February 15, 2021 Monday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

Panda says she’s done with this wet and icy and muddy and miserable weather and will be resting today.

No, I wasn’t diggin in the mud …. why would you think …. ?

Marbles taste testing the food ….

EVERYONE wants to try that out !!!

I can have some ???

Donations were light today

So Doug headed out prepared to bed for credit extensions to get enough food for the cats

and then back to town to beg for the horses and other large critters.


Some days they might have to double up

but they’ll always get fed.

Think about grabbing some food and stopping by on Saturday to Drop Off Donations and visit some of our larger animals on a self guided tour !!!

Or pop into our Re-Tail Thrift Store and help us FILL-A-TRUCK !!

Hey wouldn’t you like to come help us at Rikki’s Refuge? We’re Hiring !!!

The geese never tire of the weather …. the PARADE MUST GO ON !!!

What’s with THIS corner, piggies?

Tip Toeing to keep their feet dry !

Loving the WET !

And despite the cold, just look at that green grass grow!! It’s going to be a very lush spring after such a wet winter. And we DO know spring is coming! Every morning it’s light just a little earlier, and every night we can work just a little later before donning headlamps to finish up !!!

Larry loves his salt block !

And the pigs love their mud !!

Foggy foggy evening

And Panda is still relaxing !!

The animals have an easy joyful life at Rikki’s Refuge, cuz the hoomans are working long, hard hours !!

And everyone lives happily ever after at Rikki’s Refuge !

With YOUR help we provide life long homes to well over 1,000 animals each & every day !!!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for making it all possible !

February 14, 2021 Sunday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

We were ecstatic to feel the temp go all the way up to 37 today !!! Even if there was not sun. Thankfully no more precipitation came down. Snow and ice melted slowly but steadily ….. until not long before midnight when it started drizzling … AGAIN. Ohhh the MUD … Oh the yuk !!!

I have to tell you a funny story about a sweet young lady who came to work for us once upon a time, many years ago. Now you don’t come to work blind at Rikki’s Refuge. You come for a long interview and we tell you all about snow and mud, and rain and sleet, and blistering heat, and to dress for heavy duty farm work, boots, quilted overalls, the works. We tell you about the 600 pounds of poop you’ll be helping us to clean up. We tell you about long hours, about sleeping over on bad weather nights. We tell you that you’ll be bitten, scratched, kicked, butted and leaned on by 1,500 pound animals. If the lengthy questioner you fill out looks ok and you still express an interest after hearing all about the job, and you can haul 50 pound feed sacks across fields and you can outrun sheep …. then you get to come and actually try it out for a day.

By the way, did I tell you we’re hiring? We are. So if you find what we’re doing fascinating and you want to be a part of our team, show up at our Life Center, 21410 Constitution Hwy, Rapidan VA 22733, at the corner of Rt 20 and Quarterhorse Ln and the Quarterhorse end of the rainbow bridge fence at NOON (don’t be late, cus we need you at work on time every day, so show us you can do that !) on any Saturday for an interview.

So back to the story. This lovely young lady (we do not hire under 18 per state law) made it thru the interview and desperately wanted to work at Rikki’s. So she was scheduled to come on the working part of her interview early the next morning. And the weather was just about what it is now. Totally icky, gross, wet, and knee deep in mud.

She showed up on time the next morning all excited and showed off her brand new pink boots, pink quilted overalls, pink jacket, pink gloves and long, delicious looking (to the pigs) pink stocking hat. We do warn everyone that working in the pig pen can take some getting used to. In the morning you’re rushed by dozens of hungry pigs weighing hundreds and hundreds of pounds who are pushing and rubbing on your legs just like little kitties do. You have to learn to hold your balance in all that. Or you go plop in the mud.

I bet you know where this is going! Yup, she got down to pigs, was so excited, rushed in, was rushed by the pigs, and went plop into the mud. She came crying into the office asking to use the phone (this was in the days before everybody carried one around) to call her dad to come pick her up and all upset she’d ruined her brand new “farm” outfit !!!!! I had to feel sorry for her, but oh gosh it was so hard not to laugh.

She was one of the many many many people who don’t make the first two hours of their working interview. Working at Rikki’s Refuge really is for a very few very special individuals. If you’re one, come on out here Saturday at noon !!!!

Now back to the muddy refuge on February 14th and see what we were doing instead of getting taken out to brunch or getting flowers or chocolates !!!

It started out icy and snowy from the past few days




And gradually melted as the temp slowly climbed








Turning into a wasteland of ice and snow by midday




Thank goodness delivery and supply could make it down the muddy potholed driveway !!!!



