Week of 10/19/08 Humane Happenings

Deb and Dolly with Mexican sunflowers in bloom at Desert Haven

At this time of the year, Desert Haven Animal Refuge is experiencing a shortage of active volunteers to last until the winter crew of RV’ing helpers arrives at the sanctuary from throughout the US. Recently, several work campers moved out of DHAR and into town at about the same time, and the DHAR crew wishes them well as they start a new life in their respective new homes. When DHAR struggles through a lack of adequate volunteer help, so does Paws & Claws thrift shop, especially now that the size of the new shop is more than three times that of the old shop on First Street, and also since the in-kind donations have grown as well.

This week’s kudos go to Dolly Loftus of Elephant Butte. Dolly is the Sierra County Humane Society Executive Secretary and her office is at Desert Haven. As the newest member of the Board of Directors, she is now increasingly involved in the many facets of management of our non-profit organization. Among other responsibilities, Dolly now shares - together with Eliana Aubin and Freddie Loveless - the responsibility of making the work camper program a success at DHAR. She also regularly volunteers at Paws & Claws thrift shop. Since she has taken responsibility for “The Book Nook” at the shop, her efforts have made that section very popular among our community’s avid readers. Thanks to Dolly’s generosity this past Tuesday, the DHAR office’s second computer, generously donated by George and DiAnna Schenetzer some months ago, is now on-line and running.


Eliana, Bootz & Erin in the "Book Nook"

Dolly, a former English teacher and also a working partner in her late husband’s business, is a perfect example that one can be retired and still be very productive. Many worthwhile local organizations need volunteer help – one only needs to look around and find one’s niche. Dolly is invaluable to our organization and we consider ourselves fortunate to have such a person of substance on our volunteer team.


Dolly, with John & Deb, tries out the new bench at Desert Haven

A pat on the back goes to Ken, a technician at Radio Shack, for helping solve our software problem last Tuesday. Mary Roden and Ann Pruit, "thank-you" for your generous donation and yes, it will go towards pet food as promised.

Wish list: Canned dog and cat food. We add moist food to our dogs and cats diet during the winter months. Interested in helping in some way? Wishing to visit an animal at DHAR outside of open hours? Contact us at 505-594-2778 or check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com

Week of 10/12/08 Humane Happenings

Ralph

Welcome to Desert Haven, Dick and Jeanette Thomas – “Dick & Jane” for short. This friendly RVing couple is planning to stay at the domestic animal sanctuary throughout the next few weeks and the crew had a chance to meet them this past Tuesday. They, in turn, are slowly getting acquainted with the human and non-human residents. We hope that their stay in our area will be as interesting and fulfilling as they wish it to be.


Benji

The newest residents of Dog Town at DHAR include Benji, a very cute young Wheaton Hair terrier and his buddy Tater, a one year old brindle Dachshund Chihuahua mix who longs to be someone’s lap dog. Both of them have a sweet disposition and enjoy the company of people and of other dogs.


Tater

Tater also loves to ride in cars. There is also young Ralph, a friendly Spaniel mix, and Chocolat, a young Chihuahua who loves toys and who is intensively training to become the “ultimate” in home protection. To visit these dogs and other DHAR companion animals, contact us at 894-2778 for an appointment or visit Desert Haven on a Tuesday, when the refuge is open for visitors.


Chocolat

Judy Ray, who has been Desert Haven’s Administrative Assistant Extraordinaire for some months now, is moving on to experience new RVing adventures. Anyone with office skills, a couple of hours to give on Tuesdays and the willingness to help a good cause is invited to help us fill the need. We sure could use their help on Tuesday mornings.

This week’s wish list: Canned pet food, deck brush, cleaning supplies - Dog Walkers and Kitty Cuddlers - Also several volunteers to help set up the Bag Sale Boutique that is now open at Paws & Claws thrift shop every Third Friday of the month? We always need large grocery bags for that specific sale.
Interested in helping in some way or perhaps in adopting a companion animal? Contact us at 894-2778. You can also check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 10/8/08 Humane Happenings

Desert Haven Animal Refuge, owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society, will celebrate the birthday of St Francis, patron saint of the animals, on Saturday October 11. “The Blessing of the Animals” will be held at Rainbow Bridge Pet Cemetery from noon to one PM, with Father Peter Cacoperdo of St Paul Episcopal Church officiating. All companion animals attending with their owner will be blessed individually.

