Week of 12/5/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

December is usually a very busy month of the year for the Sierra County Humane Society and already.  December 2015 is proving to be no different.

Our Second Annual Lights of Love celebration was held at Desert Haven Animal Refuge this past Tuesday. Central Bark - the main courtyard – is once again decorated with shining white and colored Christmas lights representing all the fur-boys and girls loved & remembered by our animal loving friends from all over - a colored light to honor a little one, a white light to remember one who has passed on. What a warm feeling we had as we watched all these little lights shining in the dark, knowing that that so many companion animals are being remembered and honored in this way.  

Gentle Ben has gone home with his new adoptive parents, Sue & Dan, and we are told that the fur-boy is adjusting well in his new, loving environment. Very lucky fur-boy indeed! Visit www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven to find out more about Gentle Ben’s story, which touched the hearts of so many animal loving souls from all over the country.

The two smallest residents of Dog Town, Chihuahuas Penny & Violet, were discovered a few weeks apart two winters ago. Each one had been seen wandering for days along the country road near the very small community of Caballo. Both were emaciated, injured and extremely skittish by the time they were rescued at Desert Haven.  Small dogs are easy prey for the coyotes, bald eagles and horned owls especially, all known to inhabit that area of the Desert. Now, two years later, Penny & Violet are healthy and have both regained trust in humans. This past Tuesday, they were adopted by a family.  Their companion of several weeks, Matty the Lasho Apso, also a little rescue, was adopted with them by the same family. Hurray! 

 

 Marian & Bruce, you helped make this past Tuesday a special day for our Desert Haven team, when you so generously dropped-off pet food, treats, bird seeds, also brand new doggie and kitty beds there. 

 

 

 

To all our friends from all over, please remember the small army of little residents at our sanctuary. Please help us feed and care for them this Winter.  Contact us at weR4pets@gmail.com or at 575-894-2639. Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.  

Week of 11/14/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

AmeriCorps Volunteers

        Recently, Desert Haven had the genuine pleasure to receive the visit – and the very much welcomed help - from nine members of AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a real-life education and work experience wrapped into one. It takes in individuals willing to do something special, something unique, something exciting as they help make this country a better place, such as bring needed services to a low-income community.

        For several hours on a sunny afternoon this past week-end, AmeriCorps members Katherine Smith of CT, Darlene Gray of MT, Alice McVicker of VA, Cody Watts of KY, Jasmine Aldershoff of– FLA, also Katie Fernandez, Taylor Haight, Evelyn Kwong and Nicolas Ashford of CA, took on several of the much needed projects that our Desert Haven team had planned to take on sometime this year but was forced to keep putting on the back- burner for lack of adequate volunteer help.  Alice, the spokesperson for the team at the time, mentioned to us that several members of the team are planning to hopefully return to the sanctuary to take on some more projects on our To-Do list before they move on mid-December. Hurray!  And from the bottom of our hearts, to every member of the AmeriCorps team who came to give a hand at Desert Haven Animal Refuge this past week, Thank You!   

        Anyone interested in walking some of our dogs on Friday and/or Tuesday mornings? Please let us know at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. Stacey is kindly walking our smallest breeds on Friday mornings.  We welcome someone to walk some of our other fur-boys and girls, such as but not limited to Mosey the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Forest the Hound,  Scruffy the Golden Retriever, Lucy the Australian Cattle Dog, Shepherds Missy and Suzy-Q,  also Abby the Black Lab. Gentle Ben, also a Black Lab, is ready to soon move into his Forever Home.    

        This week’s wish list: wire and wood fencing, steel and wooden posts – pet food – used bedding. Your donations can be dropped-off at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe located adjacent to Family Dollar in TorC, or at Desert Haven on a Tuesday between 9 AM and 4 PM, when the sanctuary is open to visitors.  Visit our Facebook pages at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven   and www.Facebook.com/PawsnClawsThriftShoppe,  also our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.  

Week of 11/8/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

I'll take it!!

        The past several weeks have been full of activities at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, the no-kill domestic animal sanctuary owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society.

        Newly arrived Fox Terriers Miles, Milo and Shi-Tzu mix Matty, are now sterilized. Miles is in the process of being adopted. We thank everyone who was involved with their recent rescue.  Interested in adopting a lap-dog with personality?  Please check-out our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven. Our web site www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com can also take you to our Petfinder page, only a click away. The sanctuary is open to visitors every Tuesday between 9 AM and 4 PM. Dog Town is home to dogs of various breeds and sizes, including two little Chihuahuas, Penny & Violet. These small, young fur-babies have resided at Dog Town for many, many months now. Both are trusting that someone special will want to give them a loving home for the holidays.  Penny & Violet, together with Miles, Milo and Matty, and occasional play-mates Penelope & Sancho, are taking advantage of every amenity offered by their Puppy Play Yard and its cozy indoor section.  

        Thanks to Joe, Tom and Kevin, Dog Town is now ready for winter.  Inside the Inn, carpet remnants have been cut to size and laid-out everywhere on the cement floors.   All the furry little ones have their very own doggie-bed to snuggle in at night. In the play yards, every igloo and dog house is now thoroughly insulated.  With the Cool Cat Neighborhood and Birdland also recently winterized,  every little resident at Desert Haven will be warm and cozy this winter.

Gentle Ben, the young black lab abandoned at Percha Dam State Park three weeks ago, is now residing at the sanctuary.  His new playmates - Taz and Missy – have welcomed him into their circle and the three of them can be seen playing never-ending games.  If everything goes as planned, Gentle Ben will soon be ready to become the newest member of Sue & Dan’s family in TorC.  

        This week’s wish list: wire fencing & posts - dog & cat food – used bedding for the furry sanctuary residents. Your donations can be dropped off at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe located adjacent to Family Dollar in TorC. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2639.

Week of 10/24/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Matty and Milo both say, "I'll take it!"

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society wishes to thank all our animal loving friends from all over who, at this time of the year and especially through the holidays, are remembering our organization with their generous holiday contributions and miscellaneous gifts for the little residents of Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill companion animal sanctuary.

 A few days ago, Williamsburg resident Velda, who is a long-time supporter of our organization, dropped-off at the sanctuary a car load of much needed pet food items and dog and cat accessories. Sharon of Albuquerque responded once again to our recent appeal for canned pet food for the sanctuary residents. She dropped-off her very generous contribution at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. The non-profit business is located adjacent to Family Dollar in TorC. It is owned and operated by our animal welfare organization.

Bedding items such as used pillows, blankets, comforters, etc. that are donated at the store but are too well-worn to be sold inside the store, are routinely saved for use at Desert Haven. They will keep our fur-boys and girls as warm and as cozy as possible this winter.

We also wish to thank several of our animal loving friends - some of them are local, others are residing out-of-state - for their on-going support of our cause through the Sierra County Humane Society Recurring Giving Program. This program lets you make your gift in easy monthly or quarterly installments. Recurring gifts mean so much to our little rescues currently residing at the no-kill sanctuary and they have a significant impact as to what we can do on an on-going basis for the unwanted, neglected and abandoned companion animals in our area.

If you would like to make a recurring gift to our 501-c-3 non-profit organization, contact us at 575-894-2639 or email us at weR4pets@gmail.com. You can also use paypal on our www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com web site.

 For more information, you can also write to the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge at PO Box 638, Williamsburg. This week’s priority wish list: wire fencing and posts - canned dog & cat food – used bedding for the furry sanctuary residents. Sunflower seeds for the residents of Birdland. Interested in finding more about us? Visit us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven and www.Facebook.com/PawsnClawsThriftShoppe.

Week of July 5 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Patriotism at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe

This past week has been very active for the Sierra County Humane Society, especially because many people contacted us at 575-894-2639 and at weR4pets@gmail.com to possibly find out the whereabouts of their beloved fur-kid who disappeared during the July 4th fireworks. We help spread the word. As importantly, anyone who has lost a companion animal should immediately contact Sierra Animal Shelter at 575-894-2240, located at 1607 North Date Street.