We use several hundred pounds of cracked corn, sweet feed and senior horse feed everyday. A little over half a pick up truck full. All to be lugged on shoulders across the muddy mess today !!! Oh we can’t wait till we can drive across the fields again !!!

And that was it for the day. Really, nothing very exciting here to report today !!!

And everyone lives happily ever after at Rikki’s Refuge, even if it is muddy !

With YOUR help we provide life long homes to well over 1,000 animals each & every day !!!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for making it all possible !

February 13, 2021 Saturday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

What a miserable day !!! Light misty sleet coming down. Temps a little above freezing in the middle of the day. Ice building up. Dripping off trees, roofs, icicles.

Icicles growing to 3 feet long !

Some of us opting to stay inside and dry

Others not phased by a little ice at all

And some of us are delighting at the icy muddy wasteland it’s become around here !

By 2 pm ever thing had at least a quarter inch coating of ice

Clarence says his hands are red and numb, but no matter what, the hoomans at Rikki’s keep right on doing the tasks the animals need them too. WHY? Because they truly love their charges and want them to be well fed and comfortable and happy.

Ol Man pulled the straw a Quality Control Officer today

checking off that every bucket of food going to be carried to every area is properly topped off. Everything will be hand carried today because with the ice and snow, it’s far too slippery to drive. Each load will be less than a person’s maximum carrying capacity too because they have to be so careful to avoid falling on the ice and mud. Quite frankly, it’s utterly miserable out here !!!

Our kitties are currently eating about 90 pounds of dry cat food a day. In addition to the hundreds of cans of food. The colder it is, the less they can absorb solar energy, the less they’re out running around, the more they need to metabolize to keep warm. Our average is about 80 pounds a day.

That means we need between two and three of these bags of food EVERY DAY. The very cheapest place we know to buy dry cat food right now is Tractor Supply’s Multi Cat. Right now it’s $18.99 for 44 pounds. You can buy the cats a bag or two at
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/multi-cat-dry-cat-food-40-lb-bag?cm_vc=-10005
for pick up. Be sure to pick Orange, VA as the pick up location and list the pick up person as Rikki’s Refuge, and then us know the order number, what you ordered (cus you can get the bigger animals cracked corn and sweet feed and senior horse chow too) and the name you ordered it under. Please pass this into on to me at m.me/KerryHilliard and I’ll get right over to Tractor Supply to pick up. They won’t call us when an order is ready, so I need to know from you !!! Thank you !!

As the sun starts down …. few animals are still about … the hoomans will be working well into the night, while most of the animals will stay in and dry and out of this miserable weather.

May we see the sun again someday !!

Because YOU care there is a place called Rikki’s Refuge !
Because YOU donate the 1200+ residents will be well fed again tomorrow !!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

THANK YOU !!

February 12, 2021 Friday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

Twas the dawn after an ice storm on top of a snow storm, a bitterly cold morning …. not a creature was stirring ….

One by one the animals began to venture forth

Beauty reports for duty

Clinton comes out to say good morning …. but doesn’t stay long

Vampire Kitty braves coming out

The sundeck isn’t working this morning

Calling the goose parade to formation

Who’s YOUR favorite Refuge ever? It is Rikki’s Refuge, right? And we NEED your support in the Endless Love Shelter Challenge. Up for grabs is more than $43,000 in prizes! And it costs YOU nothing !!! FREE !!! All YOU have to do, is go to
https://www.shelterchallenge.com/shelterchallenge/Shelter/Detail/1121079
and vote for Rikki’s Refuge EVERY DAY. You’re allowed ONE vote a day. Make sure to vote every day AND ASK YOUR FRIENDS to vote and increase your impact for Rikki’s Refuge!
THANK YOU!!

Thank goodness enough donations arrived for everyone to have a hearty breakfast


Hang on !!! More is coming !!! I can only carry two platters at a time !!!!

Sated

Playing in the Snow after breakfast

Don’t go away !! There’s a lot more to feed than cats and dogs …..

As it warmed to just a few degrees above freezing for the high of the day, the ice and snow began to melt. Our puddle loving, mud loving friends were ecstatic !

Will you be Patrick’s Valenswine this weekend? He’d love a bag or two of sweet feed!

