Week of 2/20/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Tuesday afternoon project at Desert Haven

 The last remnants of the cold winter nights are still with us in Sierra County, and Desert Haven Animal Refuge is once again appealing to compassionate area residents to donate their no-longer-wanted used pillows, blankets and flannel sheets for our little residents. You can drop them off at the front gate of the DHAR property or bring them in person on Tuesday, when the sanctuary is open for visitors. Paws&Claws Thrift Shop will also gratefully accept your contributions for Desert Haven from Wednesday through Saturday, during the shop’s business hours from 11 AM and 4 PM. For more information, contact 575-894-2639.

Our large DHAR dogs love to play tug-of-war with fleecy blankets and fluffy comforters which soon become unusable rags. So, while we use warm comforters and pillows inside the Feline Dorm and the Inn at Dog Town, our staff chooses straw and also donated spoiled hay to keep our larger fur-kids warm inside their Canine Condos and Doggy-Duplexes. We also use bales of straw and spoiled hay as windbreaks inside the canine yards, which is very successful. For several years now, Jeanette Galliard of Albuquerque helps ensure that Desert Haven stays supplied with enough straw to meet most of its needs. Some time ago, local resident Bobby Dawkins donated an entire trailer load of spoiled hay that he felt was no longer safe enough to feed his horses. His donated bales of hay are a huge bonus as they provide soft bedding for the canines of DHAR. We always welcome contributions of bales of hay and straw regardless of their condition. Our team is very resourceful and we gratefully put to use everything that is donated to Desert Haven along the way.

We offer volunteer opportunities both at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe and Desert Haven. We always need extra dog Walkers and Kitty Cuddlers at the sanctuary. If interested, contact us at 575-894-1694. We also need a couple of handymen interested in donating some time on Tuesdays. We have several projects in the works, including a small chain link enclosure to build, a 12 ft Old West wooden fence to strengthen, a 10 by 10 Catzebo to strengthen. Resurfacing several sections of the Cat Walks with patio blocks or manageable cement slabs is on our prirority list. If unable to give a hand but wish to help in some way, perhaps you would like to donate materials or funds to help with the projects? Contact us at 575-894-2639. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Chat with us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. You can also e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.