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The World According to Rachael

Rachael Komulainen is the Vice President of Peaceful Valley and the Director of Wild Animal Refuge.

Rachael's responsibilities include:   animal care, education programs, fundraising, volunteer coordination and anything else that needs to be done.

To contact Rachael with your questions or comments click here.....






May 7, 2008
We had a happy surprise this morning:  one of the wild jennets that came in had a baby.  It's another very cute spotted baby!  Didn't get close enough to see if it's a boy or a girl, though.  As I've previously mentioned, we do not breed any animals here at PVDR.  The jennet came in pregnant.  It's a beautiful sunny day in the Tehachapi area today.  Although, living in a canyon, there always seems to be wind.  Our California Desert Tortoises came out of hibernation a couple of weeks ago, and last Saturday (since it warmed up enough), they returned to their outside enclosure.  It sure is fun to watch them enjoy basking in the sunlight.

May 6, 2008
The fundraiser was last Saturday.  After working on it since January, it's nice to have life return to normal.  It was a very successful day!  We had over 325 people attend and we raised a nice chunk of money for the animals.  I want to THANK my Volunteers that day:  Debbie, Liz, Diana, Angel & Brian, Holly & Caren, Steve & Dawn, Niki, Jeff, Bob & Lorrie, Andrea & Bob, Taylor & Morgan, and Randy & Carol.  This day couldn't have happened without you all!  Also, I want to THANK Staff that helped that day:  Devin, Amy, Inger, Josh, Jake, and Derek.  Thirdly, a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the wonderful donors that made this day possible!  I am currently working on compiling a list, which I will include in a future blog entry.  The weather was perfect Saturday and fun was had by all attendees.  Click here to view a few photos.  

May 2, 2008
Okay, so the BIG day is tomorrow -- PVDR Festival 2008.  This was my brainchild and something that I wanted to do for Peaceful Valley.  I've been working on it since January, and it sure has come together is an incredible way.  Three people have been crucial with helping me to pull this together:  Debbie Foley, Holly Clarke and Devin Kerley.  I want to send a huge THANK YOU out to them for all of their dedication and assistance in making this day a reality.  Also, thanks to Inger Wiltz.  We've got an AMAZING silent auction planned for tomorrow, with 40 different items & gift baskets to bid on.  I just took some photos to show you all.  There is something for everyone to bid on.  Again, the event is 10am until 4pm tomorrow, with the silent auction from 10am until 2pm.  There will also be raffles, face painting, animal interaction, animal photo opportunities, ranch tours, concessions, music and horseshoe contests put on by our very own Devin.  We sure hope you all can come join us -- and please tell your friends.  All proceeds benefit the animals of PVDR - which is the best reason of all to attend!  Click here for pics of the silent auction items.

April 23, 2008
Where does the time go???  It's 1.5 weeks away from the fundraiser on May 3rd.  Wow.  We've got some really cool items for the silent auction and raffles.  I want to THANK all of the people who have so generously donated items for this event!  This event wouldn't be possible without your help.  Also, I want to THANK all of the Volunteers that are generously giving their time to work all day on May 3rd.  Let me tell you all a little about the cool raffles I have so far.  I've got a table full of items, including:  jewelry, gift certificates, animal products, Mr. Coffee Home Cafe' kit, collectibles, artwork, and other miscellaneous items.  In addition, we will draw the top three prizes at the end of the day (4pm).  Winners need not be present to win raffles.  Grand Prize:  outdoor table & benches (handcrafted/made from cement), value = $1200; 2nd Prize:  IPOD + 2 CDs, value = $500; 3rd Prize:  1 Susan Holm painting + Black Angus Restaurant gift card.  Raffle tickets are $1 per ticket.  If you would like to purchase raffle tickets, please send a check payable to PVDR (with "raffle tickets" in the memo line) to: 

PVDR
Attn:  Rachael/raffles
23500 Sand Cyn Rd.
Tehachapi, CA 93561

All monies must be received for raffles by no later than May 1st (which is 1 week from tomorrow).  Recipients will be responsible to pay any shipping costs incurred to receive their winning item(s) or they can be picked up in person at the Tehachapi ranch.  Please provide an email address in your correspondence, to receive confirmation that your envelope arrived in time.  **If you would like to support this fundraiser but do not want to purchase raffle tickets, you can always send a check to the address above, please put "Attn:  Rachael/PVDR Fest 2008" on the outside of the envelope and put "PVDR Fest 2008" on the check memo line.  My personal goal is to raise $10,000 for PVDR's animals with the fundraiser.  I would love your help to reach this goal! 

April 16, 2008
Time is ticking away very quickly, as the big spring fundraiser for PVDR, including the Texas Burros Rescue division, is just 2.5 weeks away.  This is going to be an amazing event!  Admission is FREE, and the hours are from 10am until 4pm, with the Silent Auction from 10am until 2pm.  Also, there will be Raffle tickets available at just $1 apiece!  Some of the items included in the Silent Auction and/or as Raffle prizes are:  a jacuzzi, Brandelli Arts table and benches (valued at $1200.), lladro figurines (valued at $300-$400), airline tickets from LAX to New York, VIP tickets to a New York show, signed Joan Jett memorabilia, 4 Disneyland tickets, 4 Universal Studios tickets, Susan Holm original artwork, Disney collectibles, Mr. Coffee Home Cafe' kit, gift cards to various businesses & restaurants, spa pedicures, pet supplies (donkey/horse, dog & cat), jewelry, and a whole lot more!!  There are over 30 various gift baskets and individual items in the Silent Auction, not to mention all of the great Raffle items.  Please plan to attend -- all proceeds directly benefit the 1,000+ animals of PVDR.  The event will be at the Tehachapi ranch, which is 23500 Sand Cyn Rd Tehachapi, CA 93561.  **The only animals allowed on the property (for everyone's safety) are PVDR animals, so please leave your dogs at home. 

April 12, 2008
Today, from 10am until 12pm, Devin (Medical Tech/Trainer) put on the 1st donkey gentling class for members of the public.  I took some photos of the class at work.  Click here to view.  It has been absolutely beautiful weather-wise here the last 2 days.  Sydney (bearded dragon) enjoyed walking w/ me to the mailbox to get the mail.  Happy Birthday to Diana Sabat!

April 9, 2008
The last 3 days, we trimmed hooves again at the Tehachapi ranch.  Our farrier, Kevin, and our vet, Dr. John, were both here.  Also, PVDR Trustee, Debbie Foley, helped out on Tuesday.  The wind blew relentlessly.  I think we all got our eyes completely filled with a combination of dirt and manure.  We trimmed hooves for the B-Herd and Wild Jacks Herd.  Mark got back from Texas at the end of last week, just in time to help out.  This was his first trip back from TX since leaving on Feb. 21st.  He is only staying 1 week and is leaving for TX again this coming Friday.  This time, our ranch hand, Todd, is going with for the trip.  Still lots to do at the Miles ranch.  While Mark is here in CA, we hired a ranch hand in the Miles area to look after the donkeys, in case you're wondering.  Click here for pics from yesterday's 'hoof day.' 

April 2, 2008
It's been really busy here, as usual.  We got our first (of five) peacock yesterday.  The peacocks are from the property I assisted Kern County Animal Control with on March 18th, where the owner had died.  Currently, he is being quarantined.  Amy named him "Fabio" because he is quite the beautiful boy (and he knows it!).  Mark is on his way back to CA from TX for a few days.  We have "hoof days" again this Sun, Mon and Tues, so Kevin (farrier) and Dr. John (vet) will be here.  Hoof days are some of the hardest working and longest days but I always enjoy them because everyone gets to work together for a few days.  Only 1 month from tomorrow for the big spring fundraiser:  PVDR Festival 2008.  I hope you all tell your friends and family, and come join in the fun that day if you are in So. Cal.  I've got some really great items for the silent auction and raffles.  There is something for everyone, so bring your money -- it all helps PVDR animals.  We will have ranch tours, face painting for kids, animal interaction, photo opportunities, concessions, silent auction/raffles, and much, much more!!  Earlier today, I got the cutest photos of my beloved male beardie, Sydney, with Shackleton, the female Savannah monitor.  These days, Sydney would rather flirt with Shackleton, than with his own kind (Adelaide, our female bearded dragon).  Click here to view the photos. 

March 26, 2008
Lots going on here.  Amy & the boys (Josh & Jake) left last Sunday to spend the spring break week in Texas with Mark.  Devin & I are holding down the fort, so to speak.  I've been focused on PVDR Festival 2008 & working on potential SACs for various states.  Shackleton, our Savannah monitor sure has grown.  I remember last October, when we got her, she fit into the palm of my hand.  Now, she is over 1-foot tip-to-tip.  Amazing how fast she has grown -- like a little weed!  Bought a reptile harness for her and tried it out for the first time a couple of days ago.  She did great with it on her.  Click here for pics. 

March 20, 2008
I've been very busy since I returned from Texas with lots of different projects.  The largest one being, of course, the May 3rd fundraiser.  We have some AWESOME gift baskets coming together for the silent auction.  Please remember to mark your calendars to attend.  Info:  PVDR Festival 2008 from 10am until 4pm, with silent auction from 10am until 2pm.  Admission is FREE.  There will be ranch tours (starting from the Visitor's Center) at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.  Also, raffle tickets will be available.  I am still seeking a few more item donations for either our silent auction baskets or as raffle prizes.  Please email me if you can help out.  On Tuesday, March 18th, I assisted Kern County Animal Control with a rescue.  The owner had recently died and left many animals throughout his property, including several snakes.  The conditions we see on many of these rescues that we do can be quite shocking.  The fact that both humans and animals lived in those conditions is unbelievable.  I am including a couple of photos for you to see -- don't worry, I'm not including any of the animals we found (both alive and dead).  The part of these situations that always most surprises me is that it obviously took years for the property to get in that condition.  The fact that no one -- a friend or a family member -- ever stepped in to assist, just stuns me.  Click here for pics.

March 15, 2008
Today we had several visitors to the ranch.  A local Cub Scout Troop (Troop #136)  scheduled a educational tour today, so I spent time showing them and educating them about our various pet shop animals.  Click here for pics.

March 14, 2008
Happy Birthday to my dad, Ron!  Woke up to cold weather today.  Very windy here  and, supposedly, it is going to snow this Sunday.  I'm looking forward to summer!  It sure was great to see all of the Tehachapi ranch animals again.  While I was in Texas, K8E (our bison) passed away suddenly.  Our vet determined it to be a tumor.  As is the case, most of the time, with wild animals, they don't show symptoms until it's too late.  The corral that housed her and our cattle looks empty without her magnificent presence.  Bison are a significant part of our American history and she was an important animal in our education program with local school children.  Sydney, my very-spoiled and loved bearded dragon, gave me a dirty look when he saw me.  If I could read his mind, I'd guess he was not very happy with me leaving him for so long -- even though Devin, Amy and Inger all gave him lots of attention and great care.  I definitely want to THANK those 3 ladies for taking care of all of the reptiles and my cats while I was in Texas.  I wasn't able to download photos to my blog while gone, so I'm going to put them all together now.  Click here to view pics from my Texas trip.

March 13, 2008
Another long day of driving...  Amy & I had great conversations, though, so it makes the time pass more quickly.  We estimated about 9 hours today, however, we had some problems with the straps holding the fridge secure on the flatbed, so we had to make several stops along the way to re-secure them.  And, once we arrived in CA, the speed limit for trucks drops drastically (from 75mph to 55mph), which really slowed our progress.  By the time we got back to Tehachapi (around 7pm), it was another 12 hour driving day.  The whole trip was such a great experience but it sure is nice to get home.  My cats, Ramses & Romulus, were very clingy once I walked in the door. 

March 12, 2008
Amy & I left Miles, TX, this morning with Mark's truck, hauling the broken down blue ranch truck on the flatbed with the extra fridge we had brought down.  It's a big load to haul over 3 states.  We took turns driving, and we drove over 12 hours today.  Stayed in Marana, AZ, for the night.  Mark is staying in TX for the foreseeable future, to personally supervise the Texas Burros Rescue division of PVDR.  Shortly after we headed out, he left to go spend a couple days down at Big Bend Ranch State Park, so he could check out the burro capture situation.  In case you're wondering, Mark has the newly purchased Texas truck for transportation.

