Author Archives: Rikki's Refuge

About Rikki's Refuge

Supported entirely by donations from kind and loving individuals, Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 450 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals. The refuge is home to over 1200 animals of over 20 different species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, emus, chickens, ducks, geese, a chukar, peacocks, and more. It is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. an approved not-for profit Virginia Corporation and IRS tax code 501(c)(3) corporation as determined by the IRS. Federal Tax-ID number 54-1911042. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Who is Betty?

Betty talkThis is Betty – if you have been out to Rikki’s for a visit, you for sure have met this lovely lady. She likes to supervise her area of the tour! Betty came to us from New York City. She was roaming the streets and a call went out for Animal Control to pick up this poor lost kitty. Well Betty was not impressed. She snarled and tried to elude the officer. She was finally caught on the end of a rabies pole. That’s a long handle with a nose on the end that you can get around an animals neck, keep them secure and keep them at a distance so they can’t bite you. It’s used as a last resort when catching an animal, or when one fears the animal will bite. Well …. Betty, once again, wasn’t impressed. When the officer got her into a cage and was attempting to remove the noose … Betty bit. That’s called a provoked bite in the animal biz. I mean, really, come on, if the aliens dropped in, chased you down, noosed you, tried to put you in a cage ….. would you fight for your life? Would you bite? At any rate, the rules are the rules and any animal that bites may not be adopted back out into the city. It may be taken by a rescue organization that is out of state. But it will not be allowed to live in the state.Betty cat stunning and beautiful
And so Betty sat on death row. Two things saved her life for a few days, long enough for that second chance to happen. Being a stray she couldn’t be killed right away, there is a period of time an animal must be held to give the owner a chance to find it. This varies from 24 hours in some places to 10 days in others. And she was on a quarantine hold because she bit. So in that cage she would sit, for ten long frightening days, as she saw the others being taken from the death row cages and killed. Can you imagine how that must feel? Some one at the shelter fell in love with her. They were desperate to save her. They knew somebody who’d heard of us from a friend who’d visited ….. and they sent an email asking if she could come live with us.Betty cat
We specialize in critters with issues. The rejects of society. The ones nobody wants. The ones who have thumbed their nose at hooman society and will likely be put to death for their comment.
And so shortly after Betty got out of bite quarantine, we signed all the waivers about a dangerous biting cat, and Betty got into a carrier and her rescuer drove her to Rikki’s Refuge.
While she was doing her quarantine here she was restless. No matter where you are coming from, when you come on the property you have to go thru a quarantine here. We make sure you’re up to date on everything and you have no nasty worms or fleas or anything to spread around. I know it’s scary to get out of a cage in one place, and have to be in another one here for two weeks. But it’s one of those lesser of the two evil things we have to do. It protects everyone. Our quarantine is as friendly as it can be. They have a spacious building, with big windows, all cages have a window view, where they can look out and watch the other residents. They usually feel the peace and joy here, none of that terror in so many pounds, the joy of animals who’ve found a real home, a place they can call home forever, a place they are appreciated, not just counted off as one more number. A place they aren’t seeing others frightened and dying.
This quarantine period also gives us a chance to get to know our new residents. To learn their purrsonality. To figure out where they will be happiest living. Would they want to be adopted to a regular home? Do they want to live in a cat house with other kitty friends? Are they mascot, free range, material? Do they want to be near people or not? Betty was lovely. Though we’d made note to be cautious she may be a biter, we never say any aggressive moves. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Before she’d arrived, they’d given her the name Bitey. It was after we got to know her better that she became Betty. I think she likes that better.
Anyway Betty hates being confined. Is it because of her ordeal on death row? Or had she always grown up in the streets in New York City? Who knows, she’s not talking much about her past life. Once she was able to be free range on the refuge, she glowed with happiness and peace!  She can often be found napping and just enjoying life.  Betty nap napping
At Rikki’s she loves being a free range mascot. She’s made herself a special net in our tool shop. Almost every out building here has a kitty door. That’s because once upon a time a long time ago, somebody was missing for dinner one night. We searched and we called and we were really upset. We finally found him in the tool shop. Somebody had been working, and the kitties love to help with all the chores, and he’d found a nice place to take a nap …. and been shut in. So to keep that from ever happening again, we put kitty doors everywhere.
Betty doesn’t like other cats too close to her territory and she patrols her area. She loves the cows and the horses and the donkey, especially the donkey. She loves spending time with them. And she loves visitors. Betty cat and new young friendDSCN8165She will only come in the 9th Life Center a couple nights a year when it’s really cold … like below zero. Other than that, she says “thank you but no thank you, I’ve got a purrfectly fine and beautiful thick coat and I’m happy right here !!”
Next time you are at Rikki’s, be sure to say hi to Betty – and feel free to bring treats – she loves Temptations!  LOL

Inseparable Sisters

Reeses and Buttercup greeting a visitor before they even get out of the car!

