Week of 2/1/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

A kitty recently "dumped" by her owner, photographed through a sliding glass door while she comes for food put out by a compassionate animal lover. We're calling her "Pumpkin" for the color of her fur.

The past year has been a really tough one for many in Sierra County, including homeless dogs and cats. The economic crisis has taken its toll on people, but also on their companion animals as they are becoming innocent victims of the current difficult times. Now more than ever, people are often tempted to look the other way, or they give up in despair when they come across a non-human in distress. Fortunately, Compassion compels some of us to act when others would not have. Every life has value. Because of all the kind folks who help our non-profit volunteer animal welfare organization in many ways, we continue to make a difference in this area of New Mexico.

Jeff, a volunteer at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, cleaning the front windows.

The Sierra County Humane Society is a no-frill organization. We do not have an expensive office by any means. We do not pay any salary. Even the President of the organization is a volunteer. The duties of Executive Director of Desert Haven Animal Refuge and those of Manager of Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe are also performed on a strictly volunteer basis. As in many other worthwhile organizations in the community, our crew of volunteers is very limited and this is obviously a fact – sad as it may be - that we always must take into consideration in whatever we decide to do within the entire organization.

For the year 2010, only 4% of the budget of the Sierra County Humane Society went towards office expenses and supplies. The remainder funded projects and programs that benefit companion animals in Sierra County. The SCHS Spay-Neuter and Spay-a-Stray programs were by far the most costly. Medical expenses for unwanted and abused dogs and cats taken in at Desert Haven also came with a high price tag.

Desert Haven is sanctuary to over two hundred (200) non-human creatures which at one time were unwanted, neglected or abused. As we routinely adopt out dogs and cats at Desert Haven, we take in others down-on-their-luck. It breaks our hearts to turn away any animal in need for lack of resources. But again, taking in more animals than we can provide for would jeopardize the ones we have already rescued. We are often forced to say: “sorry, we cannot take in anymore”. Some folks understand, others get very angry with us and call us names. It’s something we accept as part of dealing with the “takers” of this world.

This week’s wish list: dog and cat food, sunflower and bird seeds, also rabbit pellets – Interested in becoming a member of the Sierra County Humane Society? Do you want to help us in some other way? Contact us at 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 1/23/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Mattie Ganos with sign honoring Leonard Bullington

The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. will hold its Annual Membership Meeting in February. Directors for vacant and expiring positions will be elected at that meeting. The SCHS Board of Directors also governs the operations of Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill companion animal sanctuary. Please contact us at 894-2778 or 894-2639 for more information or to be placed on the 2011 ballot.

Some weeks ago, Mattie Ganos, who work camps at Desert Haven with her husband Denny, designed and painted several large Old West Style signs that were proudly hung in their respective places on several buildings around the sanctuary. We now have a sign on the Desert Haven workshop that honors the man who contributed greatly to our organization: Gene Trelewicz. Gene no longer lives in Sierra County, but he is remembered fondly by everyone who knows him and worked with him at Desert Haven.

Leonard Bullington is being honored also, and rightly so. Leonard is a retired cowboy who used his lifelong experience and skills to help the very first crew of volunteers who cleared the undeveloped parcel of land and then started to build the sanctuary, one project at a time. Among several large projects, Leonard completely revamped a small building in the Old West Style. A large, colorful and very attractive sign “Leonard’s Mercantile”, created by Mattie, was recently hung on that specific building – a fitting bit of recognition for an “Old Cowboy”, as Leonard often calls himself.

Last Tuesday, the crew erected another very meaningful sign, also designed by Mattie. The sign honors Ardell, a Charter member of the Sierra County Humane Society and one of its strongest supporters from way back. Back in the “Old Days”, Ardell owned and operated a small rock and antique shop in Northern New Mexico. Over the years, she had decorated the entire front yard of her shop with artistic and unique compositions of colored glass bottles and containers. That “Glass Garden” became such a tourist attraction that an Albuquerque TV station ran a story in the 1980’s on “Ardell’s Glass Garden”.

