Week of 8/21/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Leonard Chambers watering the cats

MOOSE Lodge 2050 recently made a very generous donation to the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge. The donation will go towards veterinary care for the dogs and cats residing at the no-kill sanctuary. It will also allow the completion of several projects that will make life even more comfortable for its furry residents. MOOSE Lodge 2050 has always been very supportive of the entire community and of our animal welfare organization. All of us who love animals sincerely appreciate the on-going kindness of its members and leadership.

It’s been a good summer. It started in April of this year, when Sherry Scott filled-in the position of DHAR Animal Care Coordinator. A few days later, Frank Welch of Albuquerque arrived with his two Dobermans at the sanctuary as a long-term work camper. He had watched a segment on Desert Haven aired on a number of regional TV stations, as part of the “It’s All Good New Mexico” program presented by Comcast TV. Frank was inspired enough to make a change in his lifestyle and become involved as a full-fledged member of the DHAR team. Frank is also an accomplished handyman – a magic word at Desert Haven. A few days later, Diane Lombardo of Northern New Mexico, together with Max, her constant fur-companion, committed to help the crew for a couple of months. Diane is returning this fall as a long-term work camper. Her involvement will include our organization’s Humane Outreach and Education program.

Janice Lamb and her husband moved from Florida to Elephant Butte in April. Almost immediately, Janice became a volunteer at DHAR. Just recently, they moved to Desert Haven. Janice is a tremendous asset, and she is already making a difference in her new position in the organization.

Karen and her cake

Israel Davis and Daniel Welch are Desert Haven’s newest long-term work campers. Barbara and her husband moved to Elephant Butte this past April. Not only she is helping with animal care through the week, but she also volunteers at P&C and handles the front desk at Desert Haven every Tuesday. Bill McLain, Leonard & Karen Chambers are currently work camping at the sanctuary. Leonard & Karen’s commitment to DHAR is nearing its end. They will be missed.

Indeed, many good things have happened at Desert Haven since the month of April. Interested in joining our team and become a dog walker or a kitty cuddler? Visit the sanctuary on Tuesday, between 9 AM and 4 PM, when it is 0pen to visitors. Desert Haven can be reached at 575-894-1694. Visit our web site at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com

Week of 8/14/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Over the next few weeks, the Sierra County Humane Society team will be concentrating its efforts on revamping Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe adjacent to Family Dollar in TorC. We plan to make it more spacious and attractive and can certainly use a few extra hands to do so. Is this type of physical volunteer work up your alley? Then check with our shop cashier during business hours for more details . We are open from 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays, or call us at 894-2639.

Tuesday lunch at Desert Haven

Paws & Claws customers Sharon Lagerfeldt recently dropped-off at P&C a box full of home-grown Gala apples to be shared at our Tuesday lunch - very tasty by the way and a thoughtful gesture appreciated by everyone. By the way, Sharon does this every year and she also supports our animal welfare efforts by donating to our cause items from around the world and also one-of-a-kind items that go a long way to enhance the variety of our assortment for sale. Donations such as these help give our shop its unique flair making it an interesting place to shop at - a point often acknowledged by many of our customers. Israel David is DHAR’s newest long-term work camper and already, he is becoming very versatile both at DHAR and P&C Thrift Shoppe. Israel’s willingness to give a hand whenever needed, together with his pleasant attitude and his generosity, is already making this hard working and conscientious individual a valued member of the team.

