My Nonprofit Reviews

When younger, and before COVID, I spent many hours volunteering at Rikki's Refuge (Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc). They are the last hope for many sick and unwanted animals, both companion animals and farm animals, who otherwise would stand no chance of survival. Twenty years ago I was working at Rikki's next to the Director's Office, and heard her receive a phone call during which she accepted for admission to Rikki's a number of animals from a nearby shelter (kill-shelter in the vernacular) who were soon to be euthanized if no one would adopt them by a certain date which was only a few days in the future. This made a deep impression on me. Rikki's, like most animal charities, depends entirely on donations to do this...so I donate to them on a regular basis and feel that I am helping to make the world a better place.

A friend of mine had been rescuing cats for a few years, as had I. She rescued a cat that turned out to have Feline Leukemia. The vet recommended euthanizing the cat, but my friend did research on the internet to find a refuge for Feline leukemia positive cats. Such cats can live for many years, but can be contagious to other cats, so taking care of them together at a refuge would make sense. My friend discovered Life Unlimited of Virginia, AKA Rikki's Refuge. We drove there one day and met the founder, Kerry and left the cat (named Binky) there in good care. There were hundred of animals, 1200 in all, including more than 600 cats, all being well-cared for. We began volunteering at Rikki's Refuge. and have done quite a few projects there to support them, and we also donate regularly. They have had as many as 22 different species including cows, dogs, sheep, goats, horses, Guinea fowl, chickens, geese, pigs, cats, Guinea pigs, rabbits, peacocks, etc. I have spent many hours there and met all the staff and seen them at work, and have concluded that Rikki's Refuge takes care of animals very well, providing love as well as food, shelter, and veterinary care. In an ideal world, there would be a lot more animal refuges like Rikki's Refuge, where it's all about the mission, and the mission is providing a home for animals that have no home for various reasons. Many of these animals might have been euthanized had Rikki's Refuge not been there to accept them. These were once animals that stood no chance for continued life. This point was driven home to me in 2006 when I was installing new vinyl flooring in the office area and Kerry received a call from the director of the local animal shelter saying that there were three cats in the shelter whose allowed time was expiring the next day, meaning if they weren't adopted they would be euthanized. I heard Kerry discussing how she would manage to make room at Rikki's so these cats could be saved--and they were. Since then I have heard many similar stories. Occasionally, cats are flown in from places like Egypt or Dubai because of Rikki's knowledge, skill, and ability in taking care of three-legged cats with related issues. Rikki's Spokescat has for many years been a three-legged cat! Having volunteered at Rikki's for 17 years now, I am well-satisfied that donations are always well-used for the benefit of the animals. May Rikki's exist in perpetuity...

In 2003, a friend of mine rescued a feline leukemia-positive cat, and her vet recommended that the cat be euthanized. She did some research via internet, having heard that there are such things as animal refuges with colonies of cats having diseases such as feline leukemia and Feline AIDS. She identified Rikki's Refuge (corporate name, Life Unlimited of Virginia), about 80 miles from her house, as just such a place. We were able to place the cat at Rikki's Refuge, and three of us began volunteering there once per month on weekends, doing things of a small nature, such as organizing a room full of disassembled dog crates, etc.. Other larger projects followed over the years. In the past 20 years since Rikki's Refuge was founded, more than 10,000 animals that in all likelihood would have been euthanized have been saved and permitted to live out their natural lives. Animals have come from around the world and across the US to live out their lives at Rikki's. They are well-cared for and maintained by an attentive staff. The budget allows for few if any frills--the vast majority of donation funds go directly to caring for the animals. I know of no other organization that saves more animals per dollar of donation than Rikki's Refuge. In addition, they visit schools and educate children about animals and their plight, trying to promote kind behavior and empathy towards all animals. Volunteering for this organization has changed my life, from how I spend spare time and money, to how I vote.