Each bag is $11.50. If you can help, you can order it directly from the Orange-Madison Coop here in Orange, VA and we will pick it up (phone number 540-672-2977 and press “0”)! Does it get any easier than that??
Your money goes directly to getting us the product and no fees are taken out!! Can you help??? WILL YOU BE PATRICK’S VALENSWINE??
**Orange-Madison Co-op (Southern States) 540-672-2977 and press “0”
**Email with any questions: Rikki@RikkisRefuge.org

Hooves crossed this “red sky at night” will pan out for tomorrow !

Despite the chill, it was another heartwarming day at Rikki’s Refuge

Thank YOU for giving them a place to call HOME !
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

THANK YOU !!

February 11, 2021 Thursday at Rikki’s Refuge in Memory of Deloris Quick

DIGITAL IMAGE

All in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

I have some very sad news. The animals have lost a wonderful friend. We are all so saddened to hear of the passing of Deloris Quick. What a loss to the world of a wonderful advocate for animals and a genuinely kind and compassionate human being. Deloris was the kind of person who never had an ill world about anyone, ever. She always helped anyone in need, and put her love of animals to practice everyday.

Deloris and Kiki

She was a devoted volunteer to Rikki’s Refuge for 20 years, serving on our Board of Directors for many of those. She lifted spirits of humans and animals alike, when she visited. The kind of wonderful friend you could always count on. She never met an animals she didn’t love.

Deloris and Bandit

Deloris shared her home with dogs and cats and the love of her life, Mike, who she was deeply devoted to. She helped Rikki’s Refuge and other organizations care for animals.

Deloris and Vincent

Deloris joined other volunteers of Rikki’s Refuge last summer in the successful effort to save our thrift store Re-Tail when reopening after the closure for covid.

Deloris and Gracie

She was very active in TNR and fed several feral colonies. She often helped homeless people and their pets.

Deloris and Cindy

Deloris saw no boundaries in helping anywhere she could and certainly leaves the world a better place for having been here. She leaves all of us better human beings for having known her and seeing true kindness and compassion in action.

Boss Hogette with Deloris and a group of Rikkites

You are deeply missed, Deloris, and welcomed by so many friends at the Rainbow Bridge.
Deloris Quick Memorial Fund For Animals
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fredericksburg-va/deloris-quick-10050241

I’m sure the Rainbow Bridge looked something like this

It was another wet and dreary day at Rikki’s Refuge

No BUTTS about it — I drug MY house to the BEST location!

NO! We win!! It took four of us to get out house over to this prime location !!

Loving this wonderful wet winter weather !

And the snow starts ….. again …

Stayin in – stayin dry – stayin warm

sending the hoomans out to take care of every one !!

5:30 pm, still snowing but not accumulating, hovering right around the freezing point.

What will the night bring ?

In the end, what truly matters is who’ll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank YOU for making a difference to their lives.
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

THANK YOU !!

February 10, 2021 Wednesday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

Dreary over cast day with a forecast of snow starting in the afternoon and going on and on for days.

Freckles says we’ll make the best of, a wet winter means great grass coming in the spring !

Oh Gross !! Let me out here !! I’m not about to eat THAT !

These are heritage breed turkeys. They’re much more like wild turkeys than factory turkeys.

These are factory turkeys, breed to be all white, grow faster, and have larger parts in the areas people find more tasty. These things all affect their healthy in bad ways.

Interestingly, the two groups of turkeys have nothing to do with each other, acting like they aren’t even the same species.

They will share a meal. Never any conflict. Just totally ignoring each other.

Uh Oh, look who was naughty !!!!

Most of our repair jobs are created by our residents. We just smile, get them safe, and fix it !!

Boys will be boys and compete for the girls !! The peacock and turkey boys compare their spreads. None of the girls pay attention at all !!

Donations are light today.


We’ll pray for a miracle that tomorrow will somehow bring enough for everyone. That’s about a 1/3 of the grain we’ll need for the day. And only 120 cans of cat food. It takes 240 just to feed the houses in Feline Fields. The kitties in all the other buildings like to eat too. As a matter of fact, they demand it !!

Smacks strolls along full of confidence that YOU will see he has all the nums he wants to eat !!

As the snow clouds rolled in the Peacocks took to the high places to sounds the alarm of bad weather coming.

Have you noticed how hardly a picture is ever missing geese? They make rounds of the grounds all day long.

Circling the May Pole hoping spring will hurry up

Without fail, the muddiest corner !!

The sleet started about 2:30 in the afternoon

It wasn’t long before the ground was getting covered

Then the sleet stopped

Before dark the rain started

Will it freeze up overnight, or not ……. The crew that stays on duty all night will keep checking to see if the animals need anything.