Our animal welfare organization is not the Animal Control Department; We do not pick-up stray or dead animals. Should you need this service, call Dispatch 575-894-7111 to connect with the Animal Control Officer on duty. The ACO also handles complaints of animal mistreatment or neglect. If you witness someone mistreating or neglecting an animal, no matter how well known the person is in the community, it is your moral responsibility to contact Dispatch and require the ACO investigates before it’s too late. And don’t let anyone – anyone - tell you that a commercial wire dog kennel out-in-the open, with a piece of plywood over it, is “adequate protection”. If you see that nothing changes to the situation, contact us at 575-894-2639. Someone who leaves a dog, especially a mother with newborns, outside without adequate protection from the elements, water or food at any time of the year - is disgusting. We will take the necessary steps to help ensure that all companion animals receive the protection they needs. Your information will stay confidential.

Thank-you: Sharon and Carolyn of Albuquerque, Bill Stoffels of Elephant Butte and Velda of Williamsburg, for recently donating canned dog and cat food for the Desert Haven furry residents. We very much appreciate every donation, large or small, of canned pet food and treats. Our supporters are amazing! We value each and every one of you!

We continue to save Bullocks receipts. Please bring them to Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe between 11am and 4:30pm, Wed through Sat. The store is located next to Family Dollar in TorC. If it is closed, simply slide them under the front door. SCHS Charter Member Josephine Gurnsey-Varnum picks them up regularly and redeems them for $$$ for our organization. Please do not leave your donation outside, whatever it may be.

Connect with us at www.Facebook.com/PawsnClawsThriftShoppe, www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven. Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

1st week of July 2015 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Help us locate "Rocko", missing since a car accident on 6/21/15 north of Elephant Butte, NM

This past week, Eliana Aubin, President of the Sierra County Humane Society, met with Police Chief Lee Alirez at his office. The major focus of the meeting was to get mutually acquainted and to ensure a professional connection would be made now that Chief Alirez had settled as the new TorC Chief of Police.

Our animal welfare organization’s professional relationship with now-retired Chief of Police Priscilla Mullins was always positive and one of mutual respect. Former Chief Mullins was already on the TorC Police Force when the Sierra County Humane Society was organized in 1989. Over the years, as she climbed the TorC Police Department ladder, Mullins served under several chiefs, including Chief Russ Peterson who was always considered one of our animal welfare organizations strong local supporters and for whom our respect has always been very high.

After this positive and informative first meeting with the current Police Chief - Lee Alirez - we are confident that the professional relationship between the Sierra County Humane Society and the TC Police Department will continue to be one of mutual trust, respect and understanding.

Have you seen Rocko? He is the neutered, gentle well-mannered German Shepherd mix who was riding in the vehicle involved in a bad accident on Sunday June 21, North of Elephant Butte at the first canyon. His beloved humans were hurt and Rocko may be hurt as well. He was seen jumping out of the back window and running South down the HWY and then across the HWY going West. Please watch out for Rocko and please help him. We can be reached at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com.

We continue to spread the word out, via several Facebook pages such as www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven, also www.Facebook/com/Lost, found and rehoming animals of Sierra County, and of course via word-of-mouth. Our heart goes out to Rocko and also to his human family. Summer is a terrible season for a beloved companion animal to suddenly find himself way out in the middle of the desert, traumatized and perhaps also injured. Please share this information and help us reunite Rocko with his human family.

For more information on our organization and on the good work that we do, visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 6/28/15 Humane Happenings

 by Elaina Aubin

Pretty Boy has a new home in Colorado!

“Pretty Boy” the Pomeranian has been a resident at Desert Haven for many months now. Soon after his rescue last year, the little guy met his new fur-buddies, Penny & Violet, two tiny Chihuahuas, with whom he would share his life while at the no-kill sanctuary. As time went by, the three little ones had become each other’s very best buddies. Pretty Boy was adopted recently, leaving Penny and Violet behind. He has now started his new life with a couple from Colorado. Thanks to our routinely updated Desert Haven page on www.Petfinder.com, Pretty Boy caught their attention as they were searching the internet all the way from their Colorado home for a Pomeranian, their favorite breed. It’s a good feeling to know that there are still good people who don’t mind driving many miles out of their way to give rescued companion animals – and themselves - a chance at connecting and at sharing a good life together.

A hug for Vickie on her last day at Desert Haven.