Ardell’s 21 years of support of our animal welfare organization deserves recognition. What more fitting than to honor this amazing pioneer lady by creating a small - very small - “Ardell’s Glass Garden” at Desert Haven, a place she has given so much of herself over the years and in so many ways. Do you have colored bottles and containers you wish to donate to help us get this meaningful project off the ground? Let us know. Interested in learning more about us or helping us in some way? Contact us at 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 1/17/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin with photos by Dennis Gano, except "Lucky" by Teddi

Basket of doves

The year 2011 is unfolding and Desert Haven is entering into the 10th year since the very first non human residents arrived at the sanctuary – a flock of domesticated ring neck doves relinquished by an older gentleman who could no longer care for them in the outdoor aviary he had built for them many years before. Then several guinea pigs followed – a young boy had gotten tired of feeding and watering them every day and he often forgot they were even here, huddled all together in their small cage inside his mother’s garage. Soon after, several no-longer-wanted Easter rabbits joined the group.

Guinea pigs enjoying fresh veggies

Then in 2002, a mother cat about to deliver was dropped-off in a box because she was pregnant - the man did not want kittens. Lucky, the sanctuary’s first dog arrived some months later. Someone had found the pup one afternoon, wandering the solitary stretch of HWY 195 between TorC and E.B. At the time, the facility was still in the process of being built, one habitat at a time and according to long-range plans outlined some time before.

Lucky; first dog rescued by DH

Today, Desert Haven provides sanctuary to over two hundred (200) fur and feather creatures. It is tailored to available resources, such as manpower and funding. The road is not easy, but with the on-going help of our members and supporters, we have accomplished nothing short of miracles along the way. Membership forms are available at P&C thrift Shoppe and DHAR. You can also contact Freddie at 575-894-2778 for more information.

Rooster at Desert Haven

For many months now, Diane Bellack of Hillsboro has sorted, tagged and priced all donated craft and sewing items to be displayed and sold at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC. Diane is no longer able to help our cause in this way, at least for some time, and we are going to miss her help terribly. If any of our craft oriented Readers wishes to help us get those items readied to sell at P&C, contact Eliana at 575-894-2639.

Our Desert Haven peacock

This week’s wish list: dog and cat food, also sunflower seeds - carpet pieces – wood and plywood, even small pieces to be used for smaller projects such as bird houses, trail signs and pet grave markers. We need construction and roofing material –large plastic containers – exterior white latex paint. If you are computer oriented and enjoy working with numbers, we need your help for a couple of hours on Tuesdays.

Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday and anyone interested in adopting a dog or a cat is welcome to visit the sanctuary on that day.


-

Week of 1/10/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Gunner at the campground before being rescued

At this time of the year, we see the worst in Human Nature…dogs and cats abandoned or left outdoors, even at night, in the freezing weather. Dogs especially- short hair dogs and very small dogs too - left out-of-doors in their yard in below freezing temperatures - no shelter available, their water bowl is frozen. Many of them are tied or chained – yes, chained - outside in the freezing cold. Our organization receives calls every day about dogs left outside in these extreme temperatures. What’s wrong with some people?

This time, this article wishes to share a heartwarming story of a stranger who went way out of his way to save a cat from certain death, a cat he didn’t even know. Yes, there IS hope for the Human Race.

In a campground in Santa Rosa, in Northern New Mexico, a man is taking a break from work and spending a few days of R&R in his RV. The ground is frozen and the campground is sparsely occupied at this time of the year. Something catches the man’s attention early one morning: a little ball of fur, all curled-up on the cement floor outside of the campground's restroom. It’s a small cat. He is very skinny under that dirty matted fur- and he is very scared. He hisses every time the man attempts to get closer.

The man is patient and he has a good heart. Within a couple of days, the little fur-guy has furtively investigated the RV and hesitantly accepted the man’s caresses and food. The man knows that his lifestyle and work habits do not allow a companion animal, even a cat. Some folks may have just left the animal to his fate – block one’s mind and ignore the animal altogether. The man chooses to go the compassionate way. He contacts sanctuaries and no-kill shelters in communities around the campground. No luck, no room for another cat anywhere. In a last attempt to save the little guy before moving on, the man e-mails Desert Haven, located half- way across the state. Here at Desert Haven, we weigh the situation and decide that we simply can’t turn our back on the man’s plea and on the helpless little fur-guy. If the man cares enough to deliver the cat to Desert Haven, we will make “room at the Inn”.

Gunner at Desert Haven, feelin' the love from Reba's ear scratches!

It takes several hours for the man to bring the cat all the way from Santa Rosa, and several more hours for him to return back to his RV in Santa Rosa campground, which he does right away so he can be back home to his RV before night. A remarkable story – a remarkable man. We call the little fur-guy “Gunner”. It’s the man’s last name.

Recently two DHAR resident dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital for emergency lifesaving surgeries. We are asking our animal loving friends who can do so to please help us cover the medical costs that are prohibitive for our small sanctuary. Make a donation via credit card easily by visiting our "Causes" page at  http://www.causes.com/causes/313794-desert-haven-animal-refuge. We can be contacted at 894-2778 or 740-4100 for more information.

Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday.

Week of 1/2/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Denny Gano with Isis, our newest rescue

The year 2010 went out with a bang, as the dreaded cold front finally hit our area with a vengeance. It’s been very cold at Desert Haven the past few nights and all the volunteers caring every day for the animal and bird residents of the no-kill sanctuary deserve a special pat on the back. Freezing weather or not, all the fur and feather guys and girls get hungry every morning. Even before the Arctic weather hit this part of Sierra County, the volunteer crew had insured that the Kitty Motel, Feline Dorm, Cat Condos and Kitty Igloos were revamped with even more warm comforters, fleece blankets and large fluffy pillows.

At Dog Town and inside the Inn, nothing was left to chance either. As more rugs and carpets were laid over the cement floors inside the individual sleeping areas, every dog house was being refurbished to provide enough warmth for all the little fur-guy and girl residents during this especially cold front. The smaller breeds were fitted with snug doggy sweaters. At Birdland & Animal House, the guinea pigs, rabbits, doves, peacocks, roosters and hens received extra straw to keep them warm. Come on down, Old Man Winter, Desert Haven is ready for you!

Denny installing insulation

Denny Gano deserves special recognition. Denny and his wife Mattie are work camping at the no-kill domestic animal sanctuary this winter. Among other qualities and skills, Mattie is an accomplished artist and Denny, a contractor by trade, can build anything. Recently, Duke’s Pet Parents, some of Desert Haven’s strongest and most generous supporters, offered to cover the costs of the insulation material for the entire roof of the Inn at Dog town, if someone at Desert Haven would install it. Denny volunteered his personal time to do the project and last Tuesday afternoon, he had completed it. What a difference it makes inside the building!

Mattie Gano with one of her custom made signs

 A well deserved “thank-you” is in order to everyone who made this happen. Duke’s Pet Parents wish to stay anonymous. Their very generous contributions since they visited Desert Haven for the first time last July are in memory of Duke, their beloved black lab. Duke passed away at 13 years old last June. Thanks, Duke.

This week’s wish list: aside from volunteer help at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe and Desert Haven, we need large storage containers, carpet remnants, Odorban cleaning detergent, hand and floor brushes and squeegees, also two heavy duty filing cabinets. Do you have a scroll saw and would like to help out, directly from your home workshop? We have a project for you. Of course, catnip and pet food, including sunflower seeds, is always on our list. If you would like to help in some way, contact us at 575-894-2778, 740-4100 or 894-1694. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday.