For more information on our organization’s Adoption and Adopt-a-Pet Referral programs, contact Sherry at 575-740-9412. Do you feed a feral cat in need of sterilization? Call Janice at 813-716-2033. Perhaps you need some financial assistance in having your companion animal sterilized? Spay-neuter forms are available for you at the TorC Police Station and Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe. Please remember that it is only through YOUR purchases at P&C that these crucial sterilization programs can be made possible. Desert Haven can be reached at 575-894-1694. It is open to visitors every Tuesday from 9AM to 4 PM. Visit our web site at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com and www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 8/7/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

David Kuhn is a former Desert Haven work camper who returned to the sanctuary for a brief visit this past Tuesday. Lolly, his constant companion whom he had adopted from the sanctuary, was with him. His reason for the visit:“ I want to thank Desert Haven and everyone who was there at the time I worked at the sanctuary last year, for their generosity and their kindness to me when I was down-on-my-luck”. He added, emotional and struggling for words: “the kindness that was shown to me … from Eliana to everyone there at the time…..I don’t have the words…..to express the depth of my gratitude.” But David, a reserved man of few words, didn’t need to say much – everyone there was able to grasp by his expression how touched he had been, and obviously still was, by the kindness extended to him by the Desert Haven team in his time of need.

David did not come empty-handed by the way. He had brought with him two large dishes of Lasagna. By what was left in the dishes at the end of the Tuesday lunch, his gift was great idea. It was truly a good feeling to visit with David. He looked and obviously felt better than the last time he resided at the sanctuary. David told the gang that during his difficult period last year, he came to realize that work camping was no longer a way of life for him. David is now is a full-fledged resident of TorC.

Thank- you, Debbie Niles of The Ivory Spa in Elephant Butte, for your timely donation of a brand new gas powered weed eater for Desert Haven some weeks ago. Debbie has been a strong supporter of our organization and she makes a point to visit the sanctuary whenever she is able to. RV’ers Bob and Bobbie Collins of Oregon recently parked their rig at Desert Haven campground. They learned about Desert Haven thanks to the “It’s All Good, New Mexico” segment aired this last Spring by Comcast TV on several regional and state TV channels throughout NM, CO and AZ. Bob mentioned that after watching it together, Bobbie was very inspired by the work that we do at the sanctuary. She checked out our www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com web and told Bob that she would love for them to visit and help out for a few weeks. And here they are - two wonderful people who came to DHAR to check it out and help as needed, both in time and money. We are grateful for their thoughtfulness and their kindness.

Interested in learning more about us? Visit our blog at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com. You can also chat with us on www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 8/1/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Barbara

Barbara Teater of Spokane Washington moved to the area in April of this year. Already, this versatile and delightful lady is becoming very involved with the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge. For several weeks now, Barbara helps care for the little rescues one morning a week and then she shares some of the office work on Tuesdays when the sanctuary is open for visitors. What a valuable new member of the team! Knowing that Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe is always – and especially at this time of the year - in need of extra helpers, Barbara is also volunteering a few hours a week there. Way to go, lady!

Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe continues to be very busy and we still needs a few more helpers on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays during business hours, which are from 11 AM to 4 PM. Contact us at 575-894-2639.

Is any of our supporters knowledgeable about WI-FI? While WI-FI is still available on the sanctuary grounds and inside the office building, the WI-FI connection inside the small campground recently gave up on us from one day to the next and getting it repaired and back to normal is now high on our list of priorities. As most of our animal loving friends and supporters are already aware of, our small sanctuary receives no government funding and operates solely on private and corporate contributions together with the hard work from volunteers at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Any hands-on help, advice or even financial support with getting our WI-FI back in line would be so appreciated!

Desert Haven is a small sanctuary which operates in one of the most disadvantaged counties in the entire US. Consequently, our resources are limited. While we neither have space, nor manpower or funding to take in and provide a home to all the unwanted dogs and cats in Sierra County, our animal welfare organization provides a unique and valuable tool – the SCHS Adopt-a-Pet Referral program – that allows Sierra County pet owners an alternative should they no longer wish to keep their unwanted dog or cat. For more information on the Adopt-a-Pet Referral program, contact Sherry at 575-740-9412. Desert Haven can be reached at 575-894-1694. Visit our web site at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com and www.Facebook.com/deserthaven

Week of 7/24/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Freddie and her "Happy Trails" cake

