Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Week of 2/24/08 Humane Happenings


Jeannette with Scotty & Bud


These are busy times for The Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s no-kill, domestic animal sanctuary. The Society’s major fund raising activity, Paws & Claws thrift shop, is being relocated in the building where Southwest Small Engine Repair Shop used to operate from, and the new location will provide much more display as well as work space. We trust that our supporters will continue to be as generous as they have been, in their contributions of good recyclable items to benefit the animals of Sierra County and Desert Haven. The relocation is being handled within a time-frame and at this time, we need volunteers to help us set up shelving and store fixtures that we recently purchased from a store that closed its doors recently. If any of our readers wishes to help us out in some way, please contact Freddie at 894-2778 for more information.

This week’s Kudos go to Jeanette Galliard of Albuquerque, for her continued support of our organization. Not only does Jeanette provide straw and alfalfa to Desert Haven on an on-going basis, but she also shares in the daily care of the non-human residents at the facility while she is enjoying her Rest & Recuperation time (R & R) at Caballo Lake RV Park one week a month.

This past Tuesday, thanks to Jeanette’s generosity, the volunteer work crew enjoyed a variety of delicious pizza for lunch – and plenty of it! What a treat!

This week, we wish to thank Mary Roden, Annie & Richard Millard, Vickie & Fritz Sorg of ALCO, Bill & Mary Jane Clellan, Patricia Trujillo, Al Skinner and the several anonymous contributors of food or cash to purchase food for our animals. Also kudos to the owners of Kirikos Family Funeral Home and Bartoo Sand & Gravel, for their generous donation towards improvements and repairs that need to be made at Desert Haven. Desert Haven is open for visitors every Tuesday, and by appointments. Contact us at 575-894-2778 or 894-1694 for more information. You can also check out our web site www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Week of 2/17/08 Humane Happenings


Lance - the partially blind Cocker Spaniel

This past week has been full of challenges for the active volunteers of the Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. & Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary. Paws & Claws, the Society operated thrift shop, will soon be relocating into the larger building across the alley from Family Dollar, and preparations are being made to allow a safe and quick transition - not an easy task for our small crew of volunteers. At this time, we welcome the help of any of our readers interested in joining us to make the relocation easier. Please contact Freddie at 894-2778 for more information.

Judith Papas was the volunteer “Chef of the Day” this past Tuesday, and her Italian eggplants casserole was well received by the fifteen folks sitting at the oversized table at lunch time that day. This year’s winter crew at DHAR has been great, in many ways. Among other things, everyone deserves a huge pat on the back for pitching in as they have, so that the Tuesday lunches could be as tasty and plentiful as they have been for the past several weeks.

These next couple of weeks, the crew will need extra help with animal care at Desert Haven, because of a shortage of volunteers caused by in and out-of-state vacations and hospital stays.

Thank-you, Kathryn Spahr for grooming Lance, the tan, happy & always ready for a walk, partially blind cocker spaniel rescued by one of our volunteers from a busy Albuquerque intersection last Summer. The scared little dog could not see his way out of the maze of speeding cars and it would have been his death sentence for sure, had one of us not been there - at that moment in time -to rescue him from his ordeal. Life has a way of working out sometimes, even for helpless and almost blind little dogs like Lance.

We at DHAR consider ourselves truly blessed with the arrival of Kathryn and John Spahr of Washington State several months ago. This very special couple has a huge part in the team spirit and the congenial atmosphere that is being felt at Desert Haven at this time. It is heartwarming to have such truly wonderful people living and working at the sanctuary. John and Kathryn are planning to stay several years with us– we are blessed indeed.

This week’s Wish List: Cat food – dry and canned. If you are walking for your heart, take a dog with you. To know more on “Take a Dog on Your Walk”, contact Freddie at 894-2778. To find our more about us, check out our web site: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com

Friday, February 15, 2008

Week of 2/10/08 Humane Happenings


Workshop cement floor in progress

February is already quickly becoming one of the most action-packed and exciting months on record for the volunteer crew at Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws thrift shop. Not only Desert Haven is seeing the undertaking of some major projects, such as the cement floor for the soon-to-be-built workshop, but Paws & Claws thrift shop is finally relocating – a long overdue move.