Week of 12/26/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Gate to Desert Haven Animal Refuge

This year again, Santa remembered Desert Haven Animal Refuge and all its furry and feathered residents. Throughout the past couple of weeks, his helpers dropped off at the sanctuary and at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in T or C several car loads of dog and cat food, including several cases of canned food which is very needed at this time of the year. Large or small, every contribution towards feeding all the little rescues in our care is greatly appreciated and very much needed. A few days ago, someone who wishes to stay anonymous unloaded at DHAR a full carload of dog and cat food, most especially canned food, together with dog treats, plastic storage containers, doggie sweaters for our smallest fur-guys and girls, and also some small toys for dogs and cats. All of it, we were told, was in recognition of Blue, the community dog of Elephant Butte. What a nice gesture! Also it could not have arrived at a better time, with the winter now here and Desert Haven’s cupboards always needing replenishing.

The year 2010 is about to end and we believe there could be no better time to let our readers know how much we have appreciated their support throughout the entire year. Without the generosity of caring folks who want to help us help the unwanted companion animals of Sierra County, our volunteers would not be financially able to care for over two hundred (200) furry and feathered creatures for whom the no-kill sanctuary is home year’ round. A huge thank-you is especially in order for the local media. The Sierra County Humane Society articles come out in the local newspaper every week as a Public Service Announcement. At this time of the year, our volunteer organization wishes to express its sincere gratitude for the on-going support from the local media, together with businesses and animal loving friends from all over.

This week’s wish list: two heavy duty filing cabinets for the DHAR office – someone with a scroll saw and able to work from home, to cut out many dog and cat silhouettes out of plywood. We also need dog and cat food, catnip, large storage containers, carpet remnants to be used either for rugs inside the dogs’ indoor-outdoor kennels or on the trails to help out with weed control. We also need volunteer help at DHAR and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. If you would like to help in some way, contact us at 575-894-2778, 740-4100 or 894-1694. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday.

Week of 12/20/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Mosey at Desert Haven

Why on Earth do folks have Pit Bull dogs without getting them sterilized? Unwanted Pit Bull and Pit Mix are hard to place. The animal shelters all over New Mexico routinely euthanize them immediately after they are relinquished mostly because Pit Bulls are a special breed that needs a specific environment to thrive as companion animals. Consequently, a good home for a Pit Bull is hard to find. Also too many Pit Bulls and Pit Mix are being bred, making it difficult to find enough of the right type of folks wanting to adopt that specific breed.

More and more, the Sierra County Humane Society is receiving call after call from local folks who either want to give-up an unwanted Pit Bull, or they have had a bad encounter involving a Pit Bull. Some folks also call to find out how to adopt a Pit Bull - we suspect for the wrong reasons. Some local folks acquire a Pit Bull to make a profit from the sale of the pups that are born when they breed the animal. Sierra County is overrun by Pit Bull and Pit Mix pups.

Have you ever wondered why there is such a great demand for Pit Bulls locally? Also to whom are Pit Bull pups routinely sold? After all, this is still Dog Fighting Country. Even though New Mexico has now joined the rest of the states in finally making the sport of Dog Fighting illegal, some low-life unscrupulous folks still breed and use Pit Bulls for that purpose, right here under their neighbors noses. “Free to good homes” Pit Bulls and Pit Mix usually end-up in the wrong hands. Trained to fight or used as “bait” in dog fights, their short life ends in miserable agony. Shame on those who breed them indiscriminately! Fighting dogs or roosters is against the law in New Mexico. Consequently, the sport, as cruel and degraded as it is, has now gone undergrounds.

Do you know of some illegal activities involving Pit Bulls? If so, quietly gather as much information as possible and then contact the appropriate law enforcement agency - The TCPD or the Sheriff’s Department. Of course you can stay anonymous if you wish. A few days ago, we were re-assured by the County Sheriff’s Office that investigations will be conducted for each call regarding possibly illegal activities involving Pit Bulls. If you know of some activity involving Pit Bulls or Pit-Mix that you believe may be illegal, please bring it to light by going through the proper channels.

Should you prefer to connect with our organization instead, we can be contacted at 575-894-1694 or 894-2639. Please realize that all that we can do is to call the appropriate law enforcement agency ourselves with the information you will have given us. In the process, the information we give the law enforcement agency will have become second-hand information. Let’s team up to clean Sierra County of the unsavory elements of Society that fight Pit Bulls for sport and money, right here in and around our Sierra County communities.

This week’s wish list: canned dog and cat food – dry cat food - catnip – large storage containers – carpet remnants - volunteer help at DHAR and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Visit the sanctuary on Tuesday. Contact us at 575-894-2778 and 740-4100. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 12/12/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Last Saturday, the Desert Haven Animal Refuge volunteers participated in the Luminaria Beach Walk at Elephant Butte Lake. Our Old West style booth attracted a large number of visitors and many of them made a point to get some information about Desert Haven Animal Refuge and the Sierra County Humane Society, the booth’s host organization.

While enjoying the warmth of the huge bonfire and connecting with all the Desert Haven volunteers and work campers who were helping man the DHAR booth, folks could taste some of Reba Wagner’s special hot cider and Mattie Gano’s scrumptious fudge cookies. Missy and Duchess who reside at Dog town at the sanctuary were also enjoying the atmosphere. They were having a great time with all the attention they attracted. Denny Gano had brought his guitar along and he gave a wonderful musical concert throughout the evening. Mother Nature provided great weather for the evening event. It was a huge plus to help make this year’s Luminaria Walk the best ever so far. Everyone who took photos, please consider e-mailing them to us at weR4pets@gmail.com. We will put them on our blog and on Facebook and credit you with taking them.

We recently handled several adoptions. While a couple of our little rescues were adopted locally, two moved together into their forever home in Silver City and another went to Roswell. Extra good news: Mosey is being adopted. Mosey is a large mixed breed dog that we adopted out three years ago from Sierra Animal Shelter in TorC. That morning, two DHAR volunteers – Ron and Eliana - visited the city shelter to adopt and rescue a couple of dogs as planned. Mosey was there too, but not in the adoption section of the building. She was in another section of the building as she was to be euthanized that same morning, we were told. She had been found a couple of days before, wandering the streets in some T or C neighborhood. She was so skinny that she looked like the skeleton of a dog covered with skin. She has scars all over - some old, some new – probably from having been in several fights along the way. Still, there was something about her that caught the volunteers’ eyes and melted their hearts. Her eyes were warm and pleading as she looked at them intensely when they walked past her kennel. We knew then that we simply needed to make room for her at Desert Haven. We saved Mosey that morning - this was 3 years ago. This week, Mosey is being adopted. What a wonderful feeling for those of us who have cared for her all this time. Mosey is living proof that here at Desert Haven, we make a huge difference in the life of each and every companion animal that we can save.

Mosey and Pat at Desert Haven

Interested in helping out? We need canned dog and cat food –large storage containers. We also need dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven and help in the office. Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe needs helpers as well. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2778 or 740-4100. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Meet us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 12/5/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Each year, over one hundred thousand dogs and cats enter animal shelters in New Mexico alone. Of those, over sixty thousand are euthanized, because nobody wants them. It does not have to be this way. We all know that spaying and neutering is the solution to this tragic - and costly - problem. Making low-cost surgeries widely available must be a priority if we are ever going to end dog and cat overpopulation.

The Sierra County Humane Society is doing its part to help curb dog and cat overpopulation. For over 20 years now, the SCHS offers Spay-Neuter rebates to local folks who need some financial help to have a companion animal sterilized. Spay-Neuter forms are available from the TorC Police station and also at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in T or C. We also fund the SCHS Spay-a-Stray program, which covers sterilization costs of feral and stray cats in Sierra County. Call us at 575-894-2778.

According to Animal Protection of New Mexico located in Albuquerque (call 505-265-2322 or fax 5505-265-2488), “Pet Care plates” are now available to animal loving folks who wish to be part of the solution to dog and cat overpopulation in our state. $25 of each $37 spay-neuter license plate sold will go to spaying and neutering programs in the purchaser’s county. Enhanced programs at the local levels will reduce the number of animals euthanized each year. Fewer cats and dogs will ease the growing financial burdens on animal control and public safety departments like ours here in Sierra County. The Spay-Neuter license plates must be ordered from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department. Order forms are available at any MDV office, or at www.mvd.newmexico.gov.