Every one of the 1200+ animals at Rikki’s Refuge

is grateful for YOUR kindness and generosity !
They have a home all because of YOU !!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

THANK YOU !!

February 9, 2021 Tuesday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

Is there any creature that is ever happier than a pig in mud !!!

Do you have any idea how much time we spend dragging their houses OUT of the mud !!!! And they drag them right back in !!

Rain, melting snow, more rain, more melting snow and we’re up to our knees in mud.

To the absolute delight of the geese and ducks – puddles everywhere.
Now you see me!

Now you don’t !!!

Diving for nummies ….
Happy Duckies

The geese roam far and wide, sampling every puddle on the property !!

Hi there !!!

I’m Timmy, the Official Spokes Kitty for Rikki’s Refuge. I work very hard to make sure everybody has nums and everybody has a clean warm bed. I was worried about getting lost in all the snow we’ve been having lately, so mom tied a red scarf around my tail so she can always find me and keep me safe !!!

And guess what? I need more nice hoomans to help take care of me!
Do you enjoy reading about the animals at Rikki’s Refuge? Do you dream of being one of my team and being here to help?

Now YOU can !!!

ANIMAL CARETAKER
Join the TEAM at Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary!
We need your PASSION and COMMITMENT to the animals!

We need FULL-TIME STAFF to take on the daily care for our resident animals, both farm and domestic. If you are not afraid of hard work, we would love to meet you! The work is labor intensive and must be done in all seasons and all weather conditions. We are looking for friendly, even-tempered staff members who are able to follow directions and work well with others.

There is a lot of cleaning to be done (most of it in outside conditions) and food to be prepared and sanctuary maintenance of fields and buildings and everything in between. Your day will be busy from start to finish but we also need you to be flexible as these are animals, many of them with special needs, and they are at all times the priority.

The work is hard, but the rewards are great. PLEASE email Rikki@RikkisRefuge.org for more information (OR just come to see us on Saturdays PROMPTLY AT NOON). We have on-site interviews EVERY SATURDAY at noon (you must be PROMPT) at our Life Center, 21410 Constitution Hwy, Rapidan, VA (look for the brightly colored rainbow fence – you can’t miss us)!

I hope you’ll come by Saturday to talk to us !!!! And if you don’t need a job, how about come by for DONATION DROP OFF on one Saturday, either at Rikki’s Refuge’s Life Center, or at our store Re-Tail !!


Really hoping they’ll be more when this food runs out

Turkeys talking to Clinton

My what fine aura Grizzly has today !!

Notice the outdoor furniture, playhouse and such? They’re Little Tyke outdoor play things for kids. And they are ideal for cats. Very difficult to destruct. Easy to powerwash. Very durable. When ever you see them at yard sales or thrift stores or on marketplace cheap, grab them up for the cats of Rikki’s Refuge !!!

Meet Venus

She was abandoned, and left taped shut in a box. Luckily someone found her and saved her life. She was FIV positive when vetted and so came to live happily after at Rikki’s.

Did you know that FIV doesn’t affect the life of the cat with it? And it doesn’t spread once they aren’t viciously fighting over the girls and mating. FIV cats will live good happy long lives. Just as long as cats who don’t test positive for FIV !!!! Yet the myth of problems with FIV persist and so many cats are not wanted simply because of a little blue dot on a test.

See Venus’ eyes? That has nothing to do with FIV. She was just born especially beautiful. Her eyes are technically known as heterochromia iridis or differently colored irises. It’s a genetic condition carried by the same gene that makes cats white. And that’s why you so often see it in white cats.

Meet JJ. He and Momma were breeding away at a vacant house. We worked on trapping the whole family. He was the hardest and last to get. They’d all been sick. But he was especially bad and had a horrible eye infection too. Too sick to undergo surgery, we treated him for his respiratory illness and the eye infection. Luckily the eye healed as JJ get better and feistier!! The eye did stay a cloudy bluish color and he has little if any vision there. But it doesn’t bother him one little bit, and that’s what counts.

A cat and his rooster

EXCUSE ME ! THIS sundeck is occupied!

Magnificent !!!

Especially that colorful tail !!! It took years of toiling in our cross breeding program to create a cat with a peacock tail !! (ps. Just kidding, the peacock is really just sitting on the other side of the kitty. No breeding permitted at Rikki’s!)

Still light at 5:30 pm these day !!! Spring is coming !!! We can now work outside at 6:45 am without our headlamps on !!