Vicky has resided at Desert Haven since the summer of 2003. She was a small pup then, when discovered in a couple’s yard at the edge of the small town of Cuchillo, located in the middle of the Desert. Since then, we have shared Vicky’s story and photos on our www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven page. Vickie was part of a large group of over 50 dogs belonging to a hoarder. who at the time lived in Cuchillo.

One day, warned of an imminent visit by Law Enforcement officers, the man decided to get rid of most of the dogs. Neighbors claimed they saw him drive them deep into the Desert one evening, one load at a time, until only a handful were left in his
yard.
 

Vickie

 

Several days later, two puppies came out of the Desert together and wandered into a good Samaritan yard. The couple adopted one and took the other to Desert Haven. That was 12 years ago. We named her Vickie. Over the years, Vicky’s fur-buddies were adopted out. No one seemed to want our little Vickie. She had now become the “Senior” at Dog Town. This past Tuesday, an elderly gentleman came to meet her and decided that they needed each other – two seniors sharing what was left of their life together. Our little Vicky has now moved to her very own home. So happy for our little fur-gal!

For more information, contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 5/17/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This week, we wish to gratefully acknowledge some of our organization’s most generous contributors of pet food and treats earmarked for the furry and feather residents of Desert Haven Animal Refuge, the no-kill domestic animal sanctuary owned and operated by the Sierra County Humane Society.

Several boxes of canned pet food, also milk bones and other dog and cat treats were recently sent to us via Amazon by supporters who appreciate what we do in this little corner of the world to help unwanted and abandoned companion animals. Thank-you, Carmel, of San Francisco, CA. Also thank-you to our friends from Victoria, TX. We also have generous local individuals who routinely drop-off bags of canned pet food at our Desert Haven mail box and at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC. You are all close to our hearts. At this time, we continue to keep canned dog and cat food on our high priority list, also small, medium and large milk bones.

Do you live out of the area and you want to help feed some of our little residents by ordering pet food / treats etc. for Desert Haven from large companies? Contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com for the information you will need to get your packages delivered via FEDEX.

Do you have paper grocery bags, also plastic bags of all sizes that you wish to donate to our animal welfare cause? We use them at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe. You can drop them off inside the donation box or better yet, bring them inside the store during business hours, which this summer are 11 AM-4:30PM Wednesday through Saturday. As always we accept – and certainly gratefully appreciate – your donations of furniture pieces in good enough shape that we can sell them at the store. Please no large older TVs, no broken-down furniture or stained mattresses. Be kind enough to drop-off those unsellable items at the local recycling center instead.

Your Bullocks Grocery store receipts are worth $$$$ to our organization. Please save them for us and bring them inside the store during business hours. You can also drop them in the Bullocks Receipt slot at the P&C donation box when the store is closed.

Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.Facebook.com/PawsnClaws Thrift Shoppe. Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 4/25/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Great things have been happening at Desert Haven Animal Refuge recently. Dog Town resident, our little love-bug Suzy-Q, was adopted by a local resident Tuesday morning. Before she left the sanctuary to start a brand new life with Flora, her new mom, our furry little gal made her rounds and she happily distributed her hugs and kisses to all of us who were there for the occasion and to wish her the very best in her new life. That little gal sure will be missed by all of us who cared for her and especially by Pretty Boy, the young and playful Pomeranian who has been her playmate for the past several months. Pretty Boy is still waiting patiently for his own forever home. He is wondering why it’s taking so long for him to melt someone’s heart.

Janice working on the new Rainbow Bridge sign

The high winds this past week have just about destroyed the colorful Rainbow Bridge Pet Cemetery sign that has stood strong ever since the cemetery opened-up to serve the community. The animal welfare organization President, Eliana, designed the sign 15 years ago. Owner of Southwest Sign Service in T or C, Jerry Gustin, very generously produced it and put it up into its present location at the front of the pet cemetery, all of it pro-bono. Thank-you, Jerry. Co-owners of Adobe Hacienda Real Estate, Dean Tulk and Janice Gray, are very generously committing to create a brand new sign for Rainbow Bridge Pet Cemetery. They are already working on it. Dean and Janice, you are tops with us!

