Week of 5/11/08 Humane Happenings

Desert Haven Placita

Life at Desert Haven Animal Refuge continues at its normal pace: hectic. Not only are the workcampers busy with animal care, but this week we have been dealing with leaky waterlines, watering and pruning the vegetation, and creating new walkways through the grounds. John and Katherine are the head honchos on doing the walkways. Our new workers from Virginia, Terry and Sharon, have quickly adapted to life on the desert even though they make comments about how dry it is. Both are tireless workers at the refuge and at Paws and Claws. Teresa and Floyd were with us for a week, because they were bored at the RV park where they were staying and wanted something to do. The work BORING quickly left their vocabulary after a few days with us.

Moving to our new Paws and Claws location continues to be a work in progress. We are continuing our bag sales at the old location in an effort not to have so much to move. Last Saturday, we had a sneak preview sale at the new store. A lot of great customers came out and left with some treasures they couldn’t live without. A big “thank you” goes out to all those who worked in the store and the customers who support us.

The generosity of our supporters continues to amaze us. The Clelland’s are continually sending us checks and donations of cat and dog food. Muriel Clark from Canon City, Colorado recently made a donation in memory of Dorothy Plaatje. A gentleman came by the shop last Thursday and gave Freddie a check from the Homeowners Association out at Unit 8 in Elephant Butte. What an unexpected delight that was! A lot of people don’t even care about recognition: they just leave things on our doorstep. Thank you one and all.

For more information or to volunteer a couple hours a week, contact Freddie at 575-894-2778 or checkout our website at DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

by Dolly Loftus: DH Administrative Assistant

Week of 5/4/08 Humane Happenings

Jo Wishnie & Karmalita

This week, we wish to thank Jo and Fred Wishnie of Milwaukee Wisconsin, for stopping by Desert Haven Animal Refuge for a couple of weeks as they are traveling across the US. “The Wandering Wishnies” (as they call themselves) stated in Jo's blog that they “decided to shed the trappings of 'normal life'; home, family, jobs, possessions ....... and go off to see the world”. Jo & Fred assimilated very quickly to the daily routine of caring for the non-human residents at the sanctuary, while also making many new friends. Before they left DHAR, they made a point to donate their almost new bicycles to be sold at Paws & Claws thrift shop – a thoughtful gesture that was very much appreciated. Desert Haven was also the subject of Jo’s journal posted on her exceptionally well done blog.


Camille Pronovost - DH Webmaster & Blogger


Camille Pronovost, who, since the winter of 2007, has sponsored and maintained the Desert Haven web site from her out-of-state home, also posts the Sierra County Humane Society’s article “HUMANE HAPPENINGS” on this blog. Camille not only created the blog, but she also updates it weekly. She also includes in the blog digital photos depicting the life at DHAR for the human as well as the non-human residents of the small sanctuary. Animal loving folks from all over the US who are interested in DHAR and in what it stands for can keep up with Camille’s blog. Scroll down to the previous post for another link to Jo and Fred’s Wishnie’s journal along with the dates for their visit to Desert Haven. Well worth reading!

Desert Haven is small and certainly can’t compare, of course, to larger sanctuaries such as Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah or those operated by large and well-funded Humane Societies throughout the US. Regardless, what we do here at Desert Haven is just as important and just as worthwhile. We realize that we cannot save all the animals that need saving, but we know that we make a difference in the lives of those that we can save. That in itself is very heartwarming for all of us who love animals and who want to leave this Earth a little kinder than when we found it.

This week, several small kittens - 3 females and 1 male -are available for adoption through The Sierra County Humane Society Adopt-a-Pet Referral program, handled by Stan Brodsky of Hillsboro. Stan also maintains a current list of other dogs and cats in need of adoption through that specific program. He can be contacted at 575-895-5551.

For more information on The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc., Desert Haven or Paws & Claws Thrift Shop in T or C, or to volunteer to help the cause of domestic animals in Sierra County, contact us at 575-894-2778.

The "Wandering Wishnies" visit Desert Haven

All of us at Desert Haven extend special thanks to Jo & Fred Wishnie, volunteer work campers here for the last two weeks in April. Jo is pictured above, good-naturedly taking on the task of cleaning the guinea pigs' pens.

Fred is seen below bonding with Karmalita and Emmy.



In addition to all the physical help, the Wishnies also gave us some much appreciated PR on their web site at www.mytripjournal.com, chronicling their RVing adventures. Check the three posts dated April 15, April 20 and April 28, 2008 for a candid description of the "workamping" experience and many wonderful photographs.

Thanks again, Jo & Fred!

Week of 4/25/08 Humane Happenings

Future new home of Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe

Happy belated Birthday to Judy Ray and Kathryn Sphar, who, for several months now, have been residing as work campers at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, the small, no-kill domestic animal Sanctuary owned and operated by The Sierra County Humane Society.

Kudos to Mary Roden of T or C, Jodi Vandermark of Williamsburg, Vicki & Fritz Sorg of ALCO, in T or C, Fae Olson of Elephant Butte and also Fred & Carol Volguardson of Ruidoso for their donations of pet food or large items for DHAR. We also wish to thank all the animal loving folks who drop-off their contributions of pet food anonymously at Paws & Claws thrift shop, and also those we may forget from time to time in our public recognition.

A huge thank-you goes to all the nice folks who donate their used furniture pieces to Paws & Claws thrift shop. Now that the shop will soon be relocating into a more spacious building across the alley from Family Dollar, we are more than ever asking our animal loving supporters to choose The Sierra County Humane Society - who operates Paws & claws thrift shop - to donate their used furniture and large re-sellable items. As always, we are also very grateful to all our wonderful contributors of gently used items as well as of their old, their vintage, their one-of-a-kind treasures. For more information, call us at 575-894-2778.

Do you have aluminum cans to donate? The SCHS has a Cans Corral on the outside corner of Paws & Claws thrift shop. We redeem them for cash to help fund the SCHS spay-neuter program. Spay-neuter applications can be picked up at the T or C Police Station.

We also redeem your Bullocks receipts. Please bring them to Paws & Claws, the T or C Library or the Williamsburg Post Office.

This week's wish list: Pet food, Dog walkers and Kitty cuddlers. Volunteer helpers at Paws & Claws thrift shop. From Wednesdays through Saturdays, we sort through, tag and display boxes of donated items, also sort and hang clothing. We always need more helpers and soon, with more spacious quarters to display items for sale, and also a very nice working area, we certainly hope that local folks who want something worthwhile to do with some of their free time will strongly consider Paws & Claws thrift shop to volunteer at.

Stan Brodsky of Hillsboro has kindly taken over the posting and updating on the Petfinder.com web site of the animals ready for adoption at DHAR. The easiest way to check out the list is to click on www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, then click on the petfinder.com link. The DHAR web site was made possible by Camille Pronovost of Florida, along with this blog that animal loving folks won't want to miss. For more information on the SCHS and DHAR, contact us at 575-894-2778.