This past Tuesday at Desert Haven, Sierra County’s No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary, everyone had the opportunity to wish Freddie Loveless “Good Luck” as she is moving out of the sanctuary and into the community nearby to start the next chapter in her life. Freddie is special to all who know her, especially those within the ranks of the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven, where she has given so much of her love, time and energy over the years. A first time RV’er in the fall of 2002, Freddie arrived from her home state of Indiana to the sanctuary for what she anticipated would be a short stay before moving on to new RV’ing adventures across the US. She was accompanied by her constant companions, Belle and Girl, two elderly Labradors that she had rescued some years before. The Refuge was just getting off the ground when Freddie started calling it “home”. At the time, it had recently become a safe haven to a small flock of white doves, a few baby Easter rabbits, along with several guinea pigs. The rest of the furry and feather inhabitants came later, some of them much later. Freddie quickly embraced her new environment and soon gave it her love and loyalty. As she worked closely alongside Eliana through the years, she helped make it what it is today. Freddie’s two elderly dogs have passed on and are buried at Rainbow Bridge Pet Sanctuary. Her fur kids consist now of six years old little Jordan, Penny and Ruffles, all of them rescued at the sanctuary and fostered at her home for some time before she officially adopted them. Freddie is relocating, but she will be ending up only a couple of miles away. That will be nice for all of us because she won’t be far. This very special lady will always be a part of our animal welfare family here at Desert Haven. She is welcomed and encouraged to come by and visit for as long and as often as she wishes to do so.

Desert Haven is open for visitors every Tuesday. Join us at one PM for our Pot Luck Power Lunch and meet our down-to-earth animal loving crew. Help walk some of our resident dogs and care for our felines. If you are thinking of adding a fur-kid to your family, check out our list of adoptable dogs and cats on the DHAR Petfinder page or call us at 575-894-1694 or 740-9412 for more information. Visit our web site at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com and www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 7/18/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This week, a huge thank-you is in order for a generous couple who wishes to remain anonymous. These two wonderful people from out-of- state are strong supporters of Desert Haven Animal Refuge. They have special ties to the sanctuary, as one is a former DHAR volunteer and the other is a work camper who both met each other there before starting a life together –We very recently received from them almost a dozen boxes of DVDs, some of them still brand new and unopened and all of them earmarked for re-sale at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Paws & Claws is the major fundraising activity for The Sierra County Humane Society, the animal welfare non-profit organization that owns and operates Desert Haven Animal Refuge. The past few years, the declining economy of our entire area has joined the rest of the country. Of course it has greatly affected all of us here at Desert Haven and our Society’s dependence on the revenues of Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe is stronger than ever.

At the shop, we continue to need help from a book lover or two who would enjoy keeping the Book Nook as pleasant an environment as possible. We also need help in the shop’s receiving area – electronics and electrical items, also furniture pieces and small appliances arrive on an on-going basis and need to be either tested and/or cleaned-up for display. Are you a crafty person? Can you spare a couple of hours one or two Tuesdays a month at Desert Haven? We receive donations of entire boxes full of craft items, but we don’t have anyone available for sorting and pricing them regularly, so they can be displayed for sale in the craft section at P&C. We sincerely appreciate all our volunteers who work very hard many hours to keep Paws & Claws open for business from Wednesday through Saturday every week. Most of our customers appreciate P&C’s existence and they tell us so. One local lady said to our cashier last Friday:” We love your shop - Thank you for being here and doing what you do”. We could not do what we do without those who either donate to us, volunteer with us or purchase from P&C Thrift Shoppe. Thank-you, everyone.

Desert Haven is open for visitors every Tuesday. The Pooch Play yard in Dog Town is currently home to quite a few small breed canines and they need special attention including a daily walk on a leash. If interested in walking a little dog or adopting one, contact us at 575-894-1694 for more information. Visit our web site at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com and www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.