Reeses and Buttercup greeting a visitor before they even get out of the car!

Inseparable sisters …. Reeses and Buttercup…..when their owner moved and couldn’t keep them their options were slim … most folks responding to the ad on Craigslist wanted some goat for dinner. They are happy, happy free range goats at Rikki’s Refuge now! They love it when folks bring treats and are curious about all the happenings on the refuge!!

Wiggly goat butts

Wiggly goat butts

Mouky’s Story – An Egyptian Prince

Meet Mouky.

Mouky

Mouky

He was living on the streets of Cairo, Egypt and was seriously injured. Probably hit by a vehicle. He lost the use of his hind legs. The rescue who took him and the vets available to them were not equipped to provide the care he needed to be able to walk again. He was very thin, his hind legs were drawn up, muscles atrophied, and sores on his thighs where he drug himself around on a rough floor. He was very loved by his caretakers but in pretty rough shape!

Mouky 2015

Mouky 2015

Arrangements were made and Mouky was flown to Dulles Airport, where he was picked up and brought to Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary in September of 2015!

Mouky 2015

Mouky 2015

He immediately started getting several sessions of physical therapy and massage every single day. He started kicking and trying to stand. Within two months of being here, he started walking and RUNNING and can now even JUMP up on things!

Physical Therapy 2015

Physical Therapy 2015

Mouky climbing!

Mouky climbing!

Still today, three years later, he occasionally gets tired and his hind legs get a bit wobbly, but he just takes a quick rest and he is back in business!

Mouky 2018

Mouky 2018

He is a happy, happy boy and has made lots of new friends – both feline and human – at Rikki’s!! We love this Egyptian prince of ours!!

Mouky sharing breakfast goodies with his caretakers.

Mouky sharing breakfast goodies with his caretakers.

 
 

EVERY MEAL

EVERY MEAL!!!

Time for nums!!

Time for nums!!

Did you know that EVERY meal, for EVERY animal, EVERY SINGLE DAY here at Rikki’s Refuge, is provided by donations from YOU, our caring, generous, and AMAZING supporters!

www,RikkisRefuge.org/FeedMeeat eating every meal goat geese turkey cracked corneat every meal cats guinea fowlevery meal cat cats eat eating

THANK YOU!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/feedme
Paypal: mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Mail a check or money order: PO Box 1357, Orange VA. 22960

Meet Scarface

Meet SCARFACE:
Scarface

Scarface

Poor Scarface is exactly that, with a face covered in old scars and cuts. BUT this boy has a spirit that is indomitable. Born sometime in the fall of 2015 in the country of Qatar, Scarface is approximately 3 years old. Scarface had a very sad early life until he was finally rescued by an angel from Paws Rescue Qatar in July 2016. He turned up one day to seek refuge in the residential compound she lived in, severely beaten up. Our PAWS angel started to feed him, gained his trust until she was finally able to treat his wounds. He spent his time recuperating in the angel’s car port and with time and without threats from other street cats, his wounds healed. He became friendly and despite testing positive for FIV, Scarface made a remarkable recovery.
Qatar cat scarface portrait faceThe compound was not an animal friendly one, so even though he was safe from other cats beating him up, his life was threatened with human abuses including food poisoning. {shudder} For his own safety, he was moved to the Paws Rescue Qatar retreat living in the friendlies’ communal room with other friendly cats and the retreat’s resident rabbit. Despite his former life as a street cat, Scarface is now incredibly sociable and is always the first one to run up to people for cuddles. Scarface tolerates other cats and is never aggressive with them. He lives happily with them but keeps his distance. He isn’t one to curl up with them but is happy to be around them. He will tell them when they are too close and the worst he does is the odd tap to the head. LOL – scary right? Here at Rikki’s Refuge, Scarface is a favorite of the staff and is just a really pleasant dude!
**Because you always support our mission, we are able to say YES to bringing Scarface into Rikki’s Refuge! THANK YOU!

HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW, BRIGHT, HAPPY FENCE AT RIKKI’S REFUGE??

This is the road that leads to Rikki's Refuge...

