Featured Pet - Sassy

Sassy is a cuddly, smart, black lab-mix. She is medium-sized with sleek good looks and only wants love. Her foster parents say that Sassy is very well behaved indoors, does not bark, and is completely housebroken. She obeys commands - Come - Stay - Sit - Up - Shake hands - Go potty! She loves to ride in the car. She walks great on the leash and relishes going for a run or walk. Sassy enjoys being an Alpha-Woman. She enjoys meeting other animals when out walking but is very clear about her boundaries.

.

Sassy loves attention, greets people visiting at the house, and thrives on affection. She was rescued as a young pup in the summer of 2002, after being abandoned in the middle of the desert, miles from civilization. She is looking for a lifetime home that offers belly rubs and cuddling in return for her well-mannered attitude. One look into her face and you’re hooked!

You can meet Sassy at Desert Haven during our Open House every Tuesday from 9AM-4PM or any other day by appointment. Call Freddie at 505-894-2778 or send an e-mail to Eliana Aubin at aubin29@zianet.com for more information on Sassy.

A Volunteer Speaks

Contributed by ds....

We have three dogs adopted from Desert Haven. One we have had for over three years and two little sisters we adopted at different times. One over a year ago and the other just last year. Desert Haven has a great volunteer crew who all have the same interest... the well being and care for animals. Everytime we go to visit Desert Haven everything there is very clean and neat. The animals there are very well cared for by the volunteers who take very good care of the animals. Everyone who volunteers is an asset to Desert Haven. There is a lot of work involved in caring for the animals that unless you have been a volunteer there you don't realize it. But the work is well worth the feeling that you receive knowing that you have contributed to a great cause. When you are a volunteer at Desert Haven you are not treated as a volunteer, you are treated as part of a family. I know this from experience as I came to Desert Haven as a volunteer a few years ago and even now that I am not there I feel as though Desert Haven is still my family. It is a good feeling to return to Desert Haven for a visit and be welcomed with opened arms by the volunteers and by the animals there. Instead of getting a AKC pet, why not adopt a grown pet that needs your love and care just as much as a AKC pet? You won't regret it because I sure don't with the three dogs I have adopted from Desert Haven.

Thank you, ds, for all that you do for Desert Haven!

A Work Camper Writes to Us

Liane & Doug Stark sent this message to friends and family after spending time with us at Desert Haven. With their permission, we are sharing it here:

We just finished up volunteering for 2 weeks at the Desert Haven Animal Refuge in Truth or Consequences, NM. We had a lot of fun, met WONDERFUL people, did a lot of work and already miss the dogs. On our work days, we work basically from 8-10 in the morning and then again from 5-6 in the afternoon. We'd walk dogs, muck out kennels, feed dogs, capture the escape artist dogs and lend a hand in the Cat Palace or Birdland as needed. On Tuesdays, it was an all day work "party". Think I may have lost a pound or two on those days!



The Animal Refuge has 10 dogs, about 20+ cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, doves, 2 peacocks, other birds, chickens/roosters and a "partridge in a pear tree". OK, no partridge, at least not yet. Many of the residents were rescued from certain death at the animal shelter, others were dropped off and still others are there because their owners died. It's a no-kill facility, so until a home is found, all the animals are safe and loved. A couple of dogs tugged on my heartstrings, but Max reminded me that he's a spoiled, only dog. So we still have only Max.



From all the residents and friends of Desert Haven, thanks again, Liane & Doug!

Week of 3/18/07 Humane Happenings

Desert Haven Animal Refuge is a small, home-like domestic animal sanctuary where unwanted and abandoned creatures, who would otherwise have no place to go, now can spend their days in a safe, peaceful and stimulating environment, surrounded by caring folks who tend to their needs, while at the same time, they help strengthen a no-kill movement that will outlast them.

These past few weeks have been very special to everyone involved with DHAR, as we were surrounded by old friends: former work-campers Walt Allen of Michigan and Larry & Mavis Juniper of Indiana, who return to Sierra County every Winter since they work-camped with us several years ago, also Ted & Fay Early, who stopped at the RV campground for a few weeks on their way home last March, and who, this year, made it a point to stop at DH again on their way back home to Colorado. Also working with them were Liane and Doug Stark, first-time work-campers at DH, Deb Peters of Connecticut, Jeanette Galliard of Albuquerque, Sheryl McKinney, Kathy Stoud, Linda Estavillo, Bootz, Freddie Loveless, Gene Trelewicz, Al Wilkinson, Middle school student Samuel Ashley, Jody and young son Joshua Koch, also Ginnie Nylen and Eliana Aubin. It has been an enjoyable few weeks indeed !

A special thank-you is in order to Camille Pronovost who travels and work-camps with husband Ed around the country and also spent time at DH earlier this year. Not only did Camille create the www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com web site, but she also updates it weekly. It’s a professional job, well worth checking out regularly. If some of our readers correspond via the internet with animal loving friends, sending them our web site will help spread the word about our no-kill sanctuary and at the same time give the animal residents an extra chance to be sponsored or adopted.

Update on little Urchin AKA ”Sandy”: the miniature poodle lost in Elephant Butte on July 4th 2006 and finally reunited with her family, at Desert Haven, where she had arrived in early December. A miracle has happened: “Sandy” is back in Grants with her family and getting back into her old habits. Many guardian angels, all of them involved in one way or another with Desert Haven, have been watching over her along the way. ” Saving one pet won’t change the world, but surely, the world will change for that one pet”.

Wish List: Small grader to clean less than 200 ft of fence line through light brush on terrain relatively flat - Pet food - Dog Walkers and Kitty Cuddlers - Volunteers at Paws & Claws thrift shop. For more information or to adopt a pet from DH, contact us at 505-894-2778.

Week of 3/11/07 Humane Happenings

Since 1990, The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. has offered a rebate to pet owners who wish to have their animal sterilized but need a financial incentive to do so. These rebates - $30 and $40 for male and female dogs or cats, respectively, are entirely funded through private and corporate contributions and most of all, the hard work of volunteers who believe in what they do. Volunteers operate Paws & Claws thrift shop, the proceeds of which are instrumental in funding the local Humane Society and its programs.

Since the SCHS was organized in the Fall of 1989, the Society’s major goal has been to curb the exploding population of cats and dogs in Sierra County. Irresponsible pet ownership has created a domestic animal population explosion. Unsterilized cats are allowed to roam the neighborhoods and their offspring add to the local feral cat population. To add to their misery, Pit Bulls are bred intentionally, and Pit-Bull pups can be seen everywhere in our county, at the city shelter, on our roadways, in the back yards of unscrupulous owners. They and the Pit Bull-mix pups are doomed from birth.

In 1999, a small but determined group of volunteers took the first step on their “Journey of 1000 Miles”. Desert Haven became a reality. Of course, the purpose of the small no-kill domestic animal sanctuary was never meant to take in all the unwanted animals of Sierra County. We use the resources that we have to save as many lives as we possibly can. The environment created at DH is giving all animal loving folks who are involved at the sanctuary, the determination to make a difference. Through hard work, we help finance, not only Desert Haven, but also a Spay-Neuter and Spay-a-Stray programs, together with a Humane Education program that will someday help bring needed changes in the lives of animals in our area. Of course, there will always be those who condemn us because we don’t take in their unwanted dogs or cats. On the other hand, most folks who join hands with us share our vision: help make our corner of the world kinder and gentler for all its residents.

This week’s wish list: dog, cat, bird, and rabbit food. Someone with a small grader to clear around 200 feet of fence line through light brush on terrain relatively flat. For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven, or Paws & Claws thrift shop, or to adopt a rescued dog or cat, contact us at 505-894-2778, check us out at http://www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com/ or write to us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Featured Pet: Sasha

Sasha, our featured pet this week, is one of the sweetest and most gentle kitties at Desert Haven. Born in 2002, Sasha came to Desert Haven after her owner moved out of the area, abandoning her. At the time, Sasha was in her last term of pregnancy. Soon after, she delivered her kittens under the porch of the mobile home that was now vacant. For several weeks, Sasha had to search for food throughout the neighborhood just to survive and keep nursing her kittens. Finally, a neighbor discovered the kittens and took most of them in to be adopted out to his friends.

Sasha is a sweet, gorgeous long-haired cat who enjoys the company of adults and who will easily be coaxed to sit on your lap and let herself be groomed. She will sit up for you after she gets to know you, just to get a treat or two. Sasha was in foster care for a while to improve her self-confidence and she has adapted very well to the normal life of a typical cat at Desert Haven. She enjoys looking out the boxed window of the Cat's Place in Desert Haven's Cool Cat Neighborhood, enjoying the peacefulness of her surroundings. She accepts and even thrives in a household with other adult cats, as long as she receives her share of cuddles and attention.

If you have room in your heart and your home for this adorable girl, contact Desert Haven at 575-894-2778.

Week of 3/4/07 Humane Happenings

Welcome back, Larry and Mavis Juniper. This former workcamping couple comes back to this area every year since they spent the Winter of 2004 at Desert Haven Animal Refuge. While they reside in Williamsburg this Winter, they work on needed projects every Tuesday, with the volunteer crew. Larry and Mavis have made many friends here, and it’s great to see them back each year.

A happy ending to a very sad story: Urchin, the miniature female poodle discovered on a very cold morning in December, wandering behind someone’s shed near the Rio Grande and taken in that morning at Desert Haven, is now back with her former family. After disappearing from the out-of-town family’s vehicle at an Elephant Butte gas station during the long July 4th 2006 holiday week-end, Urchin was left to fend for herself until early December, when she was discovered miles away, on Riverside Drive. This small poodle was very traumatized from her ordeal and it took many weeks of love and patience to help her get over her fear of people in general.

At his last visit to the sanctuary, James Rogers recognized her from the flyers that her family had posted in July, before returning to their home in Grant. The family was contacted and came all the way from Grant, to pick-up their beloved “Sandy”, the little dog they feared they would never see again. It feels good to know that little Urchin/Sandy has finally been reunited with her family.

Linda Estavillo, Facilities Manager at Desert Haven Animal Refuge since last August, recently completed the Sierra County Humane Society financial statement for 2006 and her hard work is to be commended. An individual with many talents and a big heart for animals, Linda is also a pleasure to work with and we trust that her association with Desert Haven and all its inhabitants will be a long and positive one.

With another growing season coming up, Desert Haven needs a green thumb or two interested in helping maintain the grounds, including Central Bark, the garden area adjacent to the Main Building. We need extra help in the office at Desert Haven, especially with membership mailing and filing. Two hours of your time at Desert Haven every Tuesday would make a world of difference. For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven and Paws & Claws thrift shop, contact us at 894-2778 or write to us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 2/25/07 Humane Happenings

With the weather cooperating, all the volunteers gathered at Desert Haven Animal Refuge last Tuesday had the opportunity to complete several important projects. Margaret Cacoperdo received the accolade of the day – the spaghetti and meatball dish, one of her specialties, was appreciated by everyone at lunch time. A Hi-Five is in order this week for CJ Ellis of Caballo Lake RV park for not only donating but also delivering to Desert Haven several used picnic tables that were set-up Tuesday in specific areas throughout the property. Having these picnic tables really makes a huge difference at Desert Haven. Thanks, CJ.

What if the kitties of The Cool Cat Neighborhood could talk? They would talk about James Rogers’ thoughtfulness in bringing them a large Styrofoam flat Tuesday, full of young wheat grass that he had patiently grown just for them.


Sasha, the gorgeous long-haired black-and-white kitty who was rescued a couple of years ago, settled down firmly to munch on the green delicacy, and she was accompanied by half a dozen other kitties, each one very interested in the new dish on the menu. It was such a pleasure to watch them! If someone has any catnip plants or seeds to share with us, James has offered to grow them with care for Desert Haven’s finicky felines. When the weather cooperates, the 9th Hole at Desert Haven - Ernie Valdez and Peter Altendorf’s innovative idea - will be rejuvenated after being dormant all Winter, and the canines of Dog Town will, once again, have the opportunity to enjoy walking and munching on the green turf during some of their play-time.

If you feed a stray or feral cat, consider all the unwanted offspring that can be generated by that animal during its lifetime. Please care enough to get it sterilized! The operation can be completely free of charge to you. Simply contact us at 505-894-2778 or 505-894-1694, and ask about our Spay-a-Stray program. There are so many cats in Sierra County, most of them do not belong to anybody - poor unwanted creatures who must fend for themselves to survive in a world that does not value their lives. Keeping them from reproducing by getting them sterilized is the only humane way to keep their population in check.

Wish List: Someone with a small bobcat to clear around 200 feet of fence line through light brush on relatively flat terrain. A green thumb to help keep the grounds maintained or work on small landscaping projects. Someone to take on a painting project or two. Contact us at 505-894-2778.

Featured Pets: Taco & Bell; Urchin

TACO

BELL

Taco and Bell are both canine victims from the Hatch Flood of the summer of 2006. Taco is a young Terrier-Chihuahua mix and Bell is a Terrier-mix. Although not of the same litter, they are life-long buddies. Their previous owners were displaced by the flood that ravaged the town of Hatch when several levees broke after days of very heavy rains (similar to the New Orleans flood, but on a much smaller scale.) Over a hundred homes were destroyed and their inhabitants lost everything.

Taco and Bell's owners took their little dogs with them when they were evacuated but, after several weeks, they realized that they could no longer care for them and relinquished them to Desert Haven.

Both are lap-dogs who thrive on affection. They are both sterilized and have all their shots.

For more information, contact Desert Haven at 505-894-2778.

URCHIN : Great News - Urchin/Sandy reunited with original family! Read the story here: http://deserthavenanimalrefuge.blogspot.com/2007/03/week-of-march-4-humane-happenings.html

Urchin is a young female miniature Poodle who is slowly but surely getting better. This little one was found wandering in the snow near the Rio Grande River one freezing morning. The rescuer stumbled on her by accident. He was checking for tracks in the back of his shed near the river and found a shivering ball of dirty, overgrown, matted hair full of stickers. Urchin was terrified but too weak to run away. She was so traumatized that she did not let her rescuers come close for a long while. The man brought her home with him and called the Animal Control officer immediately while his wife contacted Desert Haven. Although we did not have the volunteer staff to care for another dog at the time or available space at Dog Town, we accepted to take her in. We knew that this dog would be put down immediately if brought to the city shelter.

One of our staff members has fostered Urchin since her arrival. For several weeks after her rescue, Urchin would stay under a bed and would not leave the safety of her new hideout until late at night, when the house was quiet and everyone asleep. She would then eat some food and drink water from the bowls in the kitchen nearby, relieve herself on a puppy pad especially for her, and go back to her hiding place. Now Urchin is socializing with the two other little dogs at her foster home. Although a little shy with strangers, she responds well to affection. She is neatly groomed and has been sterilized. Her shots are now up-to-date.

Urchin is ready to move on to a caring home where she can find the life-long love and security that she so badly needs and deserves. To contact Desert Haven or Urchin's foster mom for more information, call 505-894-2778.

Weekof 2/18/07 Humane Happenings

A big thank-you is in order to The American Legion Post 44 in EB, for their very generous donation towards funding several upgrades at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, owned and operated by The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc.. The American Legion Post 44 continues to be very sensitive to the needs of Sierra County, and the on-going generosity of its members and leadership is always appreciated.

This week has been full of activities, both at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Paws & Claws thrift shop, and also on behalf of the domestic animals of Sierra County - for whom decent folks need to speak out when the need arises.

Here in New Mexico, and especially in Sierra County, domestic animals too often suffer at the hands of humans. Companion animals such as dogs and cats are considered cheap commodities that can be discarded when in the way and no longer wanted. Domestic animals need us to speak out for them, because they can’t. If some of our readers witness animal cruelty or neglect of any type, there are actions they can take: Call Dispatch at 894-7111 or 894-6617 - demand an investigation and file a formal complaint. Do not stop there: if what you saw is not being taken seriously and warrants further action in your opinion, notify The Sierra County Humane Society at 894-2639 as well as Animal Protection of New Mexico at 1-505-265-2322, ext 21. If you suspect that what you witnessed may have to do with any dog or cock fighting activity, also contact the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) at 1-707-795-2533 and the Humane Society of the US at 1-202-452-1100. The HSUS offers rewards up to $2,500 for tips leading to the bust of an animal fighting ring and will protect the caller’s anonymity.

Paws & Claws Thrift shop helps fund The Sierra County Humane Society pet sterilization program. If you need help to have your dog or cat sterilized, pick-up a spay-neuter form at the local police station, El Rancho Poodles or Paws & Claws thrift shop. You will receive a rebate certificate of $40 for each female, and $30 for each male sterilized under the program. You will also be eligible to receive another $5 to $15, the information on how to receive it will be sent to you with the SCHS rebate certificate.

Wish List: Volunteers – Pet food. Contact us at 505-894-2778 for more information.

Week of 2/11/07 Humane Happenings

Happy belated Birthday, DiAnna and George Schnetzer, February 6 and 10, respectively. DiAnna & George Schnetzer are strong supporters of The Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge and thanks to their generosity, the indoor-outdoor kennels, Cat Patio & Howdy Room now have easy-to-clean cement floors with appropriate drainage. What a difference it makes!

With the cement work done, Walt Allen in hanging back the kennels’ gates that George Schnetzer cut down to size so they can fit over the new floors. Once Gene Trelewicz has completed the several Cat Walkways and Jack Gillem’s kitty hide-outs are painted and installed, the felines of the Cool Cat Neighborhood will have many new interesting “high” places to investigate at their leisure.

Last Tuesday’s meal was a success - thanks to Jeanette Galliard’s Italian stuffed shells, Roy Lucas’ hot chili, and Kathy Stoud’s Chinese stir-fry, among other tasty dishes - something for everyone’s taste!

Two small Hatch flood canine victims are ready for adoption: Taco, a black terrier-Chihuahua male and Belle, a terrier mix. They are lifelong lap-dog buddies in need to be adopted, hopefully together. Urchin, a female miniature poodle, was rescued during one of the coldest cold spells in Sierra County’s history. It is obvious that little Urchin lived on her own for some time before being rescued, as she was very traumatized by her ordeal. Thanks to a caring foster mom, Urchin is well on her way to full recovery. If you wish to check-out Taco, Belle and Urchin, also Indy, Bessie, Bud, Lucky, Chowder, Sassy, Vickie, Hammy, Marshall and Maxwell, and our gang of 25 kitties, visit DH on Tuesday or by appointment at 894-2778. While surfing the web, consider visiting our sites at www.deserthavenpetfinder.com, www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com and our blog at www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.blogspot.com.

With Spring almost here, Desert Haven needs a volunteer or two interested in helping keep-up with the landscaping of the property, including Central Bark, the area adjacent to the Main Building. Along with dog walkers and kitty cuddlers throughout the week, we need a volunteer or two to share some of the office work on Tuesday, as well as someone to paint several projects on location. This week’s Wish List: step ladder – garden tools - Dry & canned dog food - rabbit pellets - chicken scratch - bird seeds - cat food. For more information, contact us at 505=894-2778.

Week of 2/4/07 Humane Happenings

Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s non-profit domestic animal sanctuary, has been undergoing major upgrades these past few weeks. Inclement weather and heavy snowfalls have retarded the completion of the cement floors in the Cat Patio and inside the individual dog kennels. In these times of volunteer help shortage, much of it due to the unusually cold Winter season, the volunteers are looking forward to getting back to the routine at DH. Among other local helpers, Bootz, who has been donating much time each week over the past two years, is not only sharing animal care regularly, but, while the cement work is underway, she also fosters Sassy, DH’s gentle and well behaved black lab mix. That in itself has been a huge help during these weeks of upheaval at Dog Town. Jeanette Galliard, who lives and works in Albuquerque, has been spending a lot of last week - reserved for her R & R in Caballo - at Desert Haven instead, to give the smaller than usual crew a much needed hand every day. Her cheerful personality makes her a pleasure to be around.

Many thanks to Jane Fandey for the fantastic job she is doing with the craft and sewing items going to Paws & Claws, to Chuck Wells for the walkway at the entrance of The Cool Cat Neighborhood and to Jack Gillem for building several kitty hide-outs. Once painted in cheerful colors (What about it, Bill?), they will become part of the new 6 ft high walkways that Gene Trelewicz is building around the Catwalk.

A special pat on the back goes to Walt Allen and Gene Trelewicz who can always be counted on whenever needed, also to Linda Estavillo, Diana Rivera, Roxie Bonsack, Steve Hawkins, Freddie Loveless and Eliana Aubin, for going above and beyond the line of duty in whatever they do.

Welcome to DH, Kathy Stoudt!

Dependable Dog Walkers, Kitty Cuddlers and office oriented individuals are needed every Tuesday at DH. We also need dependable volunteer helpers at Paws & Claws thrift shop. Interested in donating a couple of hours each week to help a worthwhile cause? Contact us at 505-894-2778 for more information or visit DH on Tuesday.

While surfing the web, please visit our sites for DH’s list of dogs and cats available for adoption: www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.com, www.deserthaven.petfinder.com and www.deserthavenanimalrefuge.blogspot.com/2007/01/featured-pets-story-of-maxwell-and.html.

This week’s Wish List: Dry dog food including but not limited to Beneful and Pedigree. We thank our animal loving friends, for their on-going support. It is needed and appreciated!