Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Workamping Review from Desert Haven Animal Refuge



by Melvin Williams




We have been at Desert Haven for two months now as work campers. While not knowing what to expect exactly, I did have hopes of spending a lot of time " hand to fur".....and being here has shown me how paltry my expectations were.


Each morning as we approach Dogtown the writhing, wiggling, wagging and woofing welcomes us. I'm not a morning person in general and yet every morning my face hurts from smiling! All the cats and dogs here are friendly and affectionate to everyone but over time I am learning that there is a subtle yet definite difference as they come to know you as YOU and not just the nice people with the leash or food or fresh water. As much as they love their daily walks there comes a point when to kneel down and share some loving and hugging has to happen first before they even want the leash on!!!

Of course we all know dogs (and cats) seem to exist only to love us (okay, cats are a little more independent), yet that total humbleness and vulnerability to our actions and behavior towards them makes us understand more fully the compassion and drive of Eliana to make a safe loving place for as many unwanted, unloved little furry beings as she can. Because of her dedication and great efforts to establish Desert Haven these many years ago, Mel and I, for this brief period of time, have been reveling in the affection and even joy bestowed upon us by the lucky residents of Desert Haven. Marcee and Mel"

Sunday, January 15, 2017

HUMANE HAPPENINGS - Week of January 9 2017

by Eliana Aubin

Eliana with one of our new rescues!
 It’s a very busy week at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, as
Sammy the very shy Golden Retriever, Pixie the lap-dog-want-to-be Chihuahua, Echo the fun-loving red-heeler-hound and the gorgeous black & white blue-eyed Eclipse became the newest residents of DogTown just a few days ago.  On Tuesday, it was so enjoyable for everyone to watch how quickly all the latest rescues had started to feel at home at Dog Town. Soon, their photos and information will be posted on our Desert Haven Petfinder page and our Facebook page, at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Betty' donation
Thank you, Betty, for making all the Desert Haven’s furry residents very happy this week.  We are grateful for your generous contribution of pet food and treats, and also for the very gently used Cat furniture that you thoughtfully included in your donation. Our kitties took possession of the cat furniture immediately after it was set-up in the Cat Patio inside the Cool Cat neighborhood.

This week’s wish list: a load of crusher fine to repair  the damage done to the driveway leading to the sanctuary parking lot and main building.  Construction material, especially wood, plywood, pieces of 2 by 4, etc. that we currently are collecting to take on several much needed projects that will enhance the lives of our little residents.   

Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe is the major fundraising activity for our non-profit organization and Desert Haven, the no-kill sanctuary operating under its 501-c-3 non-profit umbrella. The non-profit resale store is now open from Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM, to better serve the community and the tourists. We need extra help at the store during business hours. Interested in donating a couple of hours a week to a good cause? Pick-up a volunteer information form at the store. We can use your help. 

Contact us at 575-894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.comOur mailing address: The Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Monday, January 9, 2017

HUMANE HAPPENINGS - Week of January 4, 2017

 by Eliana Aubin

Callie
 Red, Callie and Jack were adopted from Desert Haven during the 2016 holidays. Jack and Callie recently moved to their fur-ever home locally. Red went to Colorado, to share his life with his new family. Our sweet and playful fur-boy seems to be having the time of his life as the constant companion of the two children and another fur-boy, who also obviously enjoy the new playmate.

Red and Steve say "hello!"
While visiting family locally, Red and his folks decided to visit Desert Haven once again last Tuesday. It was a real thrill for all of us who cared for him at the no-kill sanctuary, to welcome our fur-baby for a short visit. His family also shared with us that as soon as Red, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, realized that the car was turning into the Desert Haven driveway, his tail started to wave happily and it didn’t stop waving the whole time of the visit.  Red was very happy to visit us and he was thanking us in his own way for rescuing him and giving him the opportunity to live his new life with a family who loved him. 

Interested in finding more about our adopted fur-babies? Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or on Facebook at   www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

The Sierra County Humane Society continues to offer spay-neuter certificates to local resident needing some financial help to have their companion animal sterilized. Applications continue to be available at the TorC Police Station.  

Any question? Contact our organization at 575-894-1694 and leave a message. The Office is located at Desert Haven, which is open to the public every Tuesday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. All our phone messages are checked and answered every Tuesday morning during those hours.   

Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe has been the major fundraising activity for our animal welfare organization and its no-kill sanctuary since it opened its doors in February 1997. We sincerely thank our contributors and shoppers, for making it successful for almost 20 years now.  Please note the change in business hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Please bring your donated items inside, during business hours. Some unsavory local elements continue to target our store and the best items left unattended in front of the store disappear before we can bring them inside.  
Visit us at www.Facebook.com/PawnClawsThriftShoppe. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.com. Our mailing address: The Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Week of 12/18/16 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin
 
Christmas donations
It’s Christmas Time again, the Season of Giving. This week, the Sierra County Humane Society wishes to thank the kind individuals who are supporting our 501-c-3 non-profit animal welfare organization, to benefit the feathered and furry little residents of Desert Haven, the No-Kill companion animal sanctuary located in the heart of Desert Country.
Marian and Robert, together with their fur-girl Charlotte, are from Albuquerque. They also call Elephant Butte their home. Every year, the couple delivers a vehicle full of goodies to the sanctuary, something for all our little rescues. This year again, we received from the couple canned and dry dog & cat food and treats, bird seeds and also several large bags full of warm bedding. Thank-you Marian and Robert, and please give a hug for all of us to Charlotte, the fur-baby you adopted from Desert Haven some years back.

Jim is a winter resident in our area. Jim is also the Good Samaritan who went above and beyond to rescue Gentle Ben from certain death many months ago. Gentle Ben the black lab was literally thrown out of a vehicle in the middle of nowhere around Percha Dam at the onset of the Winter season that year.  It took several weeks for Jim to finally gain the trust of the starving fur-boy and then bring him safely to Desert Haven. Jim has not forgotten the fur-boy that he saved from starvation and exposure that Winter. While residing in our area, Ben’s Guardian Angel brings dog food regularly to help feed Gentle Ben, the Black Lab that he saved. How thoughtful of you, Jim!

We appreciate everyone who helps feed our fur-babies and help keep them warm and happy this time of the year. Among several others,  also anonymous, there is the kind individual who dropped-off last Tuesday at the sanctuary’s main entrance several boxes of goodies and bags of warm bedding for our our-boys and girls. There is Belinda, who, last week, rolled-up a cart-full of pet food and treats directly from Family Dollar to Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, just as she has done every year at Christmas Time.  We also thank all of you, who generously sent a special Christmas contribution to benefit our little rescues this Winter.    
Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge,  www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.Facebook.com/PawnClawsThriftShoppe. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.comOur mailing address: The Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942
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