This week’s high priority wish list: Canned dog and cat food, also small, medium and large milk bones. Some of our fur-kids are getting on in years and we mix canned food with their dry food every morning. At this time, our canned food storage is bare. We need a push-mower in good working condition, also large paper and plastic grocery bags for P&C Thrift Shoppe.

Desert Haven is open to visitors every Tuesday. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com . Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.Facebook.com/PawsnClawsThrift Shoppe.

Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Help our organization help and protect companion animals in Sierra County! Get involved!

Week of 4/12/15 Humane Happenings

 by Eliana Aubin

Our rescue, Vickie, and her stuffed fur-buddy!

Once again, the scourge of DOG FIGHTING is showing its ugly head in our New Mexico communities. More and more lately, a significant number of pet owners have contacted the Sierra County Humane Society or made a point to bring-up their concerns to the manager at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, when their beloved dog suddenly disappeared directly from their “secured” fenced yard, usually in plain daylight. Gates were left open and the dog owners assumed at first that this was the “works” of mischievous young kids-with-nothing-better-to-do than disrupt their neighbors’ lives. The concerned pet owners scoured their entire neighborhoods and beyond to locate their beloved fur-companions and bring them back home safely - but no luck: their fur-baby had disappeared forever. Here we are, way into the 21st Century, and the scourge of DOG FIGHTING continues to plague our NM communities. Please share the following quote with your friends and neighbors. It may save innocent little lives in the process.

QUOTE FROM A DOG FIGHTER “The hardest thing is to get enough dogs and cats to use as bait during training. One good source is to check the local newspapers for ads that offer a pet dog or cat for free. My wife dresses up neatly and collects them for me. Sometimes, she takes our youngest kid with her. If that source is running dry for a while, I just hire local gang kids to fetch me dogs and cats. They scour the backyards and alleys and take whatever number of animals we need. They make sure that they leave the doors or gates open, so people just believe that they accidentally left them unlatched and that’s how their animals got out and got lost.” 

Please report any suspicious activities immediately to the local law enforcement agency by calling DISPATCH at 575-894-7111 – You can stay anonymous if you wish. With the help of vigilant animal loving neighbors, Sierra County and its small communities have a much better chance of getting rid of the scourge of Dog Fighting.

Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.Facebook.com/PawsnClawsThrift Shoppe. Contact us at 575-894-2639, 575-894-1694 or weR4pets@gmail.com. Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Help our organization protect companion animals in Sierra County! Get involved!

Week of 3/20/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Chaco

 

 The past couple of weeks, several local individuals contacted the Sierra County Humane Society at 575-894-1694, each one inquiring about adopting a specific type of small dog from Desert Haven, the no-kill sanctuary owned and operated by the non-profit animal welfare organization. The average request lately has been a dog no older than a year old at the time of adoption and also no more than 25 lbs when mature. Apparently, most landlords will accept cats and small, well-behaved dogs in their rental units.

 Aside from keeping the organization’s Petfinder page at www.Petfinder.com/deserthavenanimalrefuge up-to-date, we operate the Adopt-a-Pet Referral program. It gives the opportunity for the owner of a no-longer-wanted companion animal or bird to connect with someone who is looking to give a good home to one fitting that description. The program is needed, worthwhile and also totally free to Sierra County residents. For more information, visit Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe and ask for Eliana or Denny. You can also call us at 575-894-1694. E-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com, or adoptapet4life@gmail.com.

Sandra is from Dallas, TX. She and her husband are vacationing in our community, enjoying its amenities, including our bath houses. At our suggestion, they will also visit several Old West towns before leaving our area. While shopping at Paws&Claws, Sandra asked “Is this your store?” - “No, I just volunteer here. The store belongs to the Sierra County Humane Society.” Her response: ” It’s a wonderful store. There are many things here that I would want to take with me, but we are leaving next week-end on a plane from ABQ - no room to take anything with us.” Her comment is worth sharing with our readers and everyone who supports our animal welfare cause. Sandra also plans to post her experience on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe once she gets back home to Texas.

This week’s priority wish list:
Canned dog food, dog treats, canned cat food, also Sunflower seeds.

“Thank- you”, Sharon of Albuquerque, Gina Thomas & “Grand-Ma” of TorC, Sandra & Michael, Desert Haven’s closest neighbors, and other generous folks who answered our plea for these currently most needed food items.

