Week of 1/27/08 Humane Happenings

Freddie and the twins

Happy belated birthday, Frederica Loveless! Freddie, as her friends call her, drove her motorhome from Frankfurt, Indiana to Desert Haven Animal Refuge over five years ago. Desert Haven was still very much in the construction stage at the time. Freddie quickly became involved in its progress, and stayed involved year after year, while also making many friends in the nearby communities. An even-tempered individual who never has a negative word to say about anyone, Freddie is very dedicated to the welfare of the sanctuary’s non-human residents and she continues to make a huge contribution to the smooth operation of the non-profit, all volunteer organization. Thanks for staying with us, Freddie.

A special thank-you goes to the thoughtful lady -who wishes to stay anonymous - who cooked a large amount of tasty chicken & brown rice for Lucky, Desert Haven’s mascot and Dog Town’s “Deputy Dawg” who is terminally ill. The gentle and well-mannered companion animal is responding well to medication and also to the extra loving care from all of us at DHAR. We also wish to thank one of our readers for her generous donation, which is being applied to Lucky’s medical bills, including a recent surgery. Readers wishing to help should send their contribution to “Lucky”, Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Anyone interested to find out more about Lucky and his current health situation, please contact us at 575-894-2778.

Bullocks receipts are still being collected by our organization and should be dropped off in the Sierra County’ Humane Society “Cash for Clubs” boxes at The T or C Library, Williamsburg’s Post Office, as well as at Paws & Claws thrift shop at 109 East First Street. When the shop is closed, you can drop off your receipts inside the mailbox that is in front of the small shop for that purpose. Josephine Varnum deserves to be acknowledged for her on-going handling of the receipts. Since the program started a number of years ago, Josephine has tallied all the receipts, the proceeds from which are being used for our comprehensive Spay-Neuter program. We also collect aluminum cans to benefit the program. They can be dropped off in the Can Corral adjacent to Paws & Claws. For more information on the Spay-Neuter program, contact us at 575-894-1694.

This week, we hope that some of our readers will consider donating dried and canned cat food, as well as canned dog food. We also need helpers at Paws & Claws thrift shop.
The Annual Membership Meeting of the Sierra County Humane Society will be held the first Monday in February. For more information, contact Freddie at 575-894-2778. Consider visiting our web site at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 1/20/08 Humane Happenings

Happy belated birthday, Carlson Morse. Carl, a winter resident of T or C, volunteers at Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws thrift shop, and his handyman’s skills as well as his positive attitude are very much appreciated.

Last Tuesday was a very busy day for the volunteer Team at the domestic animal sanctuary. With temperatures rising a little closer to the norm at this time of the year, various indoor and outdoor projects were assigned to everyone present. From setting up a new office space or sanding a new floor, to painting or building walkways of patio blocks and flagstones, there was never a dull moment among the crew and everyone seemed to enjoy working with the other members of their team. Aside from the daily care of the residents of the no-kill sanctuary, efforts are constantly being made to keep Desert Haven Animal Refuge in good state of repairs along with upgrading the premises whenever possible.

With the holidays behind us, adoption clinics are being started again and DHAR’s Facility Manager Linda Estavillo is to be commended for organizing them and keeping them alive.

This week’s wish list: dry and canned pet food - agility training video including various types of dog agility training equipment such as tunnels large enough for them to go through, platforms, hoops, and other items that can be used to build a comprehensive training area that would benefit the residents of Dog Town. For more information, contact Linda at 740-2775.

Do any of our readers have a young kitten in need of a new home? We have someone who, through our Adopt-a-Pet Referral program, is interested in adopting an unwanted kitten. For more information, contact Stan at 575-895-5551. Through the program, Stan matches those who wish to adopt a certain type of companion animal with others who have one they want to give away.

Your Bullocks receipts mean dollars to our organization. Please drop of your receipts at Paws & Claws thrift shop on First Street in T or C, The T or C Library, or the Williamsburg Post Office. For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge, contact us at 894-2778. You can also check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com

Week of 1/13/08 Humane Happenings

Entrance to Birdland

The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. operates the Adopt-a-Pet Referral program, whose purpose is to assist pet owners wanting to relinquish an unwanted companion animal, in connecting with individuals who are interested to adopt one. Anyone interested in giving up an unwanted animal or adopting one should contact Stan at 575-895-5551. From a list that he continually updates, Stan matches those who wish to adopt a certain type of companion animal with others who have one they can no longer keep. The Society operates the Adopt-a-Pet Referral program entirely free of charge to anyone taking advantage of it.

John & Kathryn Spahr of Seattle, Washington , Sue & Ken Schaebethal of South Dakota, Mick & Claudia Moffit of Missouri, Ron Djurovich of New York, Linda & Dave Estavillo of Oregon, Jerry Andrus of Iowa, Freddie Loveless of Indiana, Deb Peters of Connecticut, Walt Allen of Michigan, Carlson Morse of New England, visitor and long time friend of DHAR, Dixie Montanti, Eliana Aubin and Dolly Loftus gathered at the lunch table Tuesday and everyone raved about Dolly’s chili stew - a big hit with everyone present. The Tuesday lunch time at Desert Haven is always full of laughter and good conversation which ends up in a very relaxed atmosphere for everyone present.

This week, we send a very special thank-you to Phillip Duncan and Sandi Gardner of Williamsburg, for their very generous contribution to Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s no-kill domestic animal sanctuary.

We also appreciate the on-going generosity of Annie and Richard Millard of Caballo, whose monthly contributions for the past several years continue to help feed the residents of Birdland & Animal House. Annie and Richard have been very supportive of our organization over the years, and they are thought of fondly.