This is the road that leads to Rikki’s Refuge…

Symbols. Our culture abounds with symbols. Some stir feelings of patriotism and love of country, like our American flag. Some bring to mind feelings of home, warmth and love, like mom’s apple pie. Some make us chuckle, some make us cry. Some last for decades, some disappear after a period of time.

And some are forever.

Rainbows, from their earliest sightings, have always been messengers of a promise of new life, renewal, another chance, safety, love and good luck. Some call it God’s promise, some call it merely refracted light that appears after a rain. At Rikki’s Refuge, we call it a promise of a new life and a lot of love.

If you have driven on Route 20 in recent months, you probably have seen the tired old weather-beaten, formerly white fence on the corner of 20 and Quarter Horse Lane change to all the colors of the rainbow. People have asked us, “Why the rainbow?”

Many of the 1,300 animals who call the refuge home have come to us from a variety of sad circumstances. Some were surrendered to shelters because they were now too old to play, because they had developed a chronic condition that required medical care and treatment and the owners didn’t want to be bothered. Some were born with missing paws, limbs, blind or deaf and considered unadoptable. Some have come out of abusive situations. Some were surrendered because of financial difficulties or because a spouse or partner demanded the animal be given up. Rikki’s Refuge is a no-kill animal sanctuary where these animals will live out their lives, surrounded by love and care. For them, it is their “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow.

One of our volunteers was driving past Rikki’s one late afternoon and thought how sad the fence looked. It really needed some TLC, not to mention a good coat of paint! She suddenly saw it painted all the colors of the rainbow. Nora Eldridge said, “Rainbows belong to everybody. No one can claim exclusive rights and the concept just fits with what we do at Rikki’s. I talked with Kerry Hilliard, the executive director of Rikki’s Refuge, Paul Erhard and Cynthia Wright, two of our other volunteers, that evening. They were all immediately on board with the idea and we just ran with it.”

The painting crew on any given Saturday!

The painting crew on any given Saturday!

The project got underway on Saturday, March 17th. The entire fence has to be wire-brushed to remove the old, loose paint and brushed to take off the dirt. Nora said, “We started at the far corner of route 20 that day and got rained on. That forced us to stop, but we picked it up the following week. That section was brushed, repaired where needed and painted in pretty short order. We painted to the front gate, then moved across the driveway to the triangle section and are now tackling the main part – down the driveway. It’s a big job and if anyone is interested in helping, come on out! We’re there every Saturday, weather permitting.”

The gates have been spray painted rainbow colors to follow the theme. Ron Herfurth, another volunteer who also does a great deal of work at the refuge, took on that task of beautifying the gates. There are big plans for a triangle of land across from the gate, too.  Nora explained, “We have about 7,200 square feet to work with. Four of us are collaborating on this and we’ll finalize what’s going to be planted there very soon. It’s going to be beautiful!”

Volunteer Ron painting the gates too!!

Volunteer Ron painting the gates too!!

“The fence is being painted mainly by Rikki’s volunteers. Paul and Cynthia decided to move to Orange after they had retired because of the small-town friendly ambiance and the slower, quieter pace than northern Virginia has. It also helps that Rikki’s is in close proximity, so it’s much easier to pitch in with the projects there,” Nora said. “I still have my massage therapy practice in Spotsylvania, which I’ll be closing next year. Then I plan to move to Orange, too. I’m looking forward to living in this friendly town. The three of us have been working hard on this fence and it’s very satisfying to watch the progress.”

She went on to explain, “The fence will be painted to the end of the pasture, by the house. We’re having a wishing well on the lawn.” And, yes, there will be that pot of gold hanging in it. “Kids like to toss coins into fountains and buckets and so do a lot of adults. People who visit for tours and events are welcome to make their wishes and toss in whatever they please. It all goes to care for the animals.”

When the animals come to their new home, they’ll drive through the forget-me-not purple gate, past the blooming flowers and trees, down the driveway and along the rainbow. They’ll end at the sanctuary, where they’ll be evaluated, tested for any diseases and taken care of until they can join their population in their particular neighborhood. They’ll live out their lives in peace, security and love.

