Yesterday was a sad day at Rikki’s Refuge. We suddenly and unexpectedly lost one of our beloved kitties, Yetti, a resident at the Rikki’s Refuge Life Center. She was a sweet gal and she will really be missed. Rest in peace, little one, rest in peace. 

Hey, kids! If you are ages 6-11 and love animals and reading, we’d love to have you at our Kitty Litter-Ature program. This month we will meet on March 21 from 10am-noon. We will read to and with the animals at the Life Center. Will we see you there? For more information or to RSVP, please email tours@rikkisrefuge.org OR lollyb65@gmail.com

Thanks to Ron Herfurth for our new sign at the Vincent D. Cat Life Center! Love it! 

Today (Friday, March 6, 2015) is……EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY!

THANK YOU RIKKI’S REFUGE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS! WE APPRECIATE YOU!

THIS WEEK’S SATURDAY DONATION DROP-OFF 3/7/15
Here’s what we need: URGENT NEED FOR CANNED DOG FOOD, Brooms, Paper Towels, Laundry Soap, Dish Soap. Mop Heads, Large Heavy Duty Trash Bag, Scrub Sponges, Disinfectant Spray Bottles
How you can help——-
1. DONATION DROP OFF SATURDAY NOON-2:00:
Rikki’s Refuge Life Center – 21410 Constitution Hwy. – Rapidan, VA. 22733
2. DROP OFF AT RETAIL:
You may also leave donations for Rikki’s Refuge at Re-Tail in Fredericksburg any time during normal business hours, if this is more convenient for you! RETAIL 3503 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA. 22408
3. ON OUR WEB SITE:
To give electronically: https://www.rikkisrefuge.org/feedme
4. AT OPIE’S STORE:
Shop at OPIE’S CORNER STORE: http://astore.amazon.com/wwwrikkisrefu-20
5. AMAZON WISH LIST:
Rikki’s Amazon Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/126FNLHBB9AGA/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v
6. PAYPAL:
mail@rikkisrefuge.org
7. MAIL A DONATION:
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange, VA. 22960

**ALL HANDS ON DECK! Volunteer Day at Rikki’s on Saturday, March 7. BYOS = Bring Your Own Shovel!
**Who wants to come and help shovel up the poop that the ice and snow is leaving behind? We’ve got an estimated 6,000 pounds on the ground right now …. good thing it’s spread out over a BIG area, huh??? Seriously, though, HELP? I’ll be supervising. Love, Opie
**If you can help, email my friend Lolly at
lollyb65@gmail for more details!

Today (Sunday, March 1, 2015) is……NATIONAL PIG DAY!

Pigs are extraordinarily intelligent. They are curious and insightful animals who are widely accepted as being smarter than young children of at least 3 years of age, dogs, and even some primates. Pigs are extremely social animals. They form close bonds with other individuals and love close contact and lying down together. Pigs are very clean, keeping their toilet area far away from where they lie down and eat. Even newborn piglets will leave the nest to go to the toilet within hours of birth. Pigs are very peaceful animals, rarely showing aggression. The exception, as with many animals, is when a mother (sow) with her young offspring is provoked or threatened. Wild pigs play an important role in managing ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity. By rooting, and thus disturbing the soil, they create areas for new plant colonisation. They also spread fruit plants by dispersing their seeds. Pigs have a tremendous sense of smell. The large round disk of cartilage at the tip of the snout is connected to muscle that gives it extra flexibility and strength for rooting in the ground. Winston Churchill famously said that “Dogs look up to man. Cats look down to man. Pigs look us straight in the eye and see an equal.” There are numerous stories of pigs that have saved the lives of humans. For example, a pet pig called Pru pulled her owner out of a muddy bog, and another, Priscilla, saved a young boy from drowning. The pig is the last of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. The pig is seen to represent, fortune, honesty, and happiness.

RIKKI’S REFUGE PIGS – WISH LIST
TO DONATE: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/feedme
AMAZON WISH LIST: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/126FNLHBB9AGA/ref=topnav_lists_1
1. Salt block to lick ($5.99 for a big block)
2. Bread, a truck full, most day old bakery shops will sell you a whole pick up truck load for only $10 ($10 buys a pick up truck of bread)
3. Fresh produce by the truck load, pumpkins, strawberries for Claire, anything, fruits and veggies, corn on the cob, -find left overs at your local store ($1 buys a pound, $200 buys a pick up truck full and a serious meal)
4. Grain, soy, oats, corn, sweet feed, we’re not picky but we eat 50 pounds a day ($7.99 buys one day of grain)
5. Worker to feed and clean up after us ($50 buys one worker for one day)
6. Big houses, usually called calf houses ($250 buys one)
7. Cover our vet bills and preventative care (you pick the amount you want to spend, $10 covers a good worming, $1,000 a serious health problem)
8. Go vegetarian for day and save our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters (cost to you – nothing but better health)
SUPPORT ONE PIG FOR A QUARTER ($69)
SUPPORT ONE PIG FOR A YEAR ($275)

If we are to have real peace, we must begin with the children.
(Mahatma Gandhi)

Every meal, for every animal at Rikki’s Refuge, every single day, is provided by donations from YOU, our caring supporters! THANK YOU!

To Give: www.rikkisrefuge.org/feedme
Paypal: mail@rikkisrefuge.org
Amazon Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/126FNLHBB9AGA/ref=topnav_lists_1
Opie’s Corner Store: http://astore.amazon.com/wwwrikkisrefu-20
Mail a check or money order: PO Box 1357, Orange VA. 22960

Celebrate National Pig Day not just today on March 1, but everywhere and every day by showing them love all year round! Go vegetarian/vegan and the pigs will thank you!

At Rikki’s Refuge, our beloved pigs are treasured and they will live out their lives here at Rikki’s surrounded by love.

THIS WEEK’S SATURDAY DONATION DROP-OFF 2/28/15

Here’s what we need: URGENT NEED FOR CANNED DOG FOOD, Paper Towels, Spray Bottles, Dish Soap, Large Heavy Duty Trash Bags, Laundry Detergent.

How you can help——-

1. DONATION DROP OFF SATURDAY NOON-2:00:
Rikki’s Refuge Life Center – 21410 Constitution Hwy. – Rapidan, VA. 22733

2. DROP OFF AT RETAIL:
You may also leave donations for Rikki’s Refuge at Re-Tail in Fredericksburg any time during normal business hours, if this is more convenient for you! RETAIL 3503 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA. 22408

3. ON OUR WEB SITE:
To give electronically: http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/feedme

4. AT OPIE’S STORE:
Shop at OPIE’S CORNER STORE: http://astore.amazon.com/wwwrikkisrefu-20

5. AMAZON WISH LIST:
Rikki’s Amazon Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/126FNLHBB9AGA/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v?
6. PAYPAL:
mail@rikkisrefuge.org

7. MAIL A DONATION:
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange, VA. 22960