Need more information? Interested in helping out in some way? Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942 or connect on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven. Thank you.

Humane Happenings Week of March 8,2015

by Eliana Aubin

Annual Board of Directors Meeting

 Lately, several local residents and our Sierra County Humane Society (SCHS) long-time members and supporters have inquired about the current status of the SCHS PET PANTRY. Because of a new situation beyond our control, The SCHS PET PANTRY had to officially close its doors – until further notice - as of January of this year. The much-needed program was initiated in 2010, mostly thanks to the generosity of the local Walmart store that had just opened its doors in TorC. Since 2010 and until the end of 2014, Walmart had very generously donated to our non-profit 501-c-3 animal welfare organization some of the store’s most damaged bags and containers of pet food and kitty litter. Because of Walmart generosity over the past several years, our animal welfare organization was able to feed – and therefore rescue - even more animals-in-need than we had before. Also because of Walmart generosity, we opened-up the SCHS PET PANTRY in 2010. This in turn provided dog and cat food to residents-most-in-need as well as to folks we could reach who were part of local Homeless Community and who shared their lives with a beloved furry companion.

This January, we were informed by Walmart that its donation policy to local 501-c-3 non-profit organizations had changed. Consequently, the Walmart store’s contributions of damaged bags and containers of pet food to our animal welfare organization & Desert Haven Animal Refuge has now been reduced to a trickle - a trickle we still very much appreciate, value - and need. We continue to be grateful that the local Walmart store is keeping our non-profit animal welfare organization on its donation list. However, our current budget constraints no longer allow us to keep the SCHS PET PANTRY program going. We must now concentrate on the welfare and well-being of all the little rescues at Desert Haven Animal Refuge. They are our main focus as we continue to feed and provide for them until they are adopted out or to the end of their natural life.

This week’s wish list: several 15 gallons galvanized washtubs. During the warm weather, they not only provide fresh water for our resident dogs, but they are also some of the most practical and easy-to-handle “lounging” pools we can provide for their play yards.

We also need dog treats - canned dog food – canned cat food - Bird seeds - sunflower seeds -

Dog walkers at Desert Haven.

Write to us at P0B 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Contact us at weR4pets@gmail.com 575-894-2639. Share your comments with us at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven, www.Facebook/Pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Visit us at at:www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 1/25/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Sabrina, Linda and John - Staff of Sierra Veterinary Services

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society (SCHS) wishes to acknowledge our local veterinarian - Dr Danielle Dawkins - and her entire team. Dr Dawkins has taken over Dr Bill Cardwell’s practice. Dr Cardwell served Sierra County since 1987 until he retired and moved back to his home state of Texas with his delightful wife Judy. It’s great to have a veterinarian right here in town, so we don’t have to travel long distances to give our beloved animals the immediate professional attention they sometime need. Our animal welfare organization values the opportunity to work with the competent staff at Sierra Veterinary Services.

The SCHS Adopt-a-Pet Referral program is a free service that we provide to local residents. It is set-up to connect someone who wishes to give away a companion animal with someone looking to adopt one directly from the owner. Need more information? Connect with us at 575-894-1694 or adoptapet4life@gmail.com .

Missy is still not sure on her first day at Desert Haven, rescued from euthanasia at the city shelter as there was no one to adopt her.

This week’s Adopt-a-Pet Referral list: Bill is looking for a young male cat, preferably grey shorthair. Rockie wants a puppy. Jeanette wishes to give a forever home to a young poodle or poodle-mix in need of one. Two kittens need a new home: 4/5 months old female - black with grey, orange & brown markings – also a young Siamese-mix female. Interested? Let us know.

Again, we cannot emphasize enough that Dog Fighting is still going on strong in this area. How can we eradicate such gruesome activity in our own state? It took years of unrelenting efforts to make it officially illegal. Thanks to the common voice of animal welfare organizations throughout the entire state, including ours, Dog Fighting is now a felony. Being persistent paid-off, for all of us who cared enough! Now we need to protect our own companion animals from the scoundrels who steal them from their yards, who answer “free-to-good- home” ads to use them or sell them for “bait” in dog fights. Do you suspect suspicious activities in your neighborhood? Contact the TCPD or the Sheriff’s Dept at Dispatch: 575-894-7111. Your phone call will remain anonymous at your request.