March 11, 2008
Today, we are finishing up all of the stuff that we need to get done before Amy & I depart back for CA in the morning.  We will get back to Tehachapi late on Thursday.  Texas has been a great experience for me.  The weather didn't always cooperate and we had some equipment issues but that's probably what will make this experience even more memorable for me.  I met a lot of really great people, who see the value of our burro friends.  I'm always delighted to meet people that see animals the way we do.  Sure saw some beautiful countryside in my many drives around Texas.  Fort Davis is still my favorite for its beauty.  Mark & I sure got a lot done in 3 weeks.  Also, I want to THANK Jan Blumentritt & Charles Sponsel for all of their contributions -- the Texas Wild Burros rescue would not have been possible without them! 

March 10, 2008
Continued the yard/garage work at the Miles' house most of the day.  Went over to the ranch briefly.  PVDR has been invited to participate in the Stallion Springs Round-Up on Sat., June 21st.  Stallion Springs is near Tehachapi, CA, and this is a big festival they are having that day.  We will have a booth, with several of our animals present for attendees to meet.  Mark & Amy just got back from Kansas this evening.  Larry was overjoyed!  He greatly missed his dad & mom. 

March 9, 2008
Busy day today.  Spent most of the day cleaning out all of the stuff left in the garage area of the Miles' house the previous owners left behind.  We can use that space to store PVDR stuff, so it had to go.  It sure looks a lot better now.  I'm an organizer and I can't stand when things are in complete disarray.  Also, did a couple little things over at the ranch.  Counted 10 different neighborhood cats (all with collars and homes) that I've now made friends with, while sitting on the porch in the evenings.  When I get back to CA, my two cats (Ramses & Romulus) are going to smell these other cats and think I've cheated on them.  This evening, another storm hit us.  I've seen a lot of hail in my life but the hail balls tonight were the biggest.  They were almost golf ball size -- wow!  Thank goodness the truck we just bought has a carport area to protect it.  There must be a lot of hail damage to vehicles in this area.  Larry doesn't like storms at all.  Poor thing was just shaking and hiding under the covers next to me. 

March 8, 2008
It's Saturday and I took the day off to do a little exploring.  I drove with Larry (Mark's dog) to San Antonio (3.5 hrs away) to see The Alamo.  I had no idea this historical site was in the heart of the city.  Driving a big diesel truck there was a little challenging, especially finding parking.  It was really neat to see, though.  Got a little turned around in the dark on the Farm Road on the way home, so it took 4 hrs to get back.
March 6, 2008
I was surprised this morning when I woke up and it was thunder & lightning again, and threatening rain.  Mark headed over to the ranch quickly to try and get some things done before it rained.  Well, just a few minutes after he left, the skies opened up and it poured and hailed.  What a bummer.  This was going to be our last day, before I go back to CA on Tuesday, to get major stuff done at the ranch, since Mark is leaving for Kansas tomorrow and won't return until Monday.  The weather just did not cooperate, unfortunately.  I drove over a few minutes later and helped Mark out, while it just became wetter and more muddy by the second.  Miserable weather to be outside.  I thought MN set the record with the extreme weather changes (meaning it could be 80 degrees one day and be in the teens the next) but, I think Texas is even more so -- at least this part of the state.  Two days ago, it was horrible weather.  Then, yesterday, it was beautiful again.  Now, it's windy and snowy/sleeting.  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate tomorrow, when I drive back to our SAC in Odessa for the burro vaccinations. 

March 5, 2008
Beautiful weather today.  It's just night and day different than the cold yesterday.  I like it warm, so I'm loving it.  I froze in MN for too many years, so I prefer dealing with too hot versus too cold anymore.  Mark & I drove to our SAC facility in Odessa to meet the vet.  He performed castrations on all of the males in the group (5 out of the 7 total) and also castrated a male donkey that Jan & Charles had rescued for PVDR a few weeks ago.  Everything went really well.  I always think it's really neat when you can actually see the wild ones, like these 7 that we got in Presidio, start down the road to being gentled.  You can almost see the wheels turn in their heads, weighing whether or not they are curious enough to be touched by humans.  The first time of them allowing themselves to be touched or putting their muzzle out ever so slowly to check you out is a really special moment.  We named the first 7 yesterday and sometime next week, I will put up their photos somewhere on our website with their respective names.  We picked all Texas and/or Spanish names, since these are the first 7 wild burros of our Texas Burros Rescue division.  We are off and running!

