Week of 3/19/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Jim Seery and Foxy Girl

 This week and until the end of the month when his commitment to Desert Haven Animal Refuge is over, DHAR work camper Jim Seery is generously offering to cover half the adoption fee of either Shadow or Foxie Girl, should the right forever home becomes available to one of the two girl-dogs before he leaves the area.

 Shadow is an affectionate female Black Lab who came to Desert Haven as a very young pup several years ago, after being discovered by accident imprisoned inside an all-enclosed out-of-the- way storage yard. Her rescuers believed that the small pup had been thrown over the 7 foot fence and simply abandoned there to die.

Pat with Chowder & Shadow

Shadow is no longer a puppy, although she often thinks she still is. She wants her very own companion and her very own place in the Sun. Foxie Girl is a gorgeous female boxer who loves attention and who would also make a fun-loving and loyal family dog. Perhaps not even two years old now, Foxie was rescued at the sanctuary last year at this time. If interested in either one of the two girl-dogs, visit the sanctuary on a Tuesday or call 575-497-0168 for an appointment.
The latest canine rescues have now settled in Dog Town and met all the other furry residents there. Bobby is a gorgeous five year old King Charles Cavalier with excellent manners. His human companion – an older senior who took him into his home and his heart as a puppy – was heartbroken when he recently had to give him up. Bobby thrives around people and he enjoys canine playmates. The little guy would make someone a wonderful companion.

Among other canines of various breeds and sizes living at Dog town, there is three years old twenty-five lbs Rosie, a terrier mix with a very happy disposition. There is also seven years old, eleven lbs Sally the shy Miniature Pinscher - ten months old Fergie the quiet Terrier-Chihuahua mix - Jewel is a Pomeranian-with-personality. Tiffany is a tiny two years old Terrier-Chihuahua mix. Bobby and Zena are young Cocker Spaniel siblings. They have been sterilized, their shots are up-to-date. They are ready for adoption.

 A male Pekinese and a female Boston Terrier need a new home. They can be adopted locally directly from their owner’s home. Contact 915-319-9088. The Adopt-a-Pet-Referral program is one of our animal welfare organization’s service oriented programs offered totally free of charge to pet owners wanting to relinquish their animals directly from their home.

 This week’s wish list: dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven. Helpers at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Contact us at 575-894-1694 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge, at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 3/11/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Pat & Maxwell

 This week, the Sierra County Humane Society reminds animal loving folks who wish to support our animal welfare organization in some way, that we routinely collect aluminum cans and Bullocks receipts. Cans and receipts are then redeemed to help bring much needed funds to operate the Society’s spay-neuter and spay-a-stray programs. You can drop-off your bags of aluminum cans inside the SCHS Can Corral, located adjacent to the Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe building in TorC. Bullocks receipts are also collected inside the Thrift Shoppe when it’s open for business – from Wed through Sat, from 11 AM to 4 PM. We also have collection boxes at the TorC public Library and Desert Haven Animal Refuge. Our organization receives absolutely no funding from government entities, local or otherwise. We operate entirely with contributions from private and corporate entities and with the profits from Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. P&C is by far the major fund raiser for our entire organization and it takes the efforts and hard work of many volunteers to keep the shop open and successful, especially in the current economy.

 This week, we are collecting patio blocks to get a priority project underway inside the Cool Cat Neighborhood. If you have a few to donate towards our efforts, let us know. This week’s wish list: bird seeds, chicken scratch, cracked corn and sunflower seeds for the residents of Birdland & Animal House.

One of Desert Haven’s strongest supporters lives in the little town of Victoria, Texas. Regularly, this wonderful lady makes a point to send boxes of CDs and DVDs that we in turn sell at Paws & Claws. She also keeps us supplied with customized handmade price tags that we use at P&C. This animal loving lady who wishes to remain anonymous is most certainly one of our organization’s most treasured supporters.

 Jennifer Kneib and Pat Madden have been strong supporters of Desert Haven for several years now. They live way out in the country around Hillsboro. Once and twice a week, respectively, they take the time to drive all the way to the sanctuary to help care for the little rescues. Jennifer takes charge of the feline and bird habitats and Pat is a dog walker. We need more local volunteers to help us care for our little residents. If interested, let us know.

 If unable to give a hand, perhaps you can donate material or funds to help with the project. Contact us at 575-894-1694 or 575-497-0168. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge, also at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. You can also e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.

Week of 3/4/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Bunnies at Desert Haven

Spring is almost here and with it the dog and cat breeding season will soon be in full swing. The Sierra County Humane Society wishes to remind everyone who genuinely cares about their companion animals to have them sterilized. Not allowing one’s dog or cat to breed in a world that is already overpopulated with unwanted animals is an act of kindness towards a beloved animal and a major positive step towards helping the tragedy of pet overpopulation in this area. Sierra Animal Shelter with its multitude of dogs and cats routinely euthanized and disposed of in the local land-field is a constant reminder of that tragedy. The Sierra County Humane Society continues to be pro-active in offering Spay/Neuter rebates to area residents. Applications are available at the TorC Police Station, Hot Springs Animal Clinic and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. We wish to thank the TorC Police Department secretaries for assisting with this valuable community service since the program started in 1990.

 The funds needed to operate the comprehensive Spay/Neuter program are generated at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe, located across the alley from the TorC Family Dollar. The yearly budged for the entire program is around $10 thousand dollars. P&C Thrift Shoppe also cover the costs of operating the SCHS sponsored Adopt-a-Classroom program, which brings Humane Education directly into participating Sierra County Elementary classrooms. Interested in more information on both programs? Contact us at 575-894-1694.

