Week of 12/29/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

We mourn the loss of a long-time friend of Desert Haven - Ginny Nylen – who passed away suddenly doing what she loved: RV’ing throughout the US and making friends along the way. Ginny had work-camped in our area some years ago. When we appealed to the community for someone to help in our Desert Haven office on Tuesdays, Ginny came forward. She helped us again the following several winters. Time went on and Ginny no longer work-camped, but she kept traveling and every year, she was back at Desert Haven to visit, with plenty of goodies for our furry residents. Ginny, you will always be remembered fondly by all of us who shared precious moments of your life.


Susan Newman of Animas Creek Plant Nursery and Gina Kelley of Ruidoso, we value your long-standing commitment to our animal welfare cause. Susan is a local business person with a high level of moral principle. Gina was the Sierra County Tourism Director until she moved to Ruidoso over 2 years ago. While a local resident, she had asked our organization for help to sterilize the small army of feral and stray cats who lived in her neighborhood. We came through for her. Then the economy took a dip, so did the support we counted on to keep our spay-a-stray program solvent. We appealed to all those we had helped in the past – even one dollar would make a difference, one dollar from each of the several thousand individuals we had helped since we started the program in 1994. A hand-full came forward.

Gina Kelley

 Gina came forward, and very generously indeed! She contributes towards our program every month since that time. Individuals like Susan Newman and Gina Kelley exemplify people who are committed to their moral principle. They don’t just say they believe in something, their show they believe in something, quietly and without fanfare.

We need volunteer help every morning at Desert Haven. We also need help at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com and www.Facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Our mailing address is: POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87901.

Week of 12/22/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Crissy

A very young female black lab arrived at Desert Haven Animal Refuge on Christmas Eve. She was rescued from a mountain road during a recent snow storm. A good Samaritan rescued her before she became another victim. “Crissy” is now the newest member of Dog Town. You can soon see her on our Desert Haven Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven.

We have much to be thankful for this Christmas season. Among other wonderful contributors, some of them who want to stay anonymous, Gina Kelley of Ruidoso sends generous monthly pledges to help keep our Spay-neuter program alive. Local resident Mary Roden recently donated much needed canned cat food. Carmel O'Connell of San Francisco CA contributes every month through our Pay-Pal account. A monthly pledge is made in Richard Wagner’s memory, ensuring his name will always be remembered with fondness.

Christmas donations for our rescues

Robert & Marian Allen donated a vehicle full of pet food and birdseeds, toys, treats and bedding last Tuesday. Chet & Val Two-Wolves dropped-off pet food and treats in memory of their beloved companion-dog Lady who had just passed away. Several large boxes of pet food and treats sent by our supporters from Texas, via Walmart and Amazon arrived recently. Last week, Moose Lodge 2050 contributed towards the veterinary costs of bringing our latest rescues back to health: Charlie, Gumbo and Forest.

Moose contribution

Last week, the drop-off box at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe was broken into several times. The thieves not only stole everything inside it, but they also badly damaged parts of the structure, outside and while they were foraging directly inside it. A police report was made each time. It’s very sad when a few undesirables make it so hard for the rest of us to do what we can to make this corner of the world a better place to live. If you know anything about these thefts, contact us at 575-894-2639. The information will be forwarded to the TorC Police Department.

Drop off box - repaired

 We need volunteer help every morning at Desert Haven. We also need help at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe between 11am and 4pm. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com and www.Facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Our mailing address is: POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87901. Happy Holidays to all our members and animal loving friends.

Week of 12/17/13 Humane Happenings

Bar-2s Contribution

by Eliana Aubin

We thank you, Bar-2 Sand and Gravel, for donating a truck load of crusher fine to Desert Haven. We will use it to repair the damages caused by the heavy rain storms and subsequent flooding this past summer. Bar-2 Sand & Gravel always comes through for us – a community-minded business indeed.

Our friends are asking us what we need at Desert Haven this winter. Here it is: bird and sunflower seeds, cracked corn and scratch to help feed our white and domesticated ring-neck doves, hens, roosters and also the peacock residents of Birdland. Timothy hay is always an especially welcome treat for our resident rabbits and guinea pigs. Now that Desert Haven is the new home to several special needs dogs, we need more canned dog food than ever. Young Gumbo the Chihuahua came to us skinny and starving, discovered by accident in a vehicle bone-yard on the outskirts of Albuquerque. Forest is a large, older hound dog with arthritis, recently rescued from the Gila Wilderness; and now we also have Charlie, a senior shaggy dog with dental issues among others. 

Charlie

 Charlie spent his entire adult life alone and forgotten at the end of a chain in someone’s local back-yard. We are asking everyone who wishes to help out this winter, to donate the extra CANNED dog food that we need to help bring our several special-needs canines back to health.

We also need cleaning supplies and detergent: disposable gloves, heavy duty rubber and work gloves, long and short handle heavy duty brushes, a heavy duty pooper-scooper, Clorox, Odorban, Dawn diswashing liquid.

We need volunteer help every morning at Desert Haven. Choose the morning you would like to help! We also need help at Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe during business hours (Wed through Sat from 11 amweR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com , www.Facebook.com/DesertHaven and www.Facebook.com/Pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Our mailing address is: POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87901. Happy Holidays to all our animal loving friend
to 4:30pm). Contact us at 575-894-2639 or at

Week of 12/10/13 Humane happenings

by Eliana Aubin 

Foxie's new family

Charlie is now the newest resident at Desert Haven Animal Refuge. He is a cute, medium sized shaggy dog who was recently rescued by a Good Samaritan from years of misery and loneliness at the end of a chain inside some uninterested individual’s yard. His rescuer could not keep him long, only because of restrictions about companion animals in her apartment complex. Charlie is now safe and finally well-cared for at the no-kill sanctuary. The gentle senior-dog is now able to enjoy whatever is left of his life in a loving environment, with no more chains forever hanging from his neck. Charlie’s new play-yard used to belong to Foxie Girl. Yes, we have even more good news to share with our readers and Desert Haven supporters: Foxie Girl – Desert Haven’s resident Boxer –recently moved to her forever home. Her new family drove all the way from Albuquerque to pick-her up at the sanctuary and it was love at first sight for everyone.

 A huge Atta-Girl is in order for Charlotte, DHAR Animal Care & Adoption Coordinator, who handled the adoption from start to finish. Photos were taken - they will soon be posted on our www.Facebook.com/deserthaven page - good-byes were shared, before our beloved fur-kid left the sanctuary – her home for over two years.

Our Christmas Wish List: Canned dog and cat food (We mix it with the dry food during the coldest part of the winter). Bird Seeds. Cracked corn. Cedar chips. The Sierra County Humane Society has an open account at Horsin’ Around Feed & Tack in TorC. You can either contact them at 575-894-0318 or you can send your donation earmarked for those specific items and we will pick-them up as we need them.

For a while now, we have needed a Cash Register for Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe. If you have one in good working condition that you no longer use and wish to donate to our 50-1-c-3 non-profit organization, please let us know at 575-894-2639 or at weR4pets@gmail.com. Our mailing address is: Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Happy Holidays to all our animal loving friends.

Week of 12/1/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Michael Gurnsey

Our community has lost one of its upstanding citizens, 58 years old Michael Gurnsey, who passed away recently. The news of his untimely passing was an absolute shock to many of us in the Sierra County Humane Society. Michael was well-known and well-liked in the community and in our animal welfare organization. Together with his mother, Josephine, and sisters, Joan and Terri, Michael became an active member soon after it was organized in the late 80’s. We join Michael’s family as we mourn his passing. He will be fondly remembered as an animal loving individual, and outstanding member of our organization and of the entire community. We sincerely appreciate the wishes of Michael’s family for contributions in Mike’s memory to be sent to the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert haven Animal Refuge, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Forest, the older, emaciated and arthritic hound dog recently rescued from Gila Wilderness is now safe at Desert Haven. Some of Forest’s wounds are emotional wounds that will heal only with love and special care. He is receiving both at the sanctuary. Gumbo, the small, skin-and-bone, Chihuahua discovered by accident inside a junk vehicle in an Albuquerque bone-yard is becoming more active and friendly every day. One can’t begin to imagine what went into these two canines’ minds when they realized they had been abandoned.

This week’s wish list: we badly need canned dog and cat food. You are appreciated, Edith Matthew. this caring lady visited Desert Haven last Tuesday with her grand-daughter Gina. As their canned dog and cat food contribution was being unloaded, “Grand-Ma Edith” said: “It’s my Christmas contribution to Desert Haven”. Also we thank our supporters for Victoria, Texas. Their generous gift of several boxes of canned pet food and treats, directly ordered from Walmart, arrived with perfect timing. Our mailing address is: Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. You can also contact us at 575-894-1694, 894-2639 or weR4pets@gmail.com.

Week of 11/24 13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Desert Haven Thanksgiving Turkey 2013

Thanksgiving is being celebrated at Desert Haven Animal Refuge on the Tuesday before the traditional Thanksgiving Day. At lunch time, everyone gathers around the oversized dining room table in the main building. It’s a very pleasant time, not only because of the great pot-luck lunch that we get to enjoy together, but also because of what we at Desert haven, have in common: our love for animals and our desire to make a difference.

 Jim is originally from New York. He has work-camped at Desert Haven for the past four winters in a row. Charlotte and Gerald are from Louisiana. Charlotte is the sanctuary’s Animal Care & Adoptions Coordinator.

Charlotte with Sandy and Daisy

Mike and Laura are General Operations Coordinators at DHAR. They relocated here from Michigan over a year ago. Mike also handles maintenance & projects and Laura helps Eliana operate Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC. Kelly and Paul are from New England. They plan to help out at the sanctuary until Spring 2014. Aside from local resident Eliana, who has been actively involved with the Sierra County Humane Society since it organized in 1989, Rocky and Tim are also local folks who want to make a difference in the lives of animals. And what better way to do so, than helping care for the little rescues at a No-Kill sanctuary?

Vickie

Thanksgiving 2013 at Desert Haven! We can think of many reasons to be thankful! We make a strong team; we are connected to each-other by our love for animals and our desire to do something to help those in need. We are also thankful for the kind folks - some of them locals and others from throughout the US - who support our animal welfare organization and our no-kill domestic animal sanctuary in any way they can.

Visit Desert Haven on a Tuesday and spend quality time with some of the small residents. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. Chat with us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. You can also contact us at 575-894-1694, weR4pets@gmail.com and at: Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 11/16/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Forrest

 

This week, Desert Haven became home to two lucky dogs, literally! “Forrest” is a large size hound - an emaciated, wounded and arthritic “old guy”- recently rescued from the Gila Wilderness. The other is a young Chihuahua we named Gumbo. She was discovered by Tim, a local Desert Haven volunteer who was walking around a vehicle bone-yard near Albuquerque a couple of weeks ago. His eye caught the tiny dog curled-up on the torn seat of one of the junk vehicles. Fearful, she repeatedly refused to be caught. While checking out her surroundings, Tim soon realized why the frightened little dog kept coming back to the vehicle. She didn’t want to leave her little buddy’s side. His decomposing skin-and-bone body had obviously been stuck between the door and the passenger seat of the junk car for some time.

Tim rescuing Gumbo

It took an enormous amount of compassion and patience, several trips to the bone yard over a number of days, plenty of canned food and also a steel trap for Tim to get her safely into his car and on their way to Desert Haven. Common sense tells us that we can’t save them all. We saved two more this week: Forest and Gumbo. They will never be alone again. They will never be hungry, or hurt again, as long as they are under the care of the good hearted individuals who put their strong love for animals into action at the sanctuary.

Sweet littel girl - finally safe!

In my new bed!

This week’s wish list: canned dog and cat food, also monetary contributions to help offset the high costs of veterinary care for our most recent little rescues.








Desert Haven is open to visitors every Tuesday. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. You can also chat with us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe. Our mailing address is: Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. You can also contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.

Week of 11/10/13 Humne Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Steve unloads pet food donated by Walmart

 The holiday season is on its way. Especially at this time of the year, a large number of regional and national organizations send their Holiday Appeals to every American household they can reach through their numerous mailing lists. The results are obviously successful, or few of us would receive so many requests for donations to help this or that cause. It costs money to raise funds in such a professionally orchestrated manner. Where does that money come from? Of course, it is taken directly from the contribution that we so generously send to those organizations.

All of us who love animals want to help those in need. Some of us lack the time, so we send money to help care for them. For those of us who donate to out-of-town organizations, it would be wise to verify beforehand how much of our hard-earned contributed dollars is actually going towards making these animals’ life a little better.

The Sierra County Humane Society Board of Directors continues to make the most of the funds donated to benefit animals-in-need in our area. With this in mind, we choose not to utilize the professional services of companies who make money out of raising funds for organizations like ours. Our organization is proud to say that every contribution that it receives to help animals-in-need in our area, goes directly to them.

This week’s wish list: At Desert Haven, bird and sunflower seeds for our white and domesticated ring-neck doves, canned food and treats for our canines and felines. The sanctuary is open to visitors every Tuesday.

Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com. You can also chat with us at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

You appreciate our efforts to make a difference? Then get involved in some way with our animal welfare organization! Become a member! Volunteer at Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe or Desert Haven! Donate to help us care for local animals-in-need! Send your Holiday contribution to the Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. You can also contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com.

Week of 11/1/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Bullocks grocery store

 
This week, we are reminding our readers that the Bullocks Cash-for-Club program is still in effect. Bullocks receipts continue to be collected for the Sierra County Humane Society (SCHS) and Desert Haven Animal Refuge (DHAR), its No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary.

This is how it works: When you drop-off your Bullocks receipts in our collection boxes inside Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe, at the TorC public library or the Williamsburg post office, our 501-C-3 non-profit organization receive $2 per each one thousand dollars from redeemed Bullocks receipts. All the funds collected by our organization from the Bullocks receipts go towards our own Spay-Neuter and Spay-a-Stray programs. The local SCHS Spay-a-Stray program is tailored from the Trap-Neuter-Release program initiated years ago by Alley Cats Allies, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to help curb feral cat overpopulation all over the nation. Feral cats lucky enough to have someone willing and able to watch over them and provide them with food, water and shelter should be sterilized instead of being systematically trapped and destroyed at local animal shelters. The Trap-Neuter-Release program – AKA: Spay-a-Stray - has proven to be very successful in curbing feline overpopulation in Sierra County communities since the mid 1990’s, when our organization started the program locally.

 Bullocks receipts, aluminum cans, Doggie Banks and personal contributions help fund the Spay-a-Stray program. Our Cans Corral, adjacent to Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe in TorC, is the collection point for your aluminum cans. You can also drop-off your Bullocks receipts inside the shop during business hours, or in the Donation Box when the store is closed for business. Your donations towards the program can be sent to the Sierra County Humane Society, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

 Through our Adopt-a-Pet referral program, our organization helps you find a home for your no-longer-wanted pet, free of charge to you. Also through the program, you can adopt a pet directly from its owner. For more information, contact us at adoptapet4life@gmail.com or call us at 575-894-1694.

The sanctuary is open to visitors every Tuesday. To volunteer or contribute in some way, contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 10/27/13 Humane happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Desert Haven Animal Refuge

We are coming into the holiday season and caring individuals from all-over have already inquired about the wish-list of the Sierra County Humane Society & Desert Haven Animal Refuge. We always need large plastic bags and containers with our without lids, also cleaning supplies: Odorban, Pine Sol, Clorox bleach, work gloves, disposable Playtex gloves, sturdy scrubbing pads and brushes, dishwashing liquid, etc. In winter, the Desert Haven residents’ diet is supplemented with sunflower seeds in Birdland and canned food in DogTown and the Cool Cat Neighborhood. The local Walmart and other local businesses are generous to Desert Haven; Friends from all-over also routinely help supply our sanctuary with dry dog and cat food year ‘round. This allows us to concentrate our efforts on collecting much-needed canned dog and cat food, sunflower seeds, cracked corn and rabbit pellets to add to our little ones diet during the coldest months of the year.

Click the link for details on adopting Cassie

Desert Haven is routinely contacted by folks wanting to give-up a no-longer-wanted pet. Desert Haven is a private, non-profit, no-kill sanctuary with limited resources. It is neither financially nor physically able to take in every animal needing help. Common sense dictates the sanctuary policies on animal intake. An animal being adopted makes room for another in need. Most folks understand. Those who wish not to understand usually are the most vocal.

Sierra Animal Services is a for-profit business located on North Date Street in TorC. It is currently operating as the official animal shelter for Sierra County and not to be confused with the local Humane Society. The animal shelter operation is entirely funded by local taxpayers’ dollars. During business hours, an unwanted domestic animal can be dropped-off at the shelter, no fee and no questions asked, also no appointment needed.

Through our Adopt-a-pet-referral program, the Sierra County Humane Society also helps you find a home for your no-longer-wanted pet, free of charge to you. For more information, contact us at adoptapet4life@gmail.com or at 575-894-1694.

The sanctuary is open to visitors every Tuesday. To volunteer or contribute in some way, contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 10/20/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

This week, the Sierra County Humane Society wishes to thank Earl of San Francisco California and long-time anonymous benefactors from Victoria Texas, for answering our appeal for radiating heaters to keep the furry residents of the No-Kill animal sanctuary warm during the coldest winter nights.

Our little Vickie

 Vickie is the oldest canine resident of Dog Town. She came to us as a very small puppy, during the summer of 2003. She has been abandoned by her unscrupulous owner, together with a large number of other dogs and puppies in the middle of the desert around Cuchillo, NM. Just before law enforcement officers had the chance to visit the property after receiving complaints of hoarding and lack of proper sanitation there, the man hauled them off to the desert. Vickie survived her ordeal – barely - by walking all the way back to a house at the outskirts of the little town. The couple who discovered her brought her to the sanctuary.

Vickie

 

 Vickie is getting on in years now. Desert Haven is her home and she is everyone’s special little girl-dog. She and the other furry residents will benefit greatly from the generosity of our friends from California and Texas. We are grateful!


89 years old Edith Mathew visited the sanctuary on Tuesday, to drop-off several bags of dog food and bird seeds. Grand-daughter Gina Thomas and great-grand- son Daryl accompanied her. DHAR staff member Charlotte gave them a tour of the facility. “I am very glad I was able to do this (purchase pet food for the sanctuary residents)” said Edith before she left. What a grand lady!

Wish list for this week: Canned dog and cat food - Bird and sunflower seeds. Rabbit pellets – Odorban - Clorox bleach - Dishwashing liquid - Disposable rubber gloves. We also need volunteers at Desert Haven and P&C Thrift Shoppe.

The sanctuary is open for visitors every Tuesday. Enjoy a tour of the facility and take time to meet the furry & feathered residents and all the dedicated volunteers who care for them. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.

Week of 10/13/13 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Charlotte with Dusty Cat aka Flipper

We read of heartbreaks and sadness in this world. The evening news report sad stories with sad endings. Locally, The Sierra County Humane Society routinely deals with animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment. Dogs and cats are treated like throw-away items. Dogs are left behind, still chained in vacant back yards when their owners move. Cats are locked inside no-longer occupied houses. Volunteering for an animal welfare organization in this area can be emotionally demanding.

There is a silver lining we wish to share with our readers - a beautiful story and the most recent: a nice lady comes to Paws&Claws Thrift Shoppe and inquires about possibly donating some winter-bedding to Desert Haven, our organization No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary. She is invited to visit Desert Haven on a Tuesday when it is open to visitors. The following Tuesday, Keri- the nice lady - arrives at Desert Haven with the bedding, just as she promised. She receives the grand tour of the facility. It includes visiting the Neighborhood, home to the feline residents.

Dusty Cat aka Flipper

There, Keri's attention is soon directed towards a soft tan tabby known at the sanctuary as “Dusty-Cat”. He reminds her of one very special fur-kid she had shared her life with some years back. Her beloved kitty - “Flipper”- had gone out one day and never returned home. Keri tells how heartbroken she was and how she mourned the loss of Flipper.

Dusty-Cat comes to investigate the visitor. Another mention of Flipper and the little guy immediately jumps into her lap and starts begging for attention. He then grabs her hand with his front claws and pulls it close so he can give his routine soft “love bites”. The staff is no stranger to Dusty-Cat’s attention-begging habits. Keri’s heart stops: Dusty-Cat not only looks like Flipper, but he also displays the exact-same habits of her long-lost beloved Flipper. Could it be? Could Dusty-Cat be Flipper? His file is opened: “2009 - a friendly stray, who came to stay", it says. More time is shared between Keri and Dusty-Cat-Flipper. Everyone now is convinced: Dusty-Cat is indeed Flipper. How he survived in the desert, walked over six miles to the sanctuary grounds? Only Flipper knows!

Charlotte cuddles Dusty Cat aka Flipper

We need volunteers at Desert Haven and P&C Thrift Shoppe. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge.com, www.Facebook.com/deserthaven and www.facebook.com/pawsnclawsthriftshoppe.