Week of 6/10/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Afternoon siesta under the shade of the young Mexican Elder tree donated by Cindy & Bob Gabriel of Illinois

The Dog Days of Summer have already arrived in our corner of the Desert Southwest and the residents of Desert Haven Animal Refuge are spending their time enjoying their daily siesta. Several long-time members of the Sierra County Humane Society were thoughtful enough a few years back, to cover the costs of semi-native shade trees such as Mexican Elders and Desert Willows that the DHAR team planted where shade was at a premium during the hot summer months. When we watch our little Vickie for example, laying under the small Mexican Elder planted several years ago inside her exercise yard, we remember with fondness the kind folks who made that shade tree possible: Cindy and Bob Gabriels of Illinois. Among other plants donated over the years by some of our supporters, including the SC Soil and Water Conservation District, the deciduous vine planted against the fence on the sunny side of the Lonesome Dove Hotel was a gift from Ardell a while back. A mentor for many of us who know her, Ardell is still an integral part of our organization. The gorgeous looking vine growing in the aviary has grown into a miracle green canopy that gives our feather residents all the shade they need in the summer.

Do you wish to give us a hand in some way? Save your Bullocks receipts for us. Every receipt you drop-off at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe results in $$ to our non-profit organization. We also collect aluminum cans. These past couple of years especially, the downslide of the economy has been a huge concern for our organization. The generous folks we depend on may be struggling financially themselves. Large and national animal welfare organizations like the Humane Society of the HS, and the ASPCA to name a few, have the financial resources to repeatedly appeal for funds from generous people in Sierra County and from throughout the entire country. Our tightly-budgeted organization does not have the resources to do this. Instead, we trust that Sierra County residents realize that donating to their local animal welfare organization allows them to see first-hand where their hard earned money goes.

 This week’s high priority wish list: canned cat food. Galvanized tubs for our resident dogs -they can be easily emptied, cleaned and refilled by just one person. Don’t throw away your used long-handle brushes or brooms. We recycle them to clean the cement floors in the animal and bird habitats. Large bottles of bleach and Odor-Ban are always welcome too.

Visit Desert Haven on Tuesdays, between 9 AM and 4 PM. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. Check us out at http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge and http://www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Write to us at POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.