Morning walk to the Old West Trail
By Eliana Aubin
Spring has arrived in Sierra County, and with it the threats of rattle snake bites. We take rattle snakes seriously at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s no-kill domestic animal sanctuary. DHAR work camping residents Skip Higgins and Helen Hasty, with the help of Stephen Wagner, gave the canines living at the sanctuary their yearly rattlesnake vaccine shot. We started this routine inoculation last year. Even though the cost was significant, we felt that the extra yearly medical expense would further protect our furry little dependents while they lived at the sanctuary.
Twice a day, the dogs of Desert Haven are given the opportunity to exercise and run together in groups outside of their Dog Town play yards. The Old West Trail is their official community playground at the sanctuary and they are walked there on a leash mornings and evenings. Once arrived, they are unleashed and set free to investigate their surroundings, socialize and play there together to their little heart’s content. It’s a fun time for them and we want them to be safe in this desert landscape.
The Old West Trail is an all-fenced patch of land about one acre in size and located inside the Desert Haven property. It is covered with desert vegetation and small bushes. The crew maintains several wide trails throughout the entire fenced area, to allow the dog walkers of DHAR to get as much physical exercise as they wish while they spend quality time with the dogs playing under their watchful eyes. The rattlesnake vaccine protects a dog who is bitten by a rattler and it gives that little guy a fighting chance.
This week, we especially wish to thank Bullocks Grocery store for its on-going support of our organization. Through its “Cash for Clubs” program, Bullocks offers our non-profit organization the opportunity to earn funds when we redeem Bullocks receipts collected for us by customers. We have collection boxes at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC, the TorC public library and Williamsburg Post Office. Bullocks also lets Desert Haven pick-up boxes of fresh veggies and fruits every week. Our volunteers serve them every morning, all cut-up and ready-to-eat, to the feathered and furry residents of Birdland & Animal House. All of them have been rescued at some time or another since Desert Haven opened its doors in 2002 and if animals could speak a language we understand, each one would have a sad story to tell. We supplement their diet with alfalfa, bird and sunflower seeds and chicken scratch.
This week’s wish list: small – easy to empty - swimming pools for our resident dogs. We can use seven pools for their seven play yards. The high winds have damaged some of our roofs and if you have roofing material you no longer need, please drop it off at DHAR or Paws & Claws. We have the volunteer manpower, but we need the material to make the needed repairs. Puppy food for the seven furry little guys and girls abandoned at DHAR’s entrance a couple of weeks ago is also a high priority. We can be reached at POB 638, Williamsburg NM, 87942, also at 575-894-2778, 575-740-4100. Check us out at www.DeserthavenanimalRefuge.com, www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com, and www.facebook.com/deserthaven.
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