This week’s high priority wish-list: Canned cat food. We have run out. Interested in helping out? Contact us at weR4pets@gmail.com, or 575-894-2639. Check us out at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven and www.Facebook/Pawsnclawsthriftshoppe Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 1/11/15 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Black and beautiful!

The Sierra County Humane Society will hold its Annual Membership on Wednesday February 4 – time and place to be announced. Elections for empty or expiring directorships are held at that meeting. We are looking for candidates who are dedicated to the goals and purposes of the organization, able and willing to accept the responsibilities of a Director, knowledgeable or willing to learn about the structure and operation of the organization. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization. It has the responsibility and authority to oversee all staff and volunteer activities, establish priorities and internal policies. The Board also adopts and implements the Annual Budget. Directors typically serve for a term of three years.

At the Board meeting immediately following the Annual Meeting, the Directors elect the officers, including the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Please remember: you must be a current member in good standing to nominate or to be nominated for a board position. Your Letter of Intent can be sent to the SCHS Secretary at Post Office Box 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. It can also be e-mailed to weR4pets@gmail.com. For more information on finding out about the status of your membership or to learn more about becoming a Director of our organization, e-mail us or call us at 894-2639.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the daily care of our little rescues as well as with some of our Tuesday priority projects. Interested? Contact us. You can also visit the sanctuary on a Tuesday, when the sanctuary is open to the public. We need help on Tuesday to join Claudia in sorting through donated craft and sewing items. Once ready for display, they can be sold at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. We continue to need paint brushes and painting material, also cat treats, canned dog food, bird & sunflower seeds and scratch grain. All through the winter, we use well-worn pillows, blankets and other bedding items for our furry sanctuary residents. Do you wish to donate specific items of your choice through several large companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and pet supply companies that deliver right to our doors? Let us know. We update our Facebook pages www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven and www.Facebook.com/Pawsnclawsthriftshoppe regularly. You can also visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Week of 12/28/14 Humane Happenings

by Elaina Aubin

Christmas donations

 2014 is closing its gates. Hello 2015! As we look back at the year gone by, we wish to acknowledge two local businesses that have been a huge part in the success of the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge:

Anonymous donations that came in this week

 Bullocks Grocery Store in TorC and Animas Creek Plant Nursery in Caballo. The Cash-for-Clubs program initiated by Bullocks some years ago is still going strong, still offering 2 dollars per each one thousand dollars of Bullocks receipts tallied and redeemed to benefit 501-c-3 non-profit organizations like ours. The revenues they generate when collected for our organization are instrumental in keeping the SCHS Spay-Neuter program in operation. When you shop at Bullocks grocery store, please save your receipts for us. You can drop them off in our collection box at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe adjacent to Family Dollar in TorC. We also have Collection Boxes at the TorC Public Library and the Williamsburg Post Office. If you wish, you can also drop them off at Desert Haven Animal Refuge on Tuesdays, when the sanctuary is open to visitors. Josephine, a charter member of the Sierra County Humane Society, redeems them for $$$ for our S & N program. Thank-you Josephine.

Donated kitty and doggie treats

 Every month for the past several years, Lee & Susan Newman of Animas Creek Plant Nursery in Caballo send a very generous contribution earmarked for the little residents of the Desert Haven sanctuary.

We are extremely grateful for the kindness and generosity of local businesses such as Bullocks Grocery Store and Animals Creek Plant Nursery. Year after year, we know we can depend on these community-oriented businesses to help us help companion animals in need.

This week’s wish list: paint brushes of all sizes. Canned dog food. Cat treats. Well-worn pillows, blankets and other bedding items for our furry sanctuary residents. You can also donate specific items of your choice through several large companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and pet supply companies that deliver right to our doors.

Interested in helping out? Contact us at weR4pets@gmail.com, at 575-894-2639 also connect on our Facebook pages, www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven and www.Facebook.com/Pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com.

Eliana and Vickie

Happy New Year to all our animal loving friends!