Every one of the 1200+ animals at Rikki’s Refuge

is loved for who they are and get all the love, food and medical care they need
all because of YOUR support !!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

THANK YOU !!

February 8, 2021 Monday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

Today it’s all about cats !!!

Why?

Clarence was the only one who had time for pictures and he spent most the day working with kitties. Lucky guy !!!! And he loves his kitty charges !!! And they love him!

Garfield shows off his prowess at climbing tall trees


and leaping to rooftops in a single bound!

Cold this morning, but the sun is out beautifully! Look at this cool ice pattern.

Colleen the Calico looks up to her hoomans with love

Alfred’s soaking up some morning sun

Little Buddy wants a nose kiss

That’s Smurf in the background, a very old mama kitty who’s living out her retirement years here after delivering may many litters behind a restaurant at a truck stop. Now her life is happy and carefree. She loves being out when the sun is shining.

Bagheera howls, BRING ON THE NUMS !!!

Tonya the tabby cooly watches the morning goings on

Waldo, Clarence’s shadow, being Waldo

Mouky patiently waiting for the platters of nums to be laid out

Help Mouky and his friends to always have enough for breakfast and dinner. Any brand of cat food makes them happy. Amazon and Chewy often have special deals on canned cat food. The kitties rejoice everyday when the box bringing hoomans come to the gates delivering pressies !!!!

YOU can make their day !!
Rikki’s Refuge
10910 Barr Ln
Rapidan VA 22733

or www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )
and we’ll do the shopping for YOU !!!

The protected outdoor space of the cat houses.

A lot of study into the play habits of our felines went into the design of the cat runs. How big should they be? What will materials cost? How will our volunteers build them? And most importantly of all, what do the cats want? How long a run do cats need to get up to top speed in games of chase? How wide is the turning radius of a cat galloping at full speed? How high does a cat typically climb when leaping on a pole at a full gallop? All that and MORE.

We set up temporary area after temporary area, experimenting with all kinds of dimensions. We hired (for food) several cats to help us with the study and let them test and play and climb in each design. The ultimate plan of 100’ long, enough to get up a good gallop and about as much as they usually run full speed ahead when playing, 20’ wide, enough turning radius so they can do laps if they’re in an intense game of chase, and 12’ high cus most tapered out around 10’ so 12’ gave us room to add perches at the top !!!

And I bet you thought we just threw up 4x4s and fencing !!!

Ol Man has lived with quite a while, despite being elderly when he came.

We sure hope he’s with us many more years!!! We love our super seniors !!

Scotch is following around on morning rounds today

Manilla Gorilla is a little shy and follows at a distance.

There’s always a wait at the porta potty !!

Night night !!!

Everybody loves their life and home at Rikki’s Refuge

where we care for over 1200 animals each and every day
because YOUR help made it all possible !!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

THANK YOU !!

February 7, 2021 Sunday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

The day started gloomy with heavy snow clouds and the snow coming down. Mid day the snow stopped. It rained. The sun came out. The clouds cleared. And it ended an amazingly beautiful day !!! All in a matter of hours !!

All that snow may make for beautiful scenery. But it sure makes for a lot more work and makes all the work just that much harder.

It’s not cold enough to solidly freeze over. But cold enough that the slush builds up and must be removed from every water bowl and trough in every animals area all across our 450 acres.

If the ground was frozen hard, we could drive from one field to the next. But with the up and down temps we’ve been having, it’s mud below the snow and first 1/4” of frozen ground.

Even the 4 wheel trucks can’t get thru this. They just slip and spin wheels. So the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of food, must be carted on shoulders, or drug thru the snow in carts.

While those we serve sit by and watch the hoomans work.

The sheep have such thick wool they don’t even notice the snow piling up on top of them!!! It’s like us hoomans who have it piling up on our hats and coats too !!!! We’re adequately dressed. So are the sheep. And they don’t even have to buy winter clothes !!!

Why is Feline Fields so beautiful? Cus Ron cares !!! And he comes out and paints !!

We NEED YOU to come and help us with tasks like painting and fixing up. Many years Doggy Downs was beautiful too. Not it’s faded and leaning and in dire need of fix up and paint. The roof of the 9th Life Center has peeling paint.

There just aren’t enough of us to do it all. And caring for the animals must come first. Please come out and volunteer !!!! Message me at m.me/KerryHilliard to get started !!!

See the aviary type roof on Cat House #1? Many of our houses have protected outdoor play space like this. It keeps the resident in so they don’t get lost or harmed, and keeps predators out.

And they collect ice and snow. A light fluffy snow will fall thru. But freezing rain will stick, and then make the snow stick, and soon it can cover the roofs in a full blanket of ice and snow.

And ice and snow are heavy. Amazingly heavy. And roofs will collapse under that weight.

So when ice or snow are coming down, hoomans must stay alert and on duty, no matter the time of day or night, and constantly keep checking every roof. They have to climb up and clean them off if they start to sage dangerously. And when it’s ice – that is a HARD job. It can take everyone working on roofs all night to protect our animal friends.

Batman says, LET ME BACK IN !!!

He can’t figure out why the sundeck isn’t sunny, why isn’t this snooooo gone? He checked it out 3 minutes ago and it was just like this. He’ll want to check it out again …. 3 minutes after he goes back inside.

For lots of the animals, it’s out and in, out and in, out and in, all day long ….. till it really starts to melt and the sun come out !!!!

Even Beauty won’t do rounds today, the snow is just too wet all mixed with freezing rain.

And some of the residents refuse to even come in for breakfast !

So breakfast is delivered to them.

Not a pig in sight here

The snow stops … the rains stops … the sky begins to clear …. the sun starts to peek thru !!!!

Happy animals now venture forth !

First one emu

then two

One cat remains hesitant, peeking out of the wind tunnel

Every room of the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center has a kitty door out to the day rooms, outdoor protected space.

When we first put them in ohhhh that north wind would blow right in at night, sometimes making the kitty doors stand straight out and chilling all of us to the bone. So a genius built wind tunnels. Now the cats have to take a couple turns and twists to get outside. But it’s stopped the wind from coming in!!!

YOU too could be a Rikki’s Refuge Genius !!! Just volunteer to help us out !!!!

Got a power washer? The north side of the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center really needs one!

Like to brush pig teeth and tusks?

Our people just never seem to get around to it. Leaving it for the vet to do when he sedates piggies for nail and tusk trims. They say something about old so and so who lost those fingers trying once …..

YES !!! It’s melting into puddles ….

OH YES !!!! Everyone is getting happier as it warms and the sun shines !!!!

Ohhhh it feels good — sitting in the sun sharing a bale of hay with a friend !!!

Wishing there had been enough rain and snow to floor their house …..

Happy as can be

Always happy when there’s a dry spot and warm sunbeam !!

No matter what, no matter the weather, at Rikki’s Refuge

we care for our 1200+ animal residents every minute of every day !!

Thank YOU for making it all possible.
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

February 6, 2021 Saturday at Rikki’s Refuge – National Play Monopoly Day

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate )

100 of the 5.5 oz cans of cat food are opened just to feed the cat runs at Feline Fields breakfast.

Then the Free Rangers will get fed, and the cats in the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Building will be fed. And those in the hospital. And the cats at the Life Center. And the cats in the three Office Buildings. And then any stragglers who don’t want to come out of their barns or other hidey places.

Thank you for sending cat food so we never run out !!
Rikki’s Refuge
10910 Barr Ln
Rapidan VA 22733

Any brand, any size, any number of cans. We just need YOUR help !!

Panda prays more food arrives soon

Mouky says he knows what starving feels like
and he’s glad YOU’ll never let that happen to him here.

Morning chores all done

Doug makes the rounds checking all the animals areas

for anything else they may need this morning.

And all looks good and sound

so Doug stops in the office to check his calendar

And see it’s National Play Monopoly Day and Take Your Child To The Library Day

With a grin he grabs a few things from the office and heads out.
First stop – Capri Corners for a game of Monopoly !

Well not much interest there … moving on
Baaaahhh what you got there?

I’ll bite !!!

HEY YOU !!! NO FAIR !!! You don’t win if you eat the game !!

Next he headed to Horsey Haven to have a game with our Prince while the sheep looked on

Batman had a great idea

and called Buza over for Cats vs Dogs game of Monopoly

in which the cats thoroughly trounced the dogs. I think Doug helped the cats win.

Enough Monopoly for today, let’s take the kids to the library now!
But when Doug got there with the car full of cats, they locked the doors and said, “here, takes these books home and read to your kids there.”

And so … back at the Life Center
Crybaby loves sitting on Doug’s lap and hearing stories of her kind.

When it was Riley’s turn, she said, “just drop that book right here, and there will be no blood.”

…. Doug promptly complied. Everybody listens to Riley. Blood stains are such a mess to clean up.

A pair of kneeling goats

And everyone lived happily ever after at Rikki’s Refuge

where we care for over 1200 animals every single day !!

Thank YOU for making it all possible.
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate