Category Archives: Uncategorized

December 8, 2023 – Rikki’s Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, look what came to Rikki’s,

eight kicking kittens,

Rikki’s Refuge is a sanctuary for the animals who are adoption challenged. Usually that means they are older, they have medical or behavioral issues. We reserve our space for those who need a place for life. Adoption to a good home is a wonderful thing and there are so many organizations who specialize in adoptions. But very few have the space to provide homes for the thousands of animals that are adoption challenged.

So we don’t see many kittens at Rikki’s Refuge. The ones that do come to us often have feline leukemia, which will likely shorten their natural lives. Though with the right care, many can live long healthy lives, especially if they caught it later in life. Kittens born with feline leukemia, because their mother was infected, often don’t live long, sometimes only months. But is it better to spend maybe 6 or 18 months happy, loved, playing with friends …. or to just be murdered because it’s likely your natural life wouldn’t have been long? There is no suffering, no pain, just a poor immune system and often sudden organ failure. No one lives forever. We never know how long any one of us will live. But is it better to live a short life happy than to be murdered early?

At Rikki’s Refuge we sure think being given the chance of life is the best option. That’s why we’re here. To allow everyone, no matter their species, to live a full natural life in peace and happiness, loved and surrounded by friends. What more could anyone want?

In addition to cats/kittens with feline leukemia, we have with FIV, feral cats who for what ever reason could not be part of a TNR colony, elderly cats, cats with diabetes, kidney disease, other medical issues, cats who are handicapped, blind, deaf, and on and on. And they all are loved and cared for at Rikki’s Refuge. All 587 of them !!! And YES, we are at capacity! We can only accept new residents when one passes on. Unlike most shelters, we don’t kill to make room for more.

And caring for them for life can be quite expensive. Won’t you help out with a gift of some cat food, or the cost of a vet visit? Thank you for supporting the adoption challenged cats at Rikki’s Refuge www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate or see other options for donating below.

The kittens featured today were known as the Three Musketeers. They were brothers. One was blind. He was going to be killed for his handicap. His two brothers were always by his side. One on each side. Protecting him, heading him around while they played, helping him to the litterbox and food dish. Rikki’s was asked if they could take the blind kitten, and then they told us how they didn’t know if he’d do well without his brothers. We said they all have to come, you cannot separate that family. That poor little blind kitten needed his brothers. And so all three joined us at Rikki’s Refuge.

We advertised them for adoption, as a group only. Someone called and really wanted the blind kitten. She’d had a blind cat before and he’s recently passed on, and he was orange too. She came out to meet them, and loved them all, but was hesitant to adopt the whole package. But she began to volunteer and every day she played with the Three Musketeers and before long her heart grew big enough to adopt all three !!!

Everybody has a happy ending at Rikki’s Refuge!

Please make your tax deductible contribution by going to our website
https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Square https://RR-square.shorturl.com
Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

#RikkisRefuge
#RikkisRefugeAnimalSanctuary

December 7, 2023 – Rikki’s Seventh Day of Christmas

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, look what came to Rikki’s,

seven guinea fowl freeloading,

Guinea Fowl are amazing birds. They are the peace keepers at Rikki’s Refuge. If a cat thinks about chasing a songbird, the guinea scream and circle the cat and chase it away. If a dog gets mad at another dog and fight starts, the guineas run screaming and jump on the dogs to break it up. When a rooster gets aggressive, the guineas are there to protect the hens. Boats butting heads? The guineas are right there breaking it up !!!

They are fabulous guard dogs too. Nobody but nobody will ever sneak up on you with guineas around. They can out scream anybody with their gooo-baaaack-goooo-baaaack-gooo-baaaack screeching. They are also wonderful for tick control, yummy ticks are their favorite snack. And we all appreciate.

With the tick supply down for the winter, the guineas need chicken crumbles, bird seed and corn for a good healthy diet. It’s $12.99 for sack big enough to feed all the guineas for a week. Will YOU help them eat?


six lizards a lazing,
five guinea pigs a gnawing,
four elderly equines,
three burly bossy bovines,
two rabbits a mating,
and a chukar in a cherry tree.

Please make your tax deductible contribution by going to our website
https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Square https://RR-square.shorturl.com
Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

#RikkisRefuge
#RikkisRefugeAnimalSanctuary

December 4, 2023 – Rikki’s Fourth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, look what came to Rikki’s,

four elderly equines,
three burly bossy bovines,
two rabbits a mating,
and a chukar in a cherry tree.


Today we have 13 elderly horses,

1 elderly mini horse and

2 donkeys !

And it costs a LOT to feed them all winter long. Well, really, every day all year round !! They elderly ones need special senior equine food and it’s gone up to $23.50 a bag. The donkeys are special needs and need food that costs a little more.

Would you consider donating a bag of feed for one of our equines this holiday season?

Please make your tax deductible contribution by going to our website
https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Square https://RR-square.shorturl.com
Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

#RikkisRefuge
#RikkisRefugeAnimalSanctuary

December 2, 2023 – MY WHAT A FOGGY MORNING !!

MY WHAT A FOGGY MORNING !!

But we’re happy to trade the well below freezing mornings for warmer fog today !

Fog adds a whole other level of complication and time to morning head count.

Every morning and every evening every resident has to pass a quick health check. When you take care of animals, you need to know the instant someone isn’t feeling well so they can get what they need right away. Making eye contact and checking each one’s demeanor is the quickest way to see if something is slightly off. The hoomans know every animal, their personality, how they act, what’s usual and what seems off. It’s a lot easier when you can clearly see them with your headlamps, but in the fog … oh my !!!

YOUR tax deductible contribution makes it possible for the animals to have the best care
https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Square https://RR-square.shorturl.com
Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

#RikkisRefuge

December 1, 2023 — Rikki’s First Day Of Christmas

On the First Day of Christmas, look what came to Rikki’s,

a chukar in a cherry tree.

We rescued three more chukars in November.

Chukars are ground dwelling birds, they’d rather run and hide than fly to escape danger. Apparently this makes them popular with hunt clubs. They’re often used as bait to train dogs on. And for canned hunts, where they’re raised captive, and then suddenly released for the hunt. Not having been in the wild, they don’t know how to protect themselves from predators, human or dog. Most are killed. A few escape with injuries. Very few escape to survive in the wild. Most of the chukars who live with us now had been injured and left to die. Thankfully these three new ones are healing well, and will live a safe protected life here at Rikki’s Refuge in Chukar Chalet.

YOUR support helps animals like Chad, Cyrus and Caroline LIVE. It pays for the wound care, emotional support during their healing, and their daily care, food and housing for the rest of their natural and happy lives.

Please think about a $25 gift to Rikki’s Refuge Chukar Chalet.

Please make your tax deductible contribution by going to our website
https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
Square https://RR-square.shorturl.com
Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

#RikkisRefuge