March 4, 2008
It was only 8:30pm when I went to bed last night.  Being outside all day in the cold working hard sure takes a lot out of a person (and I've got lots of new bruises to prove it).  The ranch sure is looking good, though.  We got a lot done.  I find it quite remarkable how Mark has the whole ranch planned out in his head and then is able to construct it piece by piece.  Amazing.  My brain doesn't work that way.  First thing this morning, we had another adventure:  on my way over to the ranch to meet Mark and begin the day's work, the blue truck broke down.  I don't know much about auto mechanics but it's something with the drive line, I think.  Anyway, we had planned on getting another truck in Texas, so getting it will be a little earlier than anticipated.  So, we spent some time this afternoon in San Angelo and found a truck.  Tomorrow, we head back to Odessa (to SAC Operators' Jan & Charles) to meet the vet regarding the 7 burros we got the other day from the government.  ** Side note:  I bought a new cell phone today in San Angelo, so I can receive calls again -- yeah!!

February 25, 2008
The weather sure is nice in Miles, Texas.  It's been warm everyday.  Mark is mowing down the ranch property today, in preparation for building the facility.  I am finishing up on the house, then I will be driving into San Angelo.  Last night, I sat on the porch & enjoyed the evening.  It was a perfect night with lots of stars in the sky. 

February 24, 2008
Spent all day finishing the cleaning & organizing the Miles house.  Also, second day in a row, we drove to San Angelo for supplies.  San Angelo is the nearest big city.  Miles is very small, with a population around 800 people.  The house looks great!

February 23, 2008
We arrived at Miles, Texas early this morning.  First, Mark showed me the ranch property.  The cotton crop had just been harvested but it still needs to be mowed before we can start building the ranch.  Afterward, we drove to the staff house in town, about 1 mile away.  The house is really nice with a large yard but it needs a good cleaning.  We spent the rest of the day & well into the evening cleaning & organizing the Miles house.  Also, we met with Jan & Charles, our Texas SAC operators, for lunch.

February 22, 2008
Another long driving day!  We left Tucson at 6:30 am & arrived in Sonora, Texas after 7:00 pm.  The only excitement was not finding any diesel gas for Mark's truck.  We weren't sure if we were going to make it the additional 48 miles to the next town.  We did make it but Mark only had 3 miles of gas left in his truck.

February 21, 2008
Today is the big day:  Mark & I are leaving for Texas in a few minutes to begin Phase I of the Big Bend Ranch State Park wild burro rescue.  Hopefully, I will have access to my blog, so I can give daily updates.  Also, I meant to post a couple of photos from this last week but have been so busy getting ready for Texas (and helping to trim hooves of the wild jacks yesterday), that I haven't gotten a chance before now.  Click here to view:  
Later that day: It's been quite an adventure so far.  Today Mark & I left Tehachapi at 8:30 am.  We both drove trucks & trailers, hauling all of the needed essentials to capture the burros, build the ranch & furnish the Miles house.  About 70 miles from Phoenix, Mark blew a tire on his trailer.  By the time we got to the east end of Tucson, it was about 8:00 pm.  * All pictures will be added to my blog after my return in mid March. 

February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day to you from the donkeys here at PVDR!  It's been pretty windy up here last night and earlier today.  Finally, the wind has seemed to settle down a little.  I want to THANK Debbie Foley for all of her help with getting needed items for the Miles, TX, house & items for the May 3rd silent auction.  Debbie:  you are an angel -- THANK YOU!!!

February 9, 2008
We had a lot of visitors today - probably due to the beautiful and sunny weather.  Here is a pic of one of our young visitors today:
Also, a special thanks to Dave & his daughters for stopping by and visiting us today!

February 6, 2008
Mark & Amy left this morning to deliver more donkeys to our SAC in Oregon, and to rescue 5 more donkeys in Northern California on the way back.  They will return on Friday night.  I'm working on our spring fundraiser on May 3rd.  It will be a really fun day for the whole family.  If anyone has any medium, large or extra large baskets that you'd like to donate to us for our silent auction gift baskets, please contact me.  Also, I am seeking gift cards and tickets for events (i.e. concerts, plays, sporting events, etc) to put in the various baskets.  Since the fundraiser is May 3rd, all tickets should be for events after that date.  Each of the gift baskets has a theme and will contain many different items.  In addition, we will have some larger single items of value in the auction.  Mark your calendars!

February 5, 2008
Now that the show and ice are melting, we've got no shortage of mud puddles.  I got a great photo of a pasture puddle so large, that it looks like a pond!  The reflection of the donkeys looks pretty neat.  Also, we (Devin and I) got pics with some of the A-Herd today, especially of "Miles."  Miles is one of four donkeys heading up to our SAC in Oregon tomorrow.  He is a really sweet donkey, who loves when we sing to him.  We are going to miss him and the other three but it is very exciting for them to all be going to Oregon to find permanent homes of their very own.  Thirdly, Devin got a great pic of Adelaide sitting on my foot as I worked on the computer. 
 Click here for pics:

February 4, 2008
A couple of birthday wishes to share:  Happy Belated Birthday to Devin!!  Her birthday was on Saturday, 2/2.  And, Happy Birthday to Amy!  Her birthday is today, 2/4.  Best Wishes to both!!  The weather has still been pretty poor here in Tehachapi.  Yesterday, it rained all day, then turned to snow last night.  This combination lead to icy roads and lots of fog this morning. 

January 30, 2008
As you may or may not know:  my interview with St. Cloud Times newspaper (in MN) was printed in Monday's paper.  To read, click this link:  http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS01/101280057/1009
Also, I was interviewed by WCCO radio in the Twin Cities, which also aired earlier this week.  This was all in an effort to get the word out about donkeys in the Midwest.  Our goal is to set up Satellite Adoption Centers & find adoptive homes in all 50 U.S. states.  We have already got working SACs in:  Texas, Oregon, and Oklahoma.  And, we have 'pending' SACS in:  Nevada, Washington, Florida, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, New York and New Mexico.  Ideally, we would like to have such an extensive network, that SACs would be no more than 8 hours from the next SAC.   If you are interested in becoming a SAC operator, read and sign our SAC agreement and send it in to us (Attention:  Rachael).  I want to THANK our current SAC operators for the amazing job they are doing, finding adoptive homes for our donkeys.  THANK YOU Jan, Charles, Cindy, Holly, Duane, Fred & Vicki!  The donkeys are so lucky to have you working so hard on their behalf!

January 25, 2008
First of all, I want to THANK everyone who sent in their family pictures to share with us, per Mark & Amy's request.  It was great to see so many photos of you, your loved ones, and your special equine/canine/feline/etc friends.  Thanks for sharing!  It snowed again last night, bringing us up to a total of probably a little over 4 inches in the last 2 days.  Sand Canyon got more snow than any of our surrounding areas.  Due to all of the rain and snow the last few days, our dirt ranch roads are a mess.  We need to dry out before we have lots of traffic on them.  Therefore, we will be CLOSED tomorrow, January 26th, to the public.  Our apologies for any inconvenience.

January 24, 2008
Good morning!  I think I'm back in Minnesota!  We woke up to a winter wonderland again this morning in Tehachapi.  It started raining and then sleeting yesterday afternoon.  There is a 2-inch blanket of fresh snow on the ground.  I took some pics from around the ranch.  Click here to view:  
Also, we are currently seeking donations to furnish our staff house in Miles, TX.  So, if you have dishes, bedding, furniture, etc. -- please only items in good working condition -- that you've been wanting to part with, here is your chance.  Clean out those closets and cupboards and help out a great cause at the same time.  All donations can be dropped off at our Visitor's Center at our Tehachapi facility.  We are open to the public from 9am until 4pm every Saturday.  To arrange a different time to drop off items, please email me directly.  The house in Miles is a 3-bedroom/2-bath and will house many people at one time.  We need kitchen items (pots & pans, cooking utensils, dishes, fridge, microwave, oven, etc.); bathroom items (throw rugs, towels, etc.); bedroom items (bed frames & box springs -- NO mattresses please unless new --  for any of the following:  queen/full/twin/bunk beds;  dressers;  blankets/bedding; NEW pillows only please/NO used pillows; etc.); living room items (sofa, chairs, tv,  lamps, etc.); dining room items (table & chairs);  and laundry room items (washer & dryer).  If you have a large item you would like to donate and you live locally, we may be able to pick up.  If you live within driving distance of our Miles, TX, facility and would like to donate items to that location, please contact me to arrange a time.  Our staff will be headed back to Miles on February 22nd, so this means that we need to receive all donated items before then -- unless the items are being dropped off in Miles.  This is a good excuse to do a little spring cleaning early!

January 21, 2008
Happy Birthday to Josh Meyers today!  He is 14-yrs old.  The wind is very cold here.  It is supposed to snow again tonight/tomorrow.  Since Mark returned from Texas last week, he has been busy working on all of the miniscule details of the Big Bend Project and the building of the Miles facility.  There is a lot going on but it is all very exciting! 

January 17, 2008
I would like to share with you all a phone call I received.  Actually, it's now the second phone call of this nature (from the same individual).  She believes that the only worthwhile animals that should be alive on this planet are furry ones.  All reptiles & birds -- and anything else not 'furry' -- should be killed.  I've tried explaining to her that snakes, for instance, help control the rodent population.  Therefore, if we exterminated all snakes, we would be overrun by rats and mice.  Her response:  "that's what cats are for."  She's convinced that all of our reptiles (we have a total of 11) are going to eat baby donkeys, if given the chance.  With this, I tried to explain that tortoises, for example, are herbivores (meaning they only eat plants/vegetation - not meat), so they couldn't eat a donkey, even if they got some crazy desire to do so.  Actually, it also makes me wonder how my gekkos, which are a little bigger than my finger would go about eating a baby donkey...  They are insectivores, with crickets as their meal of choice, so that would certainly be an interesting visual.   Just so we're all on the same page, let me explain my position.  I am truly a wildlife conservationist.  As I see it, all animal species have relevance for our ecosystem to work as it was intended.  Over and over, we as human beings have discovered that when we eradicate  one piece of the puzzle, another piece becomes unchecked and there are dire consequences.  Whether or not you 'like' a particular type of animal is irrelevant.  It is important that we see the big picture with nature.  And, it is just as important to instill a sense of compassion for and value of animals to our youth.  One of my biggest goals here at PVDR is educating the youth that come through our doors.  Donkeys are amazing animals, and they are great in educating children to treat animals humanely.  However, most kids that visit us aren't able to bring a donkey home as a pet, due to lack of space or living in an apartment or whatever.  It is far more likely that these children will get a smaller, more manageably-sized animal -- like a small lizard, snake or hamster.  This is the main reason we have other types of animals at PVDR -- to educate people (especially the youth) about responsible pet ownership and researching an animal before acquiring it to make sure it's a good fit.   City and county shelters around the country are filled to the brim and euthanize every day unwanted pets.  We are a throw-away society.  When we tire of things (i.e. pets), we get rid of them and get a new one.  It is our goal, here at PVDR, to change this mentality.  It is your job to keep your pet for life, and if circumstances come up that don't allow that, it is your responsibility to find a great new home for your pet.  Period.  The reason that rescues need to exist at all is to clean up other people's messes.  So, for the lady in Florida that demands we kill all of our reptiles in order for her to be willing to donate to us again:  I wish for you peace and understanding.  I hope that 2008 brings enlightenment to you, so that you may learn a new respect for all animals, not just the furry ones.  I write this as my beardie, Adelaide, has her face nuzzled against my neck, with her eyes closed and sleeping.  She's not furry but she is one of the sweetest lovebugs I've ever known, and I'm grateful for her in my life.  Click here for photos of non-furry Adelaide & me: 

January 14, 2008
If you haven't already, please check out Mark's blog.  He is detailing his trip to Texas and the planning stages of the Big Bend Project in Texas.  The weather has been really nice and sunny the last 3 days in Tehachapi.  It's been a welcomed change from the snow and cold we endured for a couple of weeks or so.  I, along with Devin's help, am starting to prepare for a special event here at the Tehachapi ranch in May.  We are calling it:  PVDR Festival 2008.  It will be on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10am until 4pm.  This event will have 3 main purposes:  1) raising funds for the Big Bend Project in Texas; 2) a designated day for our donors to come to the facility and meet-and-greet; and 3) educating the public about animals and responsible pet ownership.  This event is open to all of our donors and to the public.  There will be a silent auction from 10am until 2pm.  Please mark this event on your calendar.  We'd love for you to attend, if possible.  Also, I