Week of 11/13/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Linda and Carl are work camping this winter at Desert Haven

A sincere “Thank-You” is in order to the staff at White Sands Credit Union for choosing the Sierra County Humane Society as this year’s recipient of their generosity. It was very heartwarming to realize that all the hard work of the volunteers who make things happen at the non-profit animal welfare organization was being acknowledged in this very generous way.

The end of the year 2011 is quickly approaching. What could be a better time to reflect on all the support shown by local businesses to our animal welfare organization? Year after year, St Cloud mining routinely donates cat litter for an average of forty DHAR resident cats and kittens. Three mornings a week, we pick-up fresh veggies and fruits at Bullocks for the residents of Birdland & Animal House. It’s fun to watch our guinea pigs and rabbits munch with obvious pleasure on their large chef salads every morning. Each one of them has a favorite fruit or veggie and immediately looks for it in the middle of everything else and then savors it with obvious delight. Whoever said that rabbits and guinea pigs don’t have personality should visit their habitat at Desert Haven, when their breakfast of fresh produce is in front of them! The Bullocks’ Cash-for- Clubs program also provides our organization with much needed revenues to cover some of the costs of our SCHS sterilization program.

This year again, our organization received a generous contribution from Moose Lodge 2050 and American Legion Post 44. Thanks to Jared at Bar-2 Sand & Gravel, Desert Haven also received two loads of crusher fine which we immediately used to resurface some of the exercise yards in Dog Town. Wal-Mart donates pet food and cat litter on a regular basis and occasionally other needed items. At the end of the Summer Season, Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe received several boxes of brand new clothes and other items from Burke’s Outlet in TorC.

Our local media deserves recognition for printing this Humane Happenings article every week. The on-going support of the local newspapers is absolutely crucial to our small organization. To all the business who supported us this year: we thank you.

The cold nights are already here and warm bedding of all types for the dogs and cats and also bales of straw for the habitants of Birdland & Animal House are this week’s highest priority. Interested in helping the cause of companion animals in some way? We need volunteers at P&C and dog walkers at DHAR. Call us at 575-894-1694 or 813-716-2033 for more information. Check us out at: www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. , http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com and chat with us at www.facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe