Week of 3/27 11 Humane Happenings by Eliana Aubin

by Eliana Aubin

Freddie Loveless

This week, we wish to thank everyone who is inquiring about Freddie Loveless’ health status. Freddie, Desert Haven’s Operations Coordinator, is home now, recuperating from her hospital stay as well as from a severe case of bronchitis that sent her there in the first place. Since her arrival at DHAR several years ago, Freddie has been involved in every facet of its operation. She is now a major player within the Sierra County Humane Society. Her loyalty and dedication to the cause of companion animals in Sierra County, together with a genuine love for animals, continue to play a important role in the success of our animal welfare organization, Desert Haven and also Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Those of us who know Freddie continue to send good vibes her way and we join together in our thoughts and prayers for her full recovery.

During Freddie’s unfortunate absence from Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, everyone involved with the non-profit shop is making an extra effort to help insure that it continues to serve the community as it has. Our entire crew works hard and deserves to be acknowledged: “Bootz” Farester, Jackie Fletcher, Estella Groff, Glen Parks, Velda Preston, Sherry Scott, Jim Seery and Eliana Aubin. A special thank you goes to Glen Parks and Jim Seery for covering Freddie’s responsibilities at P&C in her absence.

The focus this week is on the fabulous work of our pricing crew. Thanks to their dedication and attention to details and also for their effective pricing talents in a fluid economic environment, P&C thrift Shoppe continues to operate in a productive and efficient manner. We constantly strive to seek a level of uniqueness among the sea of typical thrift shops. It’s because of the constant efforts on the part of our entire crew and also because of their dedication that we are able to maintain that uniqueness.

Many local and out-of-town customers find us exceptional and above the watermark of the common thrift shop. What sets P&C Thrift Shoppe apart from the others is the fact that we are all personally involved. It’s not a matter of collecting a paycheck at the end of the week – we are all volunteers with a purpose. Protecting, helping and properly caring for the unwanted, abused and neglected companion animals in this area is our purpose. Willing to give us a hand in some way? Contact us at 575-894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.com. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com and www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 3/21/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This week, we are sending our sincere appreciation to all our animal loving friends who have recently made a point, in their own way, to show their full support of all who make things happen within the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal Refuge. The past couple of weeks, many Paws & Claws customers thanked us personally for what we do to help local companion animals down-on-their-luck. We have also received e-mails and phone calls thanking us and giving us moral support. We have been stopped at the local grocery stores, just to tell us how much our selfless hard work is appreciated. Anyone who does anything worthwhile in one’s life eventually gets to learn first-hand that doing something successfully often attracts personal jealousy and resentment on the part of a few. It goes with the territory. The on-going support of valued animal loving friends, together with determination tremendously helps rise above the pettiness and brush it off. It is always a boost to be reminded that we are not alone in our work of love for local animals in distress and that each one of our supporters cares enough to be counted.

A number of folks contacted us since the story came out about the elderly, blind Miniature Pinscher rescued from the dumpster at Rotary Park. We name him Ray - his owner called him “Cowboy”. With appropriate information, we will prosecute the young woman who disposed of the little guy, like a piece of trash, inside the dumpster before she moved to Las Cruces. We are told that she still owns at least two other dogs, one of which she tried to get rid of as well before her move. We assume that she could not load him over and into the dumpster, in the same way as she “trashed “Cowboy, her old and helpless 10lbs little dog. In a last effort to get rid of that larger dog, she attempted to leave him behind with a “friend”. Since she was unsuccessful, we are concerned that she is now going to ‘discard” her other dogs in some way, somewhere in Las Cruces. Please continue to send any pertinent information regarding this matter to 575-894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.com.

Freddie, Desert Haven bookkeeper and Operations Coordinator, has been quite ill for many days now. Freddie is well known within our animal loving community and also very much loved by everyone who knows her personally and works with her. We miss her and trust that she will soon recover fully and come back home. At this time, we need someone to help with office work at Desert Haven on Tuesdays, at least during Freddie’s illness. Please contact Eliana at 894-2639 if interested. We can be reached at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com and www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 3/13/11 Humane Happenings

Eliana with Cowboy after his rescue from a dumpster

by Eliana Aubin

This past week, an incident happened that made us realize that some folks in Sierra County seem to be unaware or oblivious to the fact that there is a place where these individuals can – no questions asked and totally free of charge to them –drop-off a dog or cat they cannot care for, whether that animal is their own or one that they found wandering on a street, in their neighborhood or in the countryside.

The place is SIERRA ANIMAL SHELTER. It is a modern, clean, privately owned business located on Date Street. The building is adjacent to Hot Springs Animal Clinic, a business that is also privately owned and by the same entity. Through its contracts with the City of T or C, Elephant Butte and the entire county of Sierra, including both Elephant Butte and Caballo state parks, Sierra Animal Shelter is funded by S.C. Taxpayers and it operates as the official city & county animal shelter.

Consequently, anyone with a dog or cat he or she no longer want for whatever reason should bring the unwanted animal to Sierra Animal Shelter. There is absolutely no charge to that individual. Abandoning a dog, a cat or any other companion animal on the side of a road, near the river, in some neighborhood, in the middle of the desert or anywhere in Sierra County, is sentencing that animal to a life of misery until death by exposure, starvation, dehydration, or being eaten, often alive, by other animals. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to abandon an unwanted animal in any other way than to drop him or her off at the local animal shelter: Sierra Animal Shelter on Date Street.

The elderly, handicapped Miniature Pinscher recently found still alive inside the dumpster located at Rotary Park in downtown T or C could have just as easily been dropped off at Sierra Animal Shelter. Instead, his owner sentenced him to die a sure and painful death. It was truly a miracle that the little guy was rescued. The little dog’s owner text messaged us:”Look my mother saw your ad up at bullocks about Cowboy. I’m the owner so please take your ad down”. He added: ”He’s very old and blind and deaf. He has a lot of health problems including severe arthritis and he’s in a lot of pain all the time”. The man’s signature: “Donknow doncare” tells it all.

Any information on Cowboy’s owner? Call 575-894-2639. Contact us at 575-894-2778 or 740-4100. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 3/6/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This past week, Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary, received a visit from Chris Anderson, a reporter for Comcast Spotlight.
According to their web site http://site.itsallgoodnewmexico.com, “It’s All Good New Mexico” program brings New Mexico cable viewers uniquely positive stories from across the state, highlighting people, organizations, businesses and employers that are doing good things in our communities. Series of 60 second segments profiling people and organizations that are “giving back” to New Mexico are aired on various networks (TBS, USA, ESPN, FOX NEWS, etc) on 20 local cable systems across the state. “

Desert Haven is receiving recognition through “It’s all good New Mexico” and several of its furry and feathered residents will soon become TV stars as they are featured as part of Chris’ interview with the Sierra County Humane Society president Eliana Aubin. It’s quite an honor for Desert Haven to be recognized in this way.

As they walked through the several animal and bird habitats and visited with the residents, Eliana asked Chris “Why us?”. He answered “We received many stories from all over New Mexico and I chose yours”. How humbling! Someone local (Ellen Evans ) had thought enough of what has been accomplished over the years to help the unwanted and abused animals in Sierra County, to take the time to write a story about it and then to send it to the TV station. And then a perfect stranger had chosen our story out of many, to air on the program.

Desert Haven Animal Refuge is truly a labor of love in progress. Folks from all over the entire United States come to the small but effective sanctuary to share in the experience of caring for companion animals down on their luck. Whether they stay a few months or a few years, everyone who loves animals and shares in the day-to-day care of animals and birds makes a difference. We can’t save all the unwanted, the suffering companion animals in Sierra County, but we certainly and without a doubt make a difference in the lives of those that we can save. That conviction makes everyone involved with Desert Haven feel good about what is accomplish there. In the end, it’s ALL for and ABOUT the animals who call the sanctuary their home.

Interested in adopting a cat or dog from DHAR? Contact us at 575-740-4100. To learn more about us or to help us in some way, call 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 3/1/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

David, Stephen, and his dad, Gene Wagner, unload pet food in the the "Feed Store" on a Tuesday morning

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society volunteers wish to acknowledge a local business for its on-going commitment to Sierra County and our animal welfare organization: Bullocks Grocery Store in downtown TorC. Bullocks receipts that are saved and dropped-off at the T or C Public Library, Desert Haven Animal Refuge and also Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe are tallied regularly by Josephine Varnum, long time SCHS member and Desert Haven supporter. Once redeemed, they provide much needed funding for the SCHS Spay-Neuter program. Our organization is very proud of this program initiated in 1991 -twenty years ago. Sterilized companion animals live healthier and longer lives. Download an application for the SCHS Spay-Neuter program, also available at the T or C Police Department, Hot Springs Animal Clinic, Desert Haven and at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. Also thanks to Bullocks, the feathered and furry residents of Birdland & Animal House continue to enjoy fresh veggies and fruit chef salads every morning, with a little help from Freddie Loveless, a volunteer since 2003. Freddie picks-up the boxes from Bullocks and transports them in her vehicle three times weekly.

Did you know that in Dog Town alone, the daily breakfast for everyone amounts to no less than 30 to 40 cups of the regular size dog food and another 5 to 7 cups of the Little Bites that we reserve for our very small dogs. Every morning, dry dog food is mixed with 4 to 5 cans of canned food and, “voila!” breakfast is ready to be served at Dog Town. It’s not hard to imagine how many bags of dog food we use every day to feed our canine army! All the donated dog food is mixed together with Pedigree and Purina, providing our residents dogs with the very best we can provide.

Over the week-end, local residents Michael and Shelly dropped-off at Desert Haven two large bags of dog food – They had found out that morning that dog food was urgently needed. This week again, dog food is number one on our high priority list, with cat food not far behind.

Interested in adopting a cat or dog from DHAR? Contact us at 575-740-4100. To learn more about us or to help us in some way, contact us at 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 2/20/11 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Joe Pack sprucing up the Mutt Hut at Desert Haven

There are folks in Sierra County who care about animals, but they are not sure how to contribute to their welfare. The following are some of the actions that we can take to impact the lives of animals in Sierra County, in our own communities, in our respective neighborhoods. Be on the alert for a stray dog walking in the street for example. Perhaps he has lost his way, or someone abandoned him. That animal needs someone’s help. Let it be you. Keep an eye out and report animal abuse when you see it. Contact the local law enforcement agency. You can remain anonymous when you do so. If you wish to learn the laws regarding animal abuse in New Mexico, you can check right on the web site: www.aspca.org/reportcruelty.

There is always a way for someone to make a difference in the lives of companion animals in your little corner of the world. You can volunteer at Desert Haven Animal Refuge for example. The resident dogs and cats always enjoy the special attention. Any little thing that you do for animals, either at the no-kill sanctuary or in your own neighborhood, is a huge contribution to animals. Just because you cannot do everything you would want to do, you can do something. No action on your part is too small to make the life of these creatures a little brighter. Perhaps even your own lives can be a little brighter by contributing to the happiness of companion animals down-on-their-luck.

This week’s wish list for Desert Haven: dry dog and cat food - carpet remnants - rigid insulation to insulate our pump house - Heavy duty 75ft long water hose - Plywood pieces of all sizes – brooms & scrub brushes.

Interested in learning more about the Sierra County Humane Society, Inc? Perhaps you would like to volunteer at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s no-kill domestic animal sanctuary. Would you prefer to help out at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe? Contact us at 575-894-2778 or 894-1694. We can also be reached at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Check our blog at http://DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.blogspot.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 2/13/11 Humane Happenings

 by Eliana Aubin

Glen Park; Volunteer at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe

This week, we wish to inform our readers that The Sierra County Humane Society, which operates Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, is in no way associated with the people who call themselves “Assets for Animals.” They are currently running an ad in the local papers to attract 'animal-loving' folks to donate items to them. According to their claim, they plan to ultimately distribute your donations to “participating” thrift shops that benefit animals, whether locally or nationwide.

We were very recently invited by the organizers of 'Assets for Animals' to team up with their new venture. Our staff unanimously declined for the following reasons. This is an unknown organization without any verifiable history. Also, why would anyone living in Sierra County choose to have their donations benefit unknown entities outside of the county where we live? In addition, the very few thrift shops whose goal is to contribute to animal care organizations pay salaries to a manager and staff before any profits are allowed to trickle down to benefit animals. Paws & Claws is run entirely by non-paid volunteers and all profits are directly dedicated to the welfare of the animals we can help within Sierra County. Furthermore, P&C Thrift Shoppe operates under the non-profit 501-C-3 umbrella of the SCHS, therefore all your donations are tax deductible, while ‘Assets for Animals’ do not offer that important benefit.

The Sierra County Humane Society believes that being involved with 'Assets for Animals’ is not in the best interest of our local animals. Our animal welfare organization is dedicated to helping Sierra County animals first and foremost. Consequently, until or unless 'Assets for Animals' can insure that all the funds earned from local donations benefit the animals of Sierra County and Sierra County only, the Sierra County Humane Society and P&C Thrift Shoppe will not be associated with this group.

Whereas the Sierra County Humane Society would applaud any organization that can clearly demonstrate their commitment to animal care within our community, we feel obliged to keep our fellow citizens informed of all the information we have received regarding these matters.

If you have any questions or if we can be of service in any way, please feel free to call us at 575-894-1694

This week, our most crucial need is: Dog Walkers at DHAR. While the larger dogs exercise in several groups in the all-fenced Old West Trail every morning, our small breed canine residents are walked individually or two-by-two on a leash. This allows precious interaction between them and the folks who walk them. This takes time and manpower and we currently need more local folks to help us handle that important morning task. Contact Reba at 740-4100 if you wish to help.

Interested in helping at P&C Thrift Shoppe? Call us at 894-2639 or 2778.

For more information, visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. and www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Our mailing address is POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 2/6/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

What a storm we all lived through in Sierra County! At Desert Haven Animal Refuge, member of the DHAR team worked closely together to insure that all the animals and birds were as protected as possible from the extreme cold. Pat Madden, who drives twice a week all the way from beyond Hillsboro to help care for the animals donated a new portable propane heater last week. It was immediately installed inside the fully insulated Inn at Dog Town. The heater replaced the one belonging to work campers Carl and Nancy Findling, who generously had let us borrow their own heater when the night temperatures started dropping quickly.

Even with comforters and blankets lining individual dog houses and a heater kept on day and night inside the Inn at Dog Town, even with plenty of straw insulating the birds and guinea pigs habitats inside Birdland & Animal House, even with comforters, pillows and warm blankets inside the Kitty Dormitory, everyone at Desert Haven, humans and non-humans alike, was affected in some way by last week’s extreme temperatures.

When the temperatures allowed it, the dogs were eager to get out of the Inn and into their play yard and also get the chance to run again to their hearts content all over the fenced Wild West Trail area.

Can you help us renew our now-depleted supply of warm blankets, pillows and area rugs? We need them for our resident dogs and cats. All donations can either be dropped off at DHAR or at Paws & Claws during business hours. Please remember that any item, box or bag of items left in front of the shop when it is closed for business runs an extremely high risk to be stolen within a few moments by unsavory individuals who are making a lifestyle of profiting from others in one way or the other. We will pick up if needed.

We still have plenty of straw for the rest of the winter. We owe our good fortune to Jeanette Galliard of Albuquerque and to local resident Bobby Dawkins. Several times a year, Jeanette drives all the way from Albuquerque with a truck load full of straw and alfalfa that she generously donates to the sanctuary. This past summer, Bobby Dawkins chose Desert Haven to donate over a hundred bales of hay that he said could not be fed to his horses. Thanks to these two great folks, Birdland & Animal House continue to have plenty of straw to protect its residents from the extreme cold we are experiencing this Winter.

Along with warm blankets and pillows, this week’s high priority items are dry cat food, cracked corn and bird & sunflower seeds.

Interested in learning more about us or helping us in some way? Contact us at 894-2778 or 740-4100. Visit our web site at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Check us out on www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Our mailing address is POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 2/1/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

A kitty recently "dumped" by her owner, photographed through a sliding glass door while she comes for food put out by a compassionate animal lover. We're calling her "Pumpkin" for the color of her fur.

The past year has been a really tough one for many in Sierra County, including homeless dogs and cats. The economic crisis has taken its toll on people, but also on their companion animals as they are becoming innocent victims of the current difficult times. Now more than ever, people are often tempted to look the other way, or they give up in despair when they come across a non-human in distress. Fortunately, Compassion compels some of us to act when others would not have. Every life has value. Because of all the kind folks who help our non-profit volunteer animal welfare organization in many ways, we continue to make a difference in this area of New Mexico.

Jeff, a volunteer at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, cleaning the front windows.

The Sierra County Humane Society is a no-frill organization. We do not have an expensive office by any means. We do not pay any salary. Even the President of the organization is a volunteer. The duties of Executive Director of Desert Haven Animal Refuge and those of Manager of Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe are also performed on a strictly volunteer basis. As in many other worthwhile organizations in the community, our crew of volunteers is very limited and this is obviously a fact – sad as it may be - that we always must take into consideration in whatever we decide to do within the entire organization.

For the year 2010, only 4% of the budget of the Sierra County Humane Society went towards office expenses and supplies. The remainder funded projects and programs that benefit companion animals in Sierra County. The SCHS Spay-Neuter and Spay-a-Stray programs were by far the most costly. Medical expenses for unwanted and abused dogs and cats taken in at Desert Haven also came with a high price tag.

Desert Haven is sanctuary to over two hundred (200) non-human creatures which at one time were unwanted, neglected or abused. As we routinely adopt out dogs and cats at Desert Haven, we take in others down-on-their-luck. It breaks our hearts to turn away any animal in need for lack of resources. But again, taking in more animals than we can provide for would jeopardize the ones we have already rescued. We are often forced to say: “sorry, we cannot take in anymore”. Some folks understand, others get very angry with us and call us names. It’s something we accept as part of dealing with the “takers” of this world.

This week’s wish list: dog and cat food, sunflower and bird seeds, also rabbit pellets – Interested in becoming a member of the Sierra County Humane Society? Do you want to help us in some other way? Contact us at 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 1/23/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Mattie Ganos with sign honoring Leonard Bullington

The Sierra County Humane Society, Inc. will hold its Annual Membership Meeting in February. Directors for vacant and expiring positions will be elected at that meeting. The SCHS Board of Directors also governs the operations of Desert Haven Animal Refuge, Sierra County’s No-Kill companion animal sanctuary. Please contact us at 894-2778 or 894-2639 for more information or to be placed on the 2011 ballot.

Some weeks ago, Mattie Ganos, who work camps at Desert Haven with her husband Denny, designed and painted several large Old West Style signs that were proudly hung in their respective places on several buildings around the sanctuary. We now have a sign on the Desert Haven workshop that honors the man who contributed greatly to our organization: Gene Trelewicz. Gene no longer lives in Sierra County, but he is remembered fondly by everyone who knows him and worked with him at Desert Haven.

Leonard Bullington is being honored also, and rightly so. Leonard is a retired cowboy who used his lifelong experience and skills to help the very first crew of volunteers who cleared the undeveloped parcel of land and then started to build the sanctuary, one project at a time. Among several large projects, Leonard completely revamped a small building in the Old West Style. A large, colorful and very attractive sign “Leonard’s Mercantile”, created by Mattie, was recently hung on that specific building – a fitting bit of recognition for an “Old Cowboy”, as Leonard often calls himself.

Last Tuesday, the crew erected another very meaningful sign, also designed by Mattie. The sign honors Ardell, a Charter member of the Sierra County Humane Society and one of its strongest supporters from way back. Back in the “Old Days”, Ardell owned and operated a small rock and antique shop in Northern New Mexico. Over the years, she had decorated the entire front yard of her shop with artistic and unique compositions of colored glass bottles and containers. That “Glass Garden” became such a tourist attraction that an Albuquerque TV station ran a story in the 1980’s on “Ardell’s Glass Garden”.

Ardell’s 21 years of support of our animal welfare organization deserves recognition. What more fitting than to honor this amazing pioneer lady by creating a small - very small - “Ardell’s Glass Garden” at Desert Haven, a place she has given so much of herself over the years and in so many ways. Do you have colored bottles and containers you wish to donate to help us get this meaningful project off the ground? Let us know. Interested in learning more about us or helping us in some way? Contact us at 575-894-2778. Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven.

Week of 1/17/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin with photos by Dennis Gano, except "Lucky" by Teddi

Basket of doves

The year 2011 is unfolding and Desert Haven is entering into the 10th year since the very first non human residents arrived at the sanctuary – a flock of domesticated ring neck doves relinquished by an older gentleman who could no longer care for them in the outdoor aviary he had built for them many years before. Then several guinea pigs followed – a young boy had gotten tired of feeding and watering them every day and he often forgot they were even here, huddled all together in their small cage inside his mother’s garage. Soon after, several no-longer-wanted Easter rabbits joined the group.

Guinea pigs enjoying fresh veggies

Then in 2002, a mother cat about to deliver was dropped-off in a box because she was pregnant - the man did not want kittens. Lucky, the sanctuary’s first dog arrived some months later. Someone had found the pup one afternoon, wandering the solitary stretch of HWY 195 between TorC and E.B. At the time, the facility was still in the process of being built, one habitat at a time and according to long-range plans outlined some time before.

Lucky; first dog rescued by DH

Today, Desert Haven provides sanctuary to over two hundred (200) fur and feather creatures. It is tailored to available resources, such as manpower and funding. The road is not easy, but with the on-going help of our members and supporters, we have accomplished nothing short of miracles along the way. Membership forms are available at P&C thrift Shoppe and DHAR. You can also contact Freddie at 575-894-2778 for more information.

Rooster at Desert Haven

For many months now, Diane Bellack of Hillsboro has sorted, tagged and priced all donated craft and sewing items to be displayed and sold at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC. Diane is no longer able to help our cause in this way, at least for some time, and we are going to miss her help terribly. If any of our craft oriented Readers wishes to help us get those items readied to sell at P&C, contact Eliana at 575-894-2639.

Our Desert Haven peacock

This week’s wish list: dog and cat food, also sunflower seeds - carpet pieces – wood and plywood, even small pieces to be used for smaller projects such as bird houses, trail signs and pet grave markers. We need construction and roofing material –large plastic containers – exterior white latex paint. If you are computer oriented and enjoy working with numbers, we need your help for a couple of hours on Tuesdays.

Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday and anyone interested in adopting a dog or a cat is welcome to visit the sanctuary on that day.


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Week of 1/10/11 Humane Happenings

By Eliana Aubin

Gunner at the campground before being rescued

At this time of the year, we see the worst in Human Nature…dogs and cats abandoned or left outdoors, even at night, in the freezing weather. Dogs especially- short hair dogs and very small dogs too - left out-of-doors in their yard in below freezing temperatures - no shelter available, their water bowl is frozen. Many of them are tied or chained – yes, chained - outside in the freezing cold. Our organization receives calls every day about dogs left outside in these extreme temperatures. What’s wrong with some people?

This time, this article wishes to share a heartwarming story of a stranger who went way out of his way to save a cat from certain death, a cat he didn’t even know. Yes, there IS hope for the Human Race.

In a campground in Santa Rosa, in Northern New Mexico, a man is taking a break from work and spending a few days of R&R in his RV. The ground is frozen and the campground is sparsely occupied at this time of the year. Something catches the man’s attention early one morning: a little ball of fur, all curled-up on the cement floor outside of the campground's restroom. It’s a small cat. He is very skinny under that dirty matted fur- and he is very scared. He hisses every time the man attempts to get closer.

The man is patient and he has a good heart. Within a couple of days, the little fur-guy has furtively investigated the RV and hesitantly accepted the man’s caresses and food. The man knows that his lifestyle and work habits do not allow a companion animal, even a cat. Some folks may have just left the animal to his fate – block one’s mind and ignore the animal altogether. The man chooses to go the compassionate way. He contacts sanctuaries and no-kill shelters in communities around the campground. No luck, no room for another cat anywhere. In a last attempt to save the little guy before moving on, the man e-mails Desert Haven, located half- way across the state. Here at Desert Haven, we weigh the situation and decide that we simply can’t turn our back on the man’s plea and on the helpless little fur-guy. If the man cares enough to deliver the cat to Desert Haven, we will make “room at the Inn”.

Gunner at Desert Haven, feelin' the love from Reba's ear scratches!

It takes several hours for the man to bring the cat all the way from Santa Rosa, and several more hours for him to return back to his RV in Santa Rosa campground, which he does right away so he can be back home to his RV before night. A remarkable story – a remarkable man. We call the little fur-guy “Gunner”. It’s the man’s last name.

Recently two DHAR resident dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital for emergency lifesaving surgeries. We are asking our animal loving friends who can do so to please help us cover the medical costs that are prohibitive for our small sanctuary. Make a donation via credit card easily by visiting our "Causes" page at  http://www.causes.com/causes/313794-desert-haven-animal-refuge. We can be contacted at 894-2778 or 740-4100 for more information.

Write us at POB 638 Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Meet us at www.Facebook/com/deserthaven. Desert Haven is open to the public every Tuesday.