We call that finding your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

If you would like to help with the fence, come on out on any Saturday. This is weather-permitting, so if you want to know if we are working that day, please call either Nora (540-729-2797) or Paul (703-973-5487).FENCE PAINTING JULY 2018 - REVISED (1)

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – Workplace Giving

It’s that time of year again when federal employees, as well as Commonwealth of Virginia employees can sign up to help the animals of Rikki’s Refuge with Workplace Giving (CFC and CVC):
CFC
cfc 2017
Did you know if you’re a federal employee you can give to Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)? You can also use our CFC# to give to Rikki’s Refuge through the United Way, no matter where you’re employed! Your decision to help us really means the world!!
RIKKI’S REFUGE is LIFE UNLIMITED OF VIRGINIA, INC through the CFC #77674
 
 
CVC
cvc 2017
Did you know if you’re a state employee of Virginia, that you can give to Rikki’s Refuge through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign?
RIKKI’S REFUGE is LIFE UNLIMITED OF VIRGINIA, INC through the CVC #003163
 

Meet Baby Julian

Have you met Baby Julian?

Julian - one of the cutest lambs ever!!

Julian – one of the cutest lambs ever!!

This adorable young boy was born in February of this year.  He is a Katahdin sheep and he was part of an agricultural / pre-veterinary program and when the semester ended, because he was a male, he would have been culled / headed to slaughter.

Baby Milo at a few weeks old with his savior, Gracie.

Baby Milo at a few weeks old with his savior, Gracie.

The young lady who helped bring him into this world raised the money to purchase young Milo from the program and then reached out to Rikki’s Refuge to see if we could take him. Isn’t that amazing of this young lady?  And of course we said yes!

Next time you are at Rikki’s Refuge, be sure to stop by and say hello to this cutie.  He loves visitors and treats.  His personality will absolutely make you smile!!

Tours@RikkisRefuge.org

PIGS, PIGS, PIGS

Jack, Janet & Chrissy

Jack, Janet & Chrissy

Loretta loves a good  mud bath!!We love our pigs at Rikki’s Refuge!! Right now we have 7 farm pigs and 30+ potbelly pigs! How do we get so many potbellies? Sadly, these wonderful little creatures are sold as babies and advertised as mini pigs and, well …
Papa Pig

Papa Pig

That’s right … even itty bitty baby piggies …. even the itty bitty teeny weenie miniature kind … grow up to be piggies of at least 150 pounds …. I mean when you compare it to a full grown regular size farm pig at 1200 pounds …. ya know … 150 pounds IS itty bitty. Some of our little pigs are actually over 200 pounds!!

Fun times at Piggy Paradise

Fun times at Piggy Paradise

It’s just not what people are thinking “miniature” means. But 1/10 the size of a regular item is considered “miniature” on the global scheme of things.

Rosie!

Rosie!

AND if you get two adorable itty bitty little piggies ….. and you don’t spay and neuter them … Guess What? Just like kitties and doggies …. and well any creature …. pretty soon you end up with a lot more than the Three Little Piggies …..

One of our guests, Ethan, is truly a pig whisperer!!

One of our guests, Ethan, is truly a pig whisperer!!

And that seems to be about the time people call Rikki’s Refuge hysterical … but I didn’t know a miniature pig would be THIS big …. and I don’t know how it happened (really, you missed biology in high school?) but my pig just had a WHOLE litter of babies …..Elmer pig cute face laughing talking
And that’s how piggies find their way to a wonderful forever home where they are allowed to be the piggies they were born to be … at Rikki’s Refuge!

COME CELEBRATE 20 YEARS at RIKKI’S REFUGE

Family Members, Donors, Volunteers, and Sponsors are invited to join us on October 13, 2018 from noon – 4 pm at our Vincent D. Cat Memorial Life Center to celebrate our birthday and see the good work that YOU have done and visit the animals that YOU have saved !SIZED Birthday Rikki's 20Bring fresh fruits and vegetables to feed the horses, cows, sheep, goats and pigs (over the fence at the Life Center) as you stroll about.  Mingle with the cats at the Life Center and the dogs who will be strolling about on leash.

Special behind the scene tours at the Refuge where many roam free for Rikki’s Family Members ONLY.  Don’t know your ID number?  Want to become a Rikki’s Family Member?  Just ask.  BUT be sure you contact us in advance for behind the scene safety details, including ages permitted, dress code, walking distances, etc.  We must keep EVERYONE safe as you interact UP CLOSE with the animals behind the scenes in a wild safari setting!  E-mail Events@RikkisRefuge.org for details.

Cake Cutting at 2 pm while founder, Kerry Hilliard, speaks about the first 20 years !
Please let us know well in advance if YOU want some cake.  E-mail Events@RikkisRefuge.org so we have enough for YOU !

If you can’t make it but would love to send a Happy Birthday gift to Rikki’s Refuge, you can use this link!!