The “Pet Care Plates” have been in the making for at least a couple of years. Now that the process is in place, Animal Protection of New Mexico is asking animal welfare organizations all over New Mexico to drive home the message. For more information, visit www.apnm.org or contact apnm@apnm.org.

Thinking of donating to an animal welfare organization this Holiday season? Please consider including your local animal welfare organization in your generosity. Any donation, large or small, is very much needed to help YOUR humane Society achieve its goals. So many Sierra County companion animals out-on-their-luck need your help! Desert Haven Animal Refuge is the only no-kill domestic animal sanctuary in this area. It operates under the umbrella of the SCHS. Contrary to popular belief and just like other humane societies and animal welfare agency anywhere in the US, our local Humane Society receives absolutely no funding from the Humane Society of the US, ASPCA or any other large and powerful national organization involved with animal protection. The Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven receive absolutely no funding through taxes, local or otherwise, and every penny that is spent to help companion animals in need is earned through fundraising activities and donations.

Interested in helping out? We need canned dog and cat food – carpet remnants - large storage containers – plywood & building material – fencing material. We also need dog walkers and kitty cuddlers at Desert Haven and help in the office. Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe needs helpers as well. For more information, contact us at 575-894-2778 or 740-4100. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Meet us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 11/28/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Old West Placita

This week, Desert Haven welcomed the arrival of Penny, a Pomeranian Pug mix relinquished by her human companion who could no longer care for her because of failing health. The tiny, cute-as-a-button, well-mannered four-year old girl-dog is now waiting to melt somebody’s heart and move into her very own loving home.

This week’s special thanks go to: Herman & Sugar Armijo of Albuquerque, who contribute to our organization every time they visit the area - Mary Roden of T or C who insures that the cupboards of Dog Town & The Cool Cat Neighborhood are never empty for too long - Mary Ann Nolan who recently dropped-off at DHAR much needed dog and cat food and also some treats – Jerry & Paul McCauley who delivered to the sanctuary many cans of dog and cat food last Tuesday. When told that they must have sensed that we badly needed the canned food, Paul answered with a smile “We read your column”.

Jason Gransbury of Palomas Canyon recently visited the sanctuary. As he walked through Desert Haven’s “Old West Placita” and around the animals and birds habitats, he gave us a very nice compliment:”You have built this whole place to look like an Old West town – it looks really neat!” A visitor from Kansas shopped at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe last Friday. She told our volunteers on duty that she had landed in Albuquerque a couple of days before and as she was picking-up a car at budget Rent-a-Car to visit a family member living in TorC, the clerk at the desk had told her:” While you are there, one place you don’t want to miss is Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC. It’s a very interesting store and you can’t beat their prices. And it’s all for a good cause.” Our Kansas visitor added:” I came and I was not disappointed!” Such a nice compliment for all the dedicated volunteers who work well together to make it all happen at P&C!

This week’s wish list: bird & sunflower seeds - canned dog and cat food – catnip - large storage containers with or without lids, also plywood & construction material - tarps or canvas material to protect waiting-to-be-sorted donations inside the P&C Thrift Shoppe yard - carpet remnants to be used either as area rugs at Dog Town or to keep the weeds down on several new dog walking trails that our crew is clearing around the sanctuary.

Acquainted with the computer program XL? Do you enjoy working with numbers? We need your skills and two hours of your time in the Desert Haven office every Tuesday morning. We also need someone to help for an hour or two with routine office work on Tuesdays. Call us at 575-894-2778. Interested in visiting Desert Haven? It is open to the public every Tuesday. Thinking of adopting? Visit our web site and Petfinder page at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com or contact us at 575-740-4100. Write us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Meet us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 11/21/10

By Eliana Aubin

Every year, Thanksgiving is celebrated at Desert Haven Animal Refuge on the Tuesday before the official Thanksgiving Day. This year again, everyone who volunteers at DHAR and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe has been invited to share the traditional meal served pot-luck style at the domestic animal sanctuary. It’s always a very enjoyable time, to “break bread” with folks of kindred spirit and Thanksgiving dinner at Desert Haven continues to be a special event.