It takes folks like Phillip, Sandi, Annie and Richard, to help us continue helping animals down on their luck. Our work of love in progress is funded in its entirety by caring folks like them, as well as by Paws & Claws thrift shop in T or C. No funding whatsoever comes from any government entities, local or otherwise. Each and every Humane Society throughout the entire US operates on its own, consequently receives no funding from larger national humane societies such as the ASPCA and HSUS.

This week’s wish list: canned and dry dog and cat food, sunflower and wild bird seeds, dog and cat treats.

For more information, contact us at 894-2778. You can also check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 1/06/08 Humane Happenings

"Lucky" - Deputy Dawg of Dogtown

The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors in which are vested the concerns, direction and management of its affairs. It’s time for elections again.

The Annual Membership meeting of the Society will be held on the first Tuesday in February at 4 PM, at the home of Frank and Jody Koch. For directions, please call Freddie at 575-894-2778. Elections for empty and expiring directorships are held at that meeting. Officers are elected each year by the Board of Directors at the board meeting following the Annual Membership Meeting. All members of the Board serve for three years in a non-salaried, volunteer capacity and are eligible for re-election.

Any interested individual must have been a member for at least one year to qualify to serve on the Board of Directors. Any qualified member interested in a Board position or who would like to nominate someone is urged to send a letter of intent ASAP to The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2778.

This week, we wish to thank Jane Fandey for handling all the craft and sewing material that is donated to Paws & Claws thrift shop, the major fundraiser of the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge. Jane sorts, tags and prices all the craft and sewing material that is subsequently displayed and sold at the thrift shop at 109 East First Street, adjacent to Hot Springs Trading Post. You are very much appreciated, Jane.

A special thank-you goes to the “Chef of the Day” at Desert Haven Animal Refuge - Ron Gjurovich – who prepared the brisket that was enjoyed by the crew at the Tuesday luncheon. Everyone raved on how tasty and tender it was.

Lucky, Desert Haven’s very first canine resident, is being scheduled to undergo a biopsy and everyone closely involved with Desert Haven is concerned about him and hoping for the best. Lucky is very special to all of us who know him and care for him. He was not exactly a puppy when he turned up, but still a little boy-dog, when he was found wandering along the highway several years ago and taken in at the no-kill sanctuary. A handsome, well-behaved and lovable Staffordshire terrier (pit bull), Lucky has become the symbol of the sanctuary’s commitment to its guiding principles: “ Except for those too badly injured or too sick to patch up, or those who are a danger to others or themselves, every animal, once granted asylum, is given a chance at DHAR.” Expenses for the needle biopsy (which was inclusive) plus the new test are expected to run close to one thousand dollars. Anyone wishing to donate towards Lucky’s medical expenses is invited to send any contribution to “Lucky” at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM.

For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge, contact us at 894-2778 or e-mail us at aubin29@zianet.com. You can also check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.


Eliana C. Aubin

Week of 1/1/08 Humane Happenings

Al Wilkinson & Parker in training

Desert Haven welcomed 2008 with “Business as Usual” at the Refuge. The team of volunteers who took care of the non-human residents at the small no-kill, non-profit domestic animal sanctuary are to be congratulated for their dedication, especially at this time of the year. Special thanks to a fantastic crew who not only pitched in during the holidays when we were short on volunteers, but who also gets along very well together day in and day out.

Ron, John, also Jerry-The Cat-Man, Freddie, Linda, Kathryn-The Bird-Lady, Dolly, Gene, Walt, Jillian and Eliana are all to be congratulated for making Tuesday January First a successful work-day at the sanctuary. Together with Bootz, Al, Marilyn, Molly, Diana, Deb, Stan & Robbin, who also volunteer either at Paws & Claws or DHAR, they make a cohesive and very productive team. We are indeed blessed this Winter, to have such a good group at DHAR.

We wish to mention Camille Pronovost who maintains and also updates the Sierra County Humane Society’s web site weekly, as well as the blog. Camille and her husband live in Florida and spent a short time at Desert Haven during the heart of the winter last year. Camille took on the web site soon afterwards, and its professional look continues to draw many very positive comments. Thanks, Camille.

If any of our readers has a small hot water tank he no longer uses, or perhaps a large coffee pot, we sure could use either one in Dog Town. It’s a lot more comfortable to wash the dog’s empty food bowls in warm water during the cold weather. We continue to need canned and dry dog & cat food, also chicken scratch and sunflower seeds. Dog Walkers and Kitty cuddlers are always in high demand at DHAR, and anyone interested in helping out in this way should contact Freddie at 894-2778.

Last but not least, we wish to thank Alissa Anima for her generous recent contribution to purchase food for the animals, also Kathryn Gold who donated in honor of their RV’er friends Sue and Ed White. While Ed and Sue stayed in a local RV park last winter, they came every day to DHAR to volunteer with the daily animal care. Many thanks to several other animal loving folks: Jeanette Galliard, for the truck load of alfalfa and straw she drove all the way from Albuquerque during the holidays, as well as for her cash donation for food for the animals - Leonardo and Diana Rivera for their recent donation of chicken scratch for Birdland’s residents - Stan and Robbin for driving all the way from Hillsboro several times a week, to help either to DHAR or the thrift shop - and Annie and Richard Millard for their monthly pledge to help feed the residents of Birdland.

Parker the border Collie, Angel the terrier, Princess the Chihuahua, and Sport the mountain dog are the newest residents of Dog Town and, with the help of Desert Haven’s dog trainer Al Wilkinson and every member of our team of volunteers, they are ready to start a new life with folks who will love and treasure them.

2008 promises to be full of interesting events. We thank all our animal loving friends, as well as the local and out-of-the-area businesses that have supported us in 2007 and we hope that they will continue to support us throughout the New Year. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2778. You can also check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.