Desert Haven was very quiet last Tuesday morning, with a smaller crew than usual. The chicken and rice prepared by Margaret Cacoperdo of Elephant Butte was enjoyed by everyone present. Margaret, who came with Father Peter’s mother, Lucy, is a long-time friend of DHAR and it’s always a pleasure to see them.

The several large beautiful furniture pieces recently donated by Lynn Neglia brought a lot of attention at Paws & Claws until they were sold that same week. We also appreciate the generous nice couple who dropped off a gorgeous entertainment center. Again, we wish to acknowledge all the nice folks who donate so many new and like-new items, some of them still in their original gift-box.

A big “Thank-you” goes to Jeanette Galliard who recently drove to DHAR an entire truck load of hay all the way from Albuquerque where she lives and works. The hay is used in Dog Town to line the dog houses as well as in Birdland & Animal House, where it insulates insulate the guinea pig and rabbits habitats and the nests for our doves, chickens and peacocks.

Keep the bags of aluminum cans coming. An extra pat on the back is in order to those nice folks who crush them before they drop them off. Deb Peters of Palomas is truly special for transporting them regularly to the local recycling center. The proceeds from the cans help our Spay-Neuter program.

The Cash-for-clubs program has started again, thanks to the generosity of Bullocks Grocery. Bullocks receipts, when redeemed by our organization, benefit our SCHS Spay-& Neuter program. They can be dropped off at Paws & Claws thrift shop, also at the T or C public library and Williamsburg Post office. If you prefer, you can send them to us at the SCHS, Post Office Box 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942

This week’s wish list: pet food, dry and canned - A mannequin for Paws & Claws thrift shop - Large grocery bags to be used for the upcoming bag sale - Dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven - Helpers at Paws & Claws - Cleaning supply, dust mops, sponges, brushes, etc.

Interested in helping in some way or perhaps you would like to visit some of the non-human residents of DHAR outside of open hours? Contact us at 894-2778. You can also check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 10/1/08 Humane Happenings

"Hold me tight, Bootz!"

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society kudos are due to Ellen Farrester - Bootz – of Williamsburg. This special lady started volunteering on a regular basis with the Desert Haven crew several years ago, when the shortage of available helpers was great one summer. Along the way and until she adopted a dog of her own, Bootz became a foster mom for several DHAR dogs and she helped teach them the ways all good dogs should know. Last year, she was elected vice president of the Sierra County Humane Society. When the shop recently moved to its present location across the alley from Family Dollar, Bootz saw the need for extra helpers there and she started volunteering there a couple of days a week. Bootz, together with her husband Jack, also makes many of the interesting old-fashioned signs for DHAR. Thanks, Bootz, for all that you do. It is recognized and appreciated.


Old West Placita

Photo buffs, do we have the place for you! Desert Haven, with its Old West flair, is a haven for photo enthusiasts. Especially at this time of the year, when the wild flowers are in full bloom and all the vegetation is at its best, Desert Haven, with its rustic atmosphere and its animals living happily in comfortable habitats, provides many photo opportunities not found anywhere else. The Old West Placita – the center of DHAR - is building character each year. Built with barn wood collected from all over, it has been decorated over time with interesting items donated by animal loving friends from all over.


Old West Entrance to Rainbow Bridge

From time to time, someone adds a special touch to the Old West scene. A large cast iron pot and an assortment of some old cooking equipment add that special Frontier Town touch to the front entrance of The Lonesome Dove Hotel -the large aviary housing peacocks, white and domesticated ring-neck doves. A wooden barrel container sits at the corner of the entrance gate to Birdland, which is built with barn wood donated from several local old homesteads. Large rocks were recently moved to their current location and now outline the walkways, giving them a feeling of always having been there. Little by little, garden decorations and statuaries, also donated by local residents, can be seen here and there as they add to the country charm of the entire DHAR property. Mother Nature is doing its part as well and this year, The Old West DHAR Placita is an attraction in itself.


The Old West Placita

This week, we wish to thank all our friends, local and also from all over the US, who are generously supporting our organization in as many ways they can. We could not do the work we do without their on-going support, financial and otherwise. Many thanks to Desmond Hughes for his generous donation of dog food and treats. We always can use pet food. The canned pet food becomes a crucial addition to the diet of the residents of Dog Town and the Cool Cat Neighborhood, with the nights getting colder at this time of the year in our South-Central New Mexico Desert.

Interested in helping, or perhaps just finding out more about us? Check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or call us at 575-894-2778.