The Christmas Season is now under way. With it, many of our readers are already starting to feel the pressure from large organizations from all over, asking them to donate generously to help this or that cause. Fundraising on a grand scale is usually carefully orchestrated, especially at this time of the year. It also effectively reaches out to folks’ generosity and compassion. At this time of the year, it’s not often easy to brush-off carefully presented and well written appeals for help, from any worthwhile national organization. Local organizations more often than not don’t have the luxury of being able to spend any of their hard earned resources on fancy fundraising mailings. Anyone interested in donating to a worthwhile cause should consider a local organization first. When you donate locally, you have the opportunity to experience first-hand the Good that you are doing through your generosity.

Thanks to a great team of animal loving folks involved with the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge, adoptions continue to make Dog Town a very busy place these days. In fact, this year has seen the greatest number of companion animals being adopted from DHAR. While some of them are adopted locally, the new forever home for most of them is many miles away.

This week’s wish list: canned dog and cat food – catnip -tarps or canvas material - carpet remnants - large clear storage containers with or without lids – plywood & building material. We need extra hands in the Desert Haven office and also helping care for the animals. Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe needs helpers as well. Interested in visiting Desert Haven? It is open to the public on Tuesdays. Thinking of adopting? Contact us at 575-894-2778 or 740-4100. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Meet us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.

Week of 11/14/10 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Winter is on its way to Sierra County and Desert Haven Animal Refuge is making preparations for the cold nights ahead. Thanks to Denny & Mattie Gano, Reba, Gene & Stephen Wagner, Pam Mosher, Sherry Scott and David Kuhn, winterization of the facility is now completed - water lines and spigots throughout the property and also the residents’ habitats are now ready for Old Man Winter!

Do you enjoy working out-of-doors and taking advantage of clean fresh air and the current sunny weather? Our Desert Haven crew always needs extra help with the Fall clean-up of dead weeds, the pruning of large bushes and also with revamping the gravel trails inside Rainbow Bridge Pet Cemetery. If interested, let us know. Bring your work gloves and tools if you wish, and join us mid-morning on a Tuesday. Plan to stay for the 1 PM lunch. We have good folks at Desert Haven - and you may even enjoy visiting with the animals of your choice while you are there.

This week, we thank all the kind folks who help us feed the little ones under our wings, either by donating pet food or with contributions earmarked for food. If you wish to help but can’t make it to DHAR, bring your contributions to Paws & Claws Thrift Shop during business hours, from Wednesday through Saturday. We always need bird and sunflower seeds, rabbit pellets, and also dog and cat food, especially canned food. During the cold winter mornings, the little fur-guys and girls under our care very much enjoy and surely appreciate a little moist food mixed with their dry breakfast. The furry and feathered residents of Desert Haven start their day with kind words, cuddles and breakfast every morning. At Birdland & Animal House, chef salads of cut-up fresh fruits and veggies - courtesy of Bullocks Grocery Store – are mixed together in large stainless steel pans, served inside the several aviaries and habitats. While their breakfast is being prepared, fresh water provided and their living areas and play-yard spruced-up, the dogs are exercised outside their compound, either walked on a leash around the sanctuary or given a chance to romp in groups and socialize inside the Old West Trail, an enclosed one acre track of walking trails and desert landscape. The dogs look forward to this special time every morning and when they are brought back on a leash to their respective quarters, their individual bowl of breakfast is waiting for them. Our small army of 40 resident kitties loves the special attention given to each one of them every morning as they slowly leave their warm cubby holes and their cozy condos to come out and enjoy the tasty treats and moist food prepared with their discerning tastes in mind.

Priority list: heavy duty tarps, large plastic containers with or without lids, canned dog and cat food. Interested in visiting Desert Haven? It is open to the public on Tuesdays. Thinking of adopting? Contact us at 575-894-2778 or 740-4100. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Write to us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Meet us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven.