Paws for Prayers Twice daily Kerry sends out a special prayer for all of Rikki's' animals, for everyone who makes Rikki's possible and for those they share their lives with and care for all the animals of the world. If you'd like a special mention in Rikki's prayers for you or a loved one (number of legs inconsequential) please let her know and she will be happy to include them.

Memorials

Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005
Read Pope John Paul II's story about the "Homeless cats". This story has been widely circulated around the internet and is a favorite among those who work with animals.

Louise Arnold Hilliard, 1925 - 2004
A memorial tribute is available in PDF format. You can learn more about Louise's life with Rikki and how her love of animals inspired the creation of Rikki's Refuge, a sanctuary where over 2,000 animals have already found safe harbor.

Robert S. Darby, III
On Tuesday, December 5, 2006. Treasured son of Margaret Darby; invaluable brother of Carole Darby; cherished grandson of Mr. and Mrs. F. Sheild McCandlish. Memorial contributions in his name can be sent to: Rikki's Refuge, P.O. Box 1357, Orange, VA 22960 or The Alzheimer's Association, 11240 Waples Mill Road, Suite 402, Fairfax, VA 22020. The Rob Darby Memorial Fund will be used to protect the wilderness and it’s animals that Rob so dearly loved. He was a very special young man, one of the kindest souls you’d ever expect to meet, ready to reach out and give anyone a hand if they needed it. He was here for the animals, and he was here for the people. He helped protect the woods, the animals, and the people of Rikki's Refuge. He's the guy the local poachers hated, but our wildlife loved. Rob, when you raced over the Rainbow Bridge on your ATV there were lots of Rikki’s critters waiting to greet you. Bless you and may your family and friends remember the good times.

Allen Cooperman

Allen Cooperman was an extraordinary, generous, caring person--always going out of his way to help people and animals at the store he managed--Pet Needs, at 4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW. With his customers, he was intensely service-oriented, constantly looking for ways to get items they asked for, showing them new products that might be useful or giving them interesting information he found on the internet. Allen was always thinking of others. For six years, he worked hard with owner Tim McGuire to provide high quality pet food and products through Pet Pantry. When the business changed hands a year ago, he worked overtime to develop Pet Needs into a resource that benefited all customers. The store was his life and he did an excellent job making it helpful and vibrant. He is irreplaceable and I will miss him greatly. What a terrible tragedy he died so young (at 57) of pneumonia and that those who tried to save his life were unsuccessful.

Condolences to his family may be sent to Allen's sister and her husband:
Richard and Kathy Berman, 172 New Mark Esplanade, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

If anyone wants to make a contribution in honor of Allen, they can consult his family or make it to one of the animal rescue organizations he was always supporting, such as Rikkis Refuge in Orange, Virginia
and the Washington Humane Society were alive today, Allen would undoubtedly be helping Ritchie's Shelter in
Virginia, which suffered a devastating fire last night: (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/WV22.html) .

Mary Rowse