Through the 11 years of its existence, Paws & Claws thrift shop has been the most important financial support for the Society and an important public relations outlet. Over the years, the proceeds from the small but very busy thrift shop have allowed the Society to continue and expand its community involvement and, in 1999, purchase the land on which Desert Haven has now been built. Paws & Claws is a major contributor to the success of The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc., which receives no funding from any major Humane Society or animal welfare agency of any type, or from government entities, local or otherwise.

Paws & Claws opened its doors in February of 1997. Manned entirely by volunteers, the small shop soon became very active and donations started pouring in at such a fast pace that it took huge efforts on the part of the crew to keep up with sorting through and displaying recyclable items on an on-going basis. Over time, space became a major drawback. Throughout the shop’s growing pains, we have met wonderful people and made long lasting friendships. After 11 years at the same location, the shop is finally moving out of the small building at 109 East First Street and into a space three times its size on the other side of the block.

Soon, Paws & Claws will operate from the building formerly occupied by Southwest Small Engine Repair shop, across the alley from Family Dollar. Anyone available the next two Tuesdays and interested in helping the crew set up several sets of display shelves, lattice partitions, etc. at the new location, please contact Freddie at 575-894-2778. We certainly can use the help of several handymen and helpers, and, once the shelves and clothes racks are set-up, we will need folks to help us move merchandise from the shop’s old location to the new one.

This week’s Wish List: Dry and canned cat food has the highest priority on our list.
For more information, contact us at 575-894-1694 or 894-2778. You can also check-out our web site at www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Week of 2/4/08 Humane Happenings


Bootz and Elvis

The Annual Membership Meeting of the Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. was held on Monday February 4th, at Frank and Jody Koch’s home in T or C. Among other important matters discussed and voted on, elections were held for the three positions available this year on the Board of Directors. Board members Frederica Loveless and Frank Koch will continue on for another three years. Hellen (Bootz) Farrester was elected to the post left vacant by Ardell Scarticcini, who has been a Charter member of the Sierra County Humane Society and a Board member for the past several years. Bootz, as her friends call Hellen, has been a very active member since her friend Al Wilkinson –Dog Trainer at DHAR - convinced her to join our team of volunteers almost two years ago. Welcome to the Board, Bootz!

Who said men can’t cook? Nobody believes that at Desert Haven, especially after the delicious Italian style stuffed shells prepared and served by New York native Ron Gjurovich at last Tuesday’s lunch. Ron drove his RV to Desert Haven in Spring of 2007 and is making the sanctuary his “Pied-a-Terre” for a while. Great to have you on our team, Ron!

This week’s kudos go to Julie Rhedding of Albuquerque, ALCO, Alise Anima and Chris Montoya of T or C, The Hammonds of Las Cruces, Peter and Karin Altendorf of Texas, who either donated much needed pet food or contributed towards the purchase of pet food for the non-human residents of DHAR. Also a huge thank-you goes to our friends R & B from Colorado - who wish to remain anonymous - for their very generous donation to the cause of the animals of Sierra County.

We appreciate the kind letter from the caring gentleman who donated to Desert Haven miscellaneous items and pet food in memory of his 13 year old kitty “Inky” who passed away from Diabetes a few days ago, and his German Shepherd “ Rex” who died of bone cancer: We at Desert Haven understand his loss, of an understanding only those who genuinely love animals can share.

The need for canned dog and cat food, as well as dry cat food, is a priority at this time at DHAR, and we hope that our animal loving friends will be generous.

These past few weeks have been full of Birthday wishes: Ardell Scarticcini, Ron Gjurovich, Dolly Loftus, Dave Estavillo, George and DiAnna Schnetzer. Happy Birthday to all of you, and many happy returns. For more information about DHAR, contact Freddie at 894-2778. Also visit our web sites at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com