Rikki’s Refuge was at the Fredericksburg Pet Show Saturday/Sunday September 19/20, 2014 at the Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center! We had an awesome time! Thank you to all our visitors and volunteers!

You can learn more about the Fredericksburg Pet Show here: 

1. On the Web: http://www.fredericksburgpetshow.com/

2.. On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredericksburgPetShow

Sharing a few photos:

You can see the rest of our photos from the Fredericksburg Pet Show at any or all of the following links:

1. On FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152262100517391.1073741879.169651012390&type=3

2. On FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rikkis_refuge/sets/72157647891029112/

3. On PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/RikkisRefuge/fredericksburg-pet-show-september-2021-2014/

CREAMY WILD RICE AND MUSHROOM SOUP

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 c. celery, chopped
1 c. carrots, chopped
1 medium shallot, chopped
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
salt + pepper to taste
1/3 c. white wine
1 tsp. dried thyme
4 c. vegetable broth
1 c. instant or quick-cooking wild rice
3/4 c. Tofutti Sour Supreme
(or any vegan sour cream substitute of your choice)
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add mushrooms, celery, carrots, and shallot and cook, stirring often, until softened (5-7 minutes). Stir in flour, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add white wine and thyme; increase heat to medium-high and cook 2 minutes more. Add broth to Dutch oven and bring to a boil. If you’re using instant rice, add it now and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until rice is tender, 5-7 minutes, then stir in sour supreme and parsley.

If you’d like to use non-instant wild rice, cook 1 cup according to the package instructions and stir it into the soup at the end of cooking time.

JOB OPENINGS!
MUST APPLY IN PERSON ON SATURDAYS PROMPTLY AT NOON!
(Bring your resume and references with you!)
Rikki’s Refuge in Rapidan, VA. has jobs available!
Compensation $9 an hour during training and $10 thereafter.
Full Time
The positions are for animal sanctuary caretakers that are responsible for the daily feeding of 1200+ animals of 22 species at the refuge. Duties also include daily clean-up (yes, that includes poop scooping!), maintenance/clean-up of refuge structures and facilities, yard work, and hauling/stocking heavy feed bags, cases of food, litter pails, etc. Must follow direction well and be a team player! This is a physically demanding job and requires the ability to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Must be available on weekends and holidays!
Interested candidates MUST APPLY IN PERSON on SATURDAYS promptly at NOON at the RIKKI’S REFUGE EDUCATION CENTER, 21410 Constitution Hwy., Rapidan. VA. 22733. Experience with animals is preferred, but we will train the right person!
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RIKKI’S REFUGE EDUCATION CENTER
Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc.
21410 Constitution Hwy.
Rapidan, VA. 22733
540-395-3534
mail@rikkisrefuge.org
https://www.rikkisrefuge.org/
https://www.facebook.com/RikkisRefuge
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WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED WITH GIVING MEDICATIONS TO VARIOUS ANIMALS!
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Rikki’s Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 400 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.

RIKKI’S REFUGE NATURE DAY
Reservations/Tickets: mail@rikkisrefuge.org (must have a ticket!)
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Tour starts at Noon, Hike starts at 2:00 PM
Rikki’s Refuge
21410 Constitution Hwy.
Rapidan, VA. 22733
(Parking by the Education Center)
Donations appreciated! Bring a can or bag of dog food or cat food! Wear appropriate shoes or boots (no flip-flops or sandals) and make sure you’re dressed for the weather (proper jacket, rain gear, whatever is called for, for that day!) Be prepared to walk and be on your feet for a few hours! Feel free to bring carrots, apples, vanilla wafers, and broccoli to feed the animals on your tour. Feel free to take photos!

RIKKI’S REFUGE THANKSGIVING DAY TOUR
Reservations/Tickets: mail@rikkisrefuge.org (must have a ticket!)
Thursday, November 27, 2014 – Tour starts at Noon
Rikki’s Refuge
10910 Barr Lane
Rapidan, VA. 22733
(Parking by the Education Center)
Donations appreciated! Bring a can or bag of dog food or cat food! Wear appropriate shoes or boots (no flip-flops or sandals) and make sure you’re dressed for the weather (proper jacket, rain gear, whatever is called for, for that day!) Be prepared to walk and be on your feet for a few hours! Feel free to bring carrots, apples, vanilla wafers, and broccoli to feed the animals on your tour. Feel free to take photos!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP! If you would like to volunteer to help with the tour, please email us at: mail@rikkisrefuge.org

RIKKI’S REFUGE COLUMBUS DAY TOUR
Reservations/Tickets: mail@rikkisrefuge.org (must have a ticket!)
Monday, October 13, 2014 – Tour starts at Noon
Rikki’s Refuge
10910 Barr Lane
Rapidan, VA. 22733
(Parking by the Education Center)
Donations appreciated! Bring a can or bag of dog food or cat food! Wear appropriate shoes or boots (no flip-flops or sandals) and make sure you’re dressed for the weather (proper jacket, rain gear, whatever is called for, for that day!) Be prepared to walk and be on your feet for a few hours! Feel free to bring carrots, apples, vanilla wafers, and broccoli to feed the animals on your tour. Feel free to take photos!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP! If you would like to volunteer to help with the tour, please email us at: mail@rikkisrefuge.org

Just stopping in to let you know that I, Opie, Official Spokescat for Rikki’s Refuge, along with my volunteer friends, will be involved in lots of fun events in the coming weeks and months!  I would love to see you wonderful hoomans at some or all of these happenings!

First up, every Saturday, from NOON – 2:00pm, we have our Donation Drop-Off and Job Interviews at the Rikki’s Refuge Education Center (see address below).  I always need more nums for me and my cat buddies, as well as food for my sick and older friends (ok, I guess the dogs and other animals need to eat too!).  I also need cleaning supplies like bleach, trash bags, and paper towels for the hoomans that work for me Rikki’s! And I am always looking for a few good hoomans to work for me, uh… for Rikki’s Refuge. The gates will be open and interviews start PROMPTLY at 12:00pm NOON. Please note this is the gate at the corner of Route 20 and Quarterhorse Lane! On the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 7:00pm, please come out and join us for Rikki’s Spiritual Night at the Education Center.  It’s a place to talk about growing personally and spiritually, a place for transformation, to learn to love your life, to be a happier, kinder, gentler you, to be more in touch with the reality of the universe and less caught up in day-to-day drama and life (those are mom’s words! )….. I say it’s a place to learn to  purr more and hiss less – be more cat-like!   And the evening ends with a yummy vegan/vegetarian pot luck (well that’s what mom says, but can it really be that great without Fancy Feast??)!  On Saturday, September 27, RIkki’s will be at the Charlottesville, VA Vegetarian Festival!  Admission is FREE and this festival gets better every year!!  We will have a great booth and hope you stop by!  Be there or be square! Rikki’s will also be at the Golden Living Fall Fest on Saturday, October 4, from 10:00am-2:00pm in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  It’s a fun, free, family-friendly event, so bring the kids and come see us! Do you like to run? Do you like to walk?  (Personally I like to either be carried or pushed in my stroller by my hoomans).  Have you signed up for Rikki’s Refuge 5K Run/Walk in November?  Join us on November 1, at 9:00am at beautiful Lake Anna State Park.  Your entry fee is only $25 (or $30 on the actual race day) and will help the 1300 animals who call Rikki’s Refuge their home.  Checks should be made to Rikki’s Refuge.  Donations of pet foot and/or other supplies are welcome!  Awards will be presented to the first male and female finisher and the first three in every age group.   Entry forms can be picked up at:  VA Runner, Ed’s Awards & Engraving, Giant Food Stores, 360 Feeds or you can email my buddy at bugbane30@gmail.com for more information! As Fall arrives and the holidays approach, there will be many other events and opportunities for you to meet me and/or my other friends from Rikki’s, to volunteer, to donate and to share for Rikki’s Refuge.  Stay tuned to this page and our Facebook page for the updates.

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO HELP RIKKI’S REFUGE, YOU MAY DONATE HERE: https://www.rikkisrefuge.org/feedme

OR DIRECTLY TO OUR PAYPAL: mail@rikkisrefuge.org

OR BY MAIL: Rikki’s Refuge PO Box 1357 Orange, VA. 22960

And remember, me and my mom could not do anything for the animal residents at Rikki’s Refuge without YOUR help.  You are a blessing to us and we are grateful to you every single day!  Love you lots!

Opie

Are you one of the AWESOME hoomans who voted for Rikki’s Refuge in the Tractor Supply Contest last week?  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I’d like to invite you to the Tractor Supply in Orange, VA at 11:00am on Saturday, September 20 where they will present little old me with a BIG BIG check!  Yippee Yay!  The store is located at 13226 James Madison Highway, Orange, VA 22960.  It will be a media event and the main celebration of TSC’s Pet Appreciation Week (PAW).  In addition to celebrating this great prize for Rikki’s Refuge, there will be pet adoptions, giveaways and more going on in the store all day!If you are local, I would love to see you at 11:00am.  I know that so many of you, my favorite hoomans, are far away, but I will carry you with me in my heart!!   We wouldn’t be here without you!! Love you lots,  Opie

Rikki’s Refuge will be at the GOLDEN LIVING FALL FEST
on Saturday, October 4, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
at the Golden Living Center/Living Community
3900 Plank Rd
Fredericksburg , VA. 22407
(Next to Gander Mountain, on Route #3)
Free, Family-Friendly, Community Event!
Some of the vendors and activities are:
Blazing Saddles BBQ
Sweet Lew’s Kettle Korn
B & D Ice Cream
Mary Kay
Tastefully Simple
Lia Sophia
Rikki’s Refuge
Moon Bounce
Face Painting
Games & Prizes
Music & More!

Photo courtesy TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY!

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO VOTED AND SHARED FOR RIKKI’S REFUGE EVERY DAY IN THE TRACTOR SUPPLY RESCUE YOUR RESCUE CONTEST!

Shared via the Tractor Supply Co. Facebook page today:
Please take a minute to CONGRATULATE our 10 “Rescue Your Rescue” contest winners & FOLLOW them on Facebook! And, thank you so much to all who entered, voted and shared. You are all so worthy.
Read the winners’ stories by clicking http://bit.ly/1qrQHXF and then View Entries!

1st: Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, INC — $10,000
2nd: Rikki’s Refuge — $5,000
3rd: S.N.A.R.R Animal Rescue Northeast — $3,500
4th: Carolina Waterfowl Rescue — $2,000
5th: Friends Fur Change  — $1,500
6th: It Takes a Village Canine Rescue — $1,000
7th: Heath’s Haven — $800
8th: Phoenix Animal Rescue — $650
9th: Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Shelter/Sanctuary — $350
10th: Blackhat Humane Society — $200

Thank you TRACTOR SUPPLY CO. for sponsoring such a wonderful and generous contest, and for helping so many rescues. Congratulations to all the winners, all wonderful organizations!