November 2008.
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Volunteer Walker
- Christmas Shopping
- Adoption Profile
- Survey Results
- Adoption Profile
- Shelter Wish List
- Food & Toy Drive
- Meow & Bark Helps RAPS
- Buca's Corner
- An Army for the Animals
At the RAPS Cat Sanctuary,
many animals cannot be adopted due to a variety of medical needs, or
because their previous lives on the streets make them unsuitable as
pets. Instead, these precious animals need sponsors to provide for
their special care. If you are interested in sponsoring a cat at
the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, read the RAPS Support Page to find out more under the "Sponsorship" heading.
 Alex  King Tut  Sterling
Volunteers needed on Monday mornings at the RAPS City Shelter. If
you have a few hours between 9 AM and 12 noon on Mondays, consider
signing up to volunteer. Shifts are typically two hours, and your
help is greatly appreciated. For more information on volunteering
at either the RAPS Cat Sanctuary or the RAPS City Shelter, check out
the "Volunteer" section of the RAPS Support Page.
Cat adoption stories needed for the RAPS blog!
If you have adopted a cat or other small animal from RAPS, we want to
hear about your story. Email us a picture of your new feline
friend, and let us know how he or she is doing. Thanks for
adopting from RAPS. Check out the RAPS blog and the latest and greatest adoption stories at RAPS by going to: www.rapsociety.com/blog.htm
Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs happening every Saturday afternoon, 12 to 4:30 pmEvery Saturday afternoon until the end of 2008, the Richmond Animal Shelter will be collecting Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs.
Everyone accumulates a lot of small change, and that change can make a
big difference for homeless animals at the Richmond Animal Shelter.
Collect your small change and then on Saturday afternoon come visit the
shelter animals and add your small change to our fundraising bottle to
feed homeless animals! The animals will appreciate your visit and your
donation.
Donations desperately needed for the care of neglected animals.
This
month at the Richmond Animal Shelter, a large number of dogs and cats
have been rescued from Richmond streets and abandoned buildings.
Sadly, most of these animals, like 'Sonya' (below), have been neglected
and require urgent medical attention. Donations are greatly
needed, and it's easy to donate at the RAPS website. Just a $10 or $20 donation can go a long way in providing medical care for these animals.  Thank you for helping us help animals. |
Volunteer Dog Walker Lines up the Troops
RAPS Volunteer walks every dog, every day.
 There
are a lot of tails wagging when RAPS volunteer Kim walks through the
doors of the RAPS City Shelter because the dogs know it's time to go
out! Kim has been a volunteer at the City Shelter for more than
four months, and her expertise with dogs really shines. Kim
walks every dog, every day and makes sure they all get the love and
attention they deserve. It is volunteers like Kim and all the
rest of RAPS' dedicated team that make running two no-kill shelters
possible. Thank you to all our volunteers.
To see a brief slide show about volunteering at the shelter, click here: PHOTO SLIDE SHOW
Holiday Shopping that Supports RAPS Too!
This
holiday season there are a lot of ways to support RAPS while doing your
Christmas shopping. Check out these fun events and ideas. 
Christmas Craft Fair at the South Arm Community Centre
8880 Williams Road,
Richmond
Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Join
RAPS volunteers and talented craft makers at the Christmas Craft Fair,
South Arm Community Centre. Friends and volunteers of RAPS
have donated crafts and skilled handiwork which will be for sale at
this fair from 10 AM to 5 PM. All proceeds from the RAPS table go
to support animal care at the Richmond Animal Protection
Society. It's the perfect combination of Christmas
shopping and supporting your local shelters. See you there!
Shop at the RAPS Antique & Thrift Store!
The
RAPS Cat Sanctuary is supported in part by the RAPS Antique &
Thrift store which sells thousands of quality antique and used
items. The store is located at Unit 140-8260 Granville Avenue in
Richmond, just east of No. 3 Road, and is open from 10AM to 5:30PM
Monday to Saturday. If you would like to donate quality used
items, RAPS takes everything from tools and furniture to
clothing.
Pet Portraits of our beloved friends
This
is the perfect gift for you or your pet-loving friends! Elizabeth
Wood, talented pet artist, will create a 9" x 12" pencil portrait of
your pets from a digital or regular photograph. The cost is only $30
for a single pet, or $50 for a group portrait of two or more
pets. To order your pet portrait, send Liz an email, or visit her online Pet Portrait gallery. The artist donates all profits to RAPS.
Adoption Profile: Sweet Apollo
 Apollo
is a very sweet 8 year old dog. He is kind of funny looking because his
skull is slightly deformed which gives him an odd profile. He makes up
for this with his friendly, calm demeanor.
He is friendly with other dogs and is ready to go to his new home.
Please come visit Apollo at the Richmond Animal Shelter.
