Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Week of 9/8/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Charlotte bottle feeds a kitten
This week, Desert Haven Animal Refuge (DHAR) wishes to acknowledge Charlotte and Gerald, who are currently work camping at the no-kill domestic animal sanctuary owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society (SCHS). This exceptional couple moved from Louisiana to DHAR early this spring. A few weeks into their stay, both Gerald and Charlotte had already integrated so well into our volunteer team that when they proposed to commit to help out at the sanctuary for an entire year – many more months than first agreed on - everyone embraced their decision with genuine pleasure. Gerald and Charlotte had become an integral part of the DHAR family.

A few weeks ago, when the long-term Desert Haven Animal Care & Adoptions Coordinator resumed her RV’ing adventures at the end of her one-year commitment, Charlotte kindly accepted to fill her shoes. Her positive energy, her dedication to our animal welfare cause together with her hard-work are instrumental in the program’s on-going success. Our organization’s Adopt-a-Pet Referral program is also part of Charlotte’s responsibilities. If you feel you need to give up a companion animal you can no longer care for, contact us. Even if, at that time, there is no space available at the sanctuary for your little one, we will still help you find him or her a loving home. Among other avenues, we post your information with several photos of the pet on both our Desert Haven PetFinder and Facebook pages. Contact us at Desert Haven at 575-894-1694 or e-mail your information to AdoptaPet4Life@gmail.com. If you are interested in adopting a dog or cat but you have not had any success yet, contact us. We keep our Adopt-a-Pet-Referral list updated.

We need YOU to volunteer a couple of hours or more a week at our sanctuary. We have canines to feed and walk. We have felines, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds to care for. We need help at Paws&Claws during business hours - someone to sort through donations, test small appliances and get them ready for display, also someone to revamp our displays throughout the store while helping our customers. Contact us. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Week of 9/1/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin








The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its predictions: This winter will come early. It also promises to be bitter cold. We assume that Southern New Mexico is included in this winter’s predictions.

At Desert Haven Animal Refuge, we are planning for the winter. During the coldest winter nights, we plan to heat - in the most efficient way and within the constraints of our budget - some of the most utilized areas of the sanctuary’s dog and cat habitats. With this goal in mind, we are concentrating on acquiring several portable oil-filled radiating heaters. This type of heater is considered very dependable and also one of the most energy-efficient heating systems that our budget can afford over several months of cold winter nights.

From the senior canines and felines to the smallest, short-hair breeds, all our little rescues need as much comfort as we are able to provide for them. This coming winter won’t be different. If some of our readers have a good used oil-filled radiating heater you would like to donate, or perhaps the funds for us to purchase one locally, please call us at 894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. You can also send your contribution to Desert Haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, New Mexico, 87942. Our small sanctuary operates on a very limited budget. Time and time again, our supporters from all over have been there for us. We thank you in advance for any help you can give us to keep our little ones warm this coming winter.

Are you a local or perhaps a seasonal resident who wants to start a safe and fun exercise routine while enjoying the company of dogs? We need dog walkers at Desert Haven, any morning of the week between 8 and 11AM.

Our felines also love extra attention. If you prefer cats, we have many at the sanctuary, ready and eager to spend all the time you want with them. We also need help at Paws&Claws during business hours, to sort through donations, test small appliances and help keep our customers happy. Contact us.

Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, Visit us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 8/25/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society wishes to acknowledge the management at Davis Fleck for recently donating to Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe several large boxes of brand new – and very nice - items, such as men and women watches, jewelry, knick-knacks, etc. A few days ago, we also received, again from Davis Fleck, a box filled with a whole series of miniature cars – all brand new - that will be sure to please young children and children-at-heart who shop at our thrift store.

By the way, it seems that after so many years since P&C opened for business in 1997, most if not all Sierra County residents would be aware that Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe is a non-profit store operated by the Sierra County Humane Society, a 501-C-3 charitable organization. A very recent incident at the store indicated once again that some obviously un-informed individuals are still assuming that P&C is a business that benefits a private entity. NOT TRUE. Desert Haven Animal Refuge depends on the funds that are generated at the Shoppe. All the signature programs of our organizations, such as the Spay-Neuter, Spay-a-Stray, also Adopt –a-Classroom programs among others, also depend on Paws&Claws for their survival. P&C also provides an important service to the community by serving as a recycling station for the area while offering necessary and not-so-necessary items at extremely reasonable prices. In these hard economic times, it’s very important.

We thank all our P&C supporters. We thank those who shop there regularly and those who also make a point to let us know that they appreciate what we do for local unwanted animals. We thank those who choose P&C to drop-off their donations of regular household goods but also of furniture pieces and other large items that help increase our revenues ten-fold.

We need dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven, any morning of the week between 8 and 11AM. We also need help at Paws&Claws during business hours, to sort through donations, test small appliances and help keep customers happy. If interested, contact us at 575-894-2639. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, Visit us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 8/18/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Jim Seery hard at work
 New York native Jim Seery is returning to Desert Haven Animal Refuge within the next few weeks. Jim is retired law-enforcement officer who has chosen the work-camping lifestyle. He spends the summers work-camping in Michigan, near his grand-children. For the past four years, Jim has called Desert Haven his winter home. A kind and peace-loving man that everyone involved with Desert Haven and Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe has come to appreciate and consider an integral member of the DHAR extended family, Jim will be part of our organization for the next several months, while enjoying the local hot springs and small restaurants. Welcome back, Jim!

Jim is a book aficionado and he is already sharing his plans to help make the book-nook at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe even more efficient. Our P&C book-nook stays busy all the time – we are told that our collection of donated books is expansive and most of our customers seem to appreciate our bargain prices.

Within the next few weeks, before their regular meeting, the T-or-C City Commission will hold a workshop on the T-or-C Animal Control Ordinance that is being revised. Many animal loving individuals realize that changes need to be made. It is our opportunity to make a difference! So please attend if you can! For more information, contact us at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. You can also call the Mayor of T-or-C at City Hall. Mayor Mulcahy seems to always welcome new common- sense ideas and suggestions.

At this time, we need someone to help head our new SCHS foster dog and cat program. We also need dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven, any morning of the week between 8 and 11AM. We also need help at Paws&Claws, to sort through donations and/or test small appliances. P&C opens for business between 11 AM and 4 PM. If interested in giving a couple of hours a week to help a good cause, contact us at 575-894-2639. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, Visit us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 8/11/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Sharon and her dad, Bill
Desert Haven Animal Refuge got hammered by the recent major electrical storm from a couple of weeks ago. Not only several walking trails and driveways around the property were transformed into destructive mountain rapids for a while, but our entire WI-FI service also took a major hit. We believe that it is the ESC (electrostatic discharge) caused by the lightening during the major electrical storm from a couple of weeks ago that took everything out, in the DHAR office and also in the entire RV campground. We had everything in protected power supplies. We also had a main antenna with a lightening arrestor, but it was clearly no match for that storm. From the response we received from Windstream, our rural area is obviously low on their list. Until the company upgrades its lines, rural WI-FI users like Desert Haven are on their own with many of their WI-FI problems.

Sharon Stoffel and her dad, Bill, have been the WI-FI experts at DHAR for several years now. They were called to the rescue and came through for us, once again. Sharon lives in Albuquerque and works at Sandia Labs. Bill divides his time between Albuquerque and Elephant Butte. Both worked – totally on a volunteer basis - on the WI-FI until it was back up again. Thanks a million, guys! Also thank-you, Mike Wowianko, (Desert Haven General Operations Coordinator) for making yourself available and working with them until our WI-FI got back on track.

This week’s wish list: Dog treats for our small to large canines. Last year, our pleas for dog treats and canned dog food were answered by our generous Desert Haven long-time supporters from Victoria Texas. We completely ran out of dog treats last month. We hope that some of our animal loving friends will help replenish our supply. Our fur-kids love their treats. At this time of the year, we need volunteer help both at Desert Haven and Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe. We can be contacted at 575-894-2639 and at weR4pets@gmail.com. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, Visit us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.