The Animal Control Ordinance indicates that a companion animal left out-of doors must have – within easy reach – an adequate shelter that provides protection from the elements and of course a constant source of water. If you witness animal neglect or abuse, contact Dispatch at 894-7111. Request to speak to the Animal control Officer. It is usually wise to request a follow-up from the Animal Control Officer within a reasonable amount of time. If the situation does not get corrected very soon, contact the Sierra County Humane Society at 575-894-1694 and we will investigate. If you prefer, you can also contact the state-wide Animal Cruelty Hotline at 877-5HUMANE (877-548-6263). Callers may remain anonymous. Animal loving folks must speak out against animal neglect, cruelty and abuse, regardless of who is causing it. If we don’t, who will?

Thank you, Jennifer Kneib, for your long-term commitment to Desert Haven. Jennifer drives one morning a week all the way from Hillsboro to help care for the sanctuary’s feline population and in Birdland. Interested in helping out with animal care a couple of hours a week? Do you enjoy walking dogs? Contact us at 575-894-1694. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge, also at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. You can also e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.

Letter to the Editor re: Desert Haven Animal Refuge

NOTE: LINDA AND CARL WORK CAMPED AT DHAR through last fall and until January 15 of this year.
 
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In late October, my husband and I left the rainy metropolitan suburbs of Seattle, Washington, for an opportunity to volunteer as “work campers” at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, located a few miles from Williamsburg on Highway 187. Many retired seniors who own RVs volunteer to work for a specified number of hours each week in return for an RV parking spot. Since this was our first work camping experience, we had no idea of what to expect in an animal refuge, perhaps the typical steel cages and a sterile environment of some animal facilities. What a delight to find a place that lived up to the title of “haven and refuge”. Desert Haven has large, roomy areas for abandoned or abused animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and peacocks. All animals are housed in spaces that have comfortable houses and furnishings appropriate for each species. Dogs can romp and play in their own yard or race about the acreage that is used during their daily walk. Cats roam about freely in Cool Cat Country with its large outdoor and indoor spaces filled with small privacy houses or cubbies, climbing apparatus, and high shelves. The animals receive nourishing food, plenty of exercise and caring, human contact. It has been a heartwarming experience to see the generous donations of food, bedding, and other necessities that arrive for the animals from a supportive community. Dedicated community volunteers help with all aspects of animal care and provide the animals with affection, as well as work at Paws and Claws, which supports the refuge. The beauty of Desert Haven’s location, the caring staff, the friendly volunteers and the warmth of the T or C and Williamsburg communities have created a never-to-be forgotten experience for us. Returning to Desert Haven as work campers will be on the top of our “bucket list”. Whether interested in adopting a pet, volunteering or just wanting time with the animals, it is worth your time to visit Desert Haven Animal Refuge on any Tuesday.

 Linda and Carl Schmidt
 Bothell, WA 98011

Week of 2/26/12 Huamne Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Kim and his new buddy

 Winter TorC resident Kim Nelson will soon return to his home in Minnesota. Kim visited DHAR for the first time last spring and it was a real pleasure to see him getting involved again this spring. He will be sorely missed by everyone including all the canines with whom he shared quality time almost every morning. Kim has been a huge help at the sanctuary, as he walked and exercised the residents of Dog Town. We trust that he will returns in a few months, perhaps this time as a permanent TorC resident.

 This week, we are appealing to our dog loving folks for their help in walking the sanctuary dogs once or twice a week, during AM or PM Animal Care. Pat Madden, a resident of Lake Valley, has been a dependable DHAR Dog walker for several years now. Two mornings a week, Pat drives all the way from the small community beyond Hillsboro to exercise the DHAR dogs for a couple of hours – a huge help for our volunteer team. Perhaps someone in the community could help out one of the mornings that Pat is not on the Dog Walking schedule. We also need help walking our DHAR dogs during PM Animal Care, which at this time of the year starts at 4:30PM. Interested? Let us know!

 Thank you, Geri Moore-Hajek, for your kind words shared on the Desert Haven Facebook page about our never-ending work to help animals in need. Interested in supporting our efforts through the internet? Click today and every day on the Animal Rescue Site http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com. which funds food for some of the 8 millions unwanted animals given to shelters and sanctuaries in the US every year. And choose The Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven as your cause of choice. Important: “Free to good home” pets are at risk - for being sold for medical experimentation and sometimes used for bait to train in dogfights right here in New Mexico. There have been reports of free cats and kittens being killed so their hides can be sold in this area. If you must advertise your unwanted dogs or cats, our organization encourages you to charge a small fee to prevent the mental attitude that “free pets” are of no value and to help drive such businesses out of our NM communities.

 This week’s Wish List: someone to sharpen all the veggie-cutting knives of DHAR. Patio blocks to get a priority project underway inside the Cool Cat Neighborhood. If unable to give a hand, perhaps you can donate material or funds to help with the project? Contact us at 575-894-2639 or 813-716-2033. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge, also at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. E-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.

Help Wanted at Desert Haven Animal Refuge

PART TIME CARETAKER – Flexible work schedule. Looking for a single or couple with a positive attitude and strong work ethics – self starter who enjoys country living and working in and out-of-doors with and around small domestic animals. Duties include general maintenance, grounds keeping on 5 acre property and basic care of small domestic animals. Must live on property and be available for long-term commitment. In exchange for free RV site with WI-FI and most utilities, fenced yard, storage shed and other perks including $$$ for qualified applicant. Drug free environment – References required Call 575-894-2639 or e-mail weR4pets@gmail.com for details and interview.