws Thrift Shop, the T or C Public Library and the Williamsburg Post Office.

A local resident -Charles Kuhne- visited Paws & Claws recently and complimented us on our weekly column: Humane Happenings. “It’s good that you write every week and keep us updated”. Comments like these are very much appreciated by the writer of this weekly article, but it is the strong support of the local media that helps our small organization keep the community updated as we do, and we wish to acknowledge that support. As far as we can remember, the Sierra County Sentinel has printed the “Humane Happenings” article as a Public Service Announcement each and every week that it was sent for publication. Such on-going commitment is truly commendable!

This week’s wish list: Good used refrigerator to replace the now-defunct one donated two years ago for the DHAR kitchen. Canned pet food. With the Desert Southwest nights getting cooler as the winter season approaches, the 16 residents of Dog Town, from four-months-old rat terrier Suede to Maxwell, the energetic Shepherd, canned food is always in high demand.

Interested in supporting our non-profit, all-volunteer animal welfare organization in some way? Contact us at 505-894-2778 or 894-1694. You can also check-us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 10/7/07 Humane Happenings

Ted with lots of kitties

The First Annual Blessing of the Animals took place on Saturday October 6 at Rainbow Bridge Pet Cemetery, adjacent to Desert Haven Animal Refuge, near Williamsburg. It commemorated the birthday of St Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of small creatures. The ceremony, attended by over two dozen folks with their companion animals, was officiated by Father Peter Cacoperdo, pastor of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in T or C., in front of the life size statue of St Francis donated in 1999 by the family of Eugene Scartaccini, in his memory.


A sincere “Thank-You” is in order to Father Peter, for the very appropriate ceremony that he provided for all the animal loving folks attending. It was indeed a success! A “Thank-you” is also in order to the local radio station for announcing the event that morning. We appreciate the local media for their on-going support of our organization in publishing the Sierra County Humane Society’s weekly “Humane Happenings”. The media’s support is crucial in helping us keep the animal loving folks of our area updated on what our organization is accomplishing to help make this corner of the world a little gentler for every living creature.


A little petting for Hammy

Desert Haven’s winter work camping crew has now arrived and already settled down at the campground. John & Kathryn Farr of Washington, Ben & Beverly of Texas, and Terry & Pat Mayfield of Oregon are joining hands with the “Old Timers” - Operations Manager Freddie Loveless of Indiana, ARNG ( All ‘Round-Nice-Guy) Ron Gjudovich of New York, “Tool-Time Deb” & Training Manager Deb Peters of Connecticut, and last but certainly not least, Facilities Manager Linda Estavillo of Oregon. All of them reside on the property.

The crew is already planning several large projects and everyone is looking forward to an enjoyable winter spent working together with folks of kindred spirit.

This week’s wish list: Canned dog and cat food, volunteers at Paws & Claws thrift shop, dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven. For information on how to support our non-profit, all-volunteer animal welfare organization in some way, contact us at 505-894-2778 or 894-1694. You can also check-us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 10/1/07 Humane Happenings

These are busy times at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary. Last week, Desert Haven’s “Guardian Angels” - George & DiAnna Schnetzer- came down from their home in Los Lunas to distribute to all the canine residents platform beds just like those used at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Not only they are light and easy to clean, but also they are also very comfortable and roomy, even for our largest canines.


All the residents of Dog Town took to them immediately, and some more than others. After inspecting his new and spacious platform bed, the spirited wirehair Chihuahua, Pierrot, proceeded to move all his toys to his new sleeping quarters - and little Pierrot has many toys! Then, surrounded by all his earthly possessions, the new self-proclaimed king-of-the jungle began to watch the on-goings of Dog Town from his prestigious position.


He was exuding such obvious pride and satisfaction that all the volunteers involved that day could not help but smile every time they walked by his living quarters. George and DiAnna, you are two very special people and we all love you, here at Desert Haven. Thank-you!

We certainly appreciate each Sierra County resident and business owner who supports our organization in some way. Sierra Feeds recently donated a sizeable load of Eukanuba dog food. A few days ago, St Cloud Mining dropped-off an entire pallet of cat litter. St Cloud’s on-going donation of cat litter over the years has been a tremendous help as we care of the feline residents of the Cool Cat Neighborhood. Jason Gransbury of Palomas Canyon answered our recent plea and he spent many hours working on the property with his small tractor and backhoe.



Dan Mason of Turtleback Pest Control regularly drops–off bags of pet food at Paws & Claws thrift shop for DHAR. A new friend of Desert Haven - David Delio – heard about our need for canned food and immediately donated pet food as well as several boxes of much needed canned cat food.

With the cool weather soon upon us, we are starting to feed our residents more canned food each day, mixed with their dry food. We are asking our animal loving readers to please consider dropping-off at Paws & Claws thrift shop or Desert Haven any amount of CANNED dog and cat food.

For information on how to support our animal welfare organization in some way, contact us at 505-894-2778 or 505-894-1694. You can also check-us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.