Results of the RAPSity News Readers Survey
Readers want more statistics and ways to help RAPS!
Last
month in the RAPSity News, we asked you, the readers, to fill out a
quick survey to help us direct our efforts better. Here's what
you told us: 77% of readers said they want more stories on successful adoptions at the RAPS shelters;
82%
of you said you want to get more statistics about the number of
adoptions and rescues happening at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary and RAPS City
Shelter. I guess you like numbers! Seventy-seven percent of
you also said you want to know more ways you can help RAPS. One
reader suggested listing items needed at the shelter in the
newsletter. Great idea! Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your help with our survey. We hope to incorporate your suggestions in upcoming newsletters.
Adoption Profile: Summer
 Summer
is a wonderful and affectionate cat who loves to nuzzle your face. She
likes to be held and almost always wants your attention. She
would love a visit or two from you and time to get to know you.
Come visit Summer at the RAPS City Shelter.
Shelter Wish List for November: KONGS and Paper Towels
 When the weather becomes a little less
friendly, our shelter dogs need high-quality dog toys to play with
indoors, and we never have enough. The dogs' favorite toys are
KONGS, a rounded, rubber dog toy which we can fill with treats.
The dogs play with it for hours! Shelter staff are also in need
of paper towels. Thanks for helping us keep the animals
entertained and the shelter clean.
Pet Food & Toy Drive, and Shelter Supplies Collection
Dec. 13, 2008 at the Richmond Animal Shelter
On
Saturday, December 13, 2008, the Richmond Animal Shelter is holding a
Food & Toy Drive and Shelter Supplies Collection. The shelter will
be accepting donations of high-quality cat, dog and small rodent food
as well as cat and dog toys for the shelter animals. In addition,
donations of shelter supplies are needed and will be gratefully
accepted. The shelter requires donations of the following supplies:
bleach, laundry soap, paper towels and toilet paper, dish soap and
gasoline gift cards. Donations can be dropped off at the Richmond
Animal Shelter at 12071 No. 5 Road in Richmond.
Meow & Bark Avenue Helps RAPS in November
Plus Pet Photos with Santa at Meow & Bark Avenue on November 22 and 23
For the month of November Meow & Bark Avenue in Steveston will help the Richmond Animal Protection Society raise funds and food for the animals. Please bring in a can or kibble for cats or dogs. Help Meow & Bark fill their hamper for the RAPS shelters. You can also give a donation to RAPS at the Meow & Bark store and receive a 2009 Calendar for your generosity. Meow & Bark is hosting Pet Photos with Santa on November 22 and 23. The photos are free when you bring pet food or a donation for RAPS. RAPS and a few of the animals for adoption will be there on these days for everyone to meet. Visit Meow & Bark Avenue at 150- 12240 2nd Ave., Steveston Village (604-271-3647).
Buca is a special correspondent for the RAPSity News covering all the latest in animal rescue stories.
Dear Readers,
Meow!
Last week was exciting for American elections, especially with regard
to the prevention of cruelty to animals. In California,
Proposition 2 passed which prevents farm animals from being kept in
crates or cages where they cannot run around or stretch their
limbs! As a cat, I love to stretch and run around, and I am
delighted to know my fellow animals will now have that freedom, too,
in California. Protecting animals, even at farms, is a huge step
forward in helping the public understand that humane treatment should
be the norm for all animals. Here in Canada, we need to keep
working and talking with our friends and family and educating the
public on the proper, humane treatment of animals. Thanks for
doing your part.
I like to include some advice for my
fellow cats at the end of my articles. As an indoor cat, I don't
often get the opportunity to chase a lot of rodents, but I know I'm
much safer living indoors. This does not relieve me of the
responsibility of bringing my human companions presents on
occasion. I can suggest a few
feline-present substitutes for indoor cats, including small bits of the
dog's toys or large bugs you find in the house. These make fine
presents for your human caretakers that you can be proud of and meow
loudly about in the middle of the night. Happy hunting!
Until next time, meow, mrow, and mee-ow. ~Buca
An Army for the Animals
Donating
to RAPS comes in all forms, from monetary gifts, online giving,
volunteering or donating items or quality food to our shelters and
thrift store. Famous author and veterinarian James Herriot once wrote regarding animal cruelty and rescue in his books
"I
had often thought when I encountered cruelty and neglect that there was
a whole army of people who did these unspeakable things, a great
unheeding horde who never spared a thought for the feelings of the
helpless creatures who depended on them. It was frightening in a way,
but thank heavens there was another army who fought for the animals
with everything they had--with their energy, their time, their money." ~James Herriots Dog Stories
Thank you for joining the Army for the Animals
right here in Richmond. Your help, dedication and support is
working to bring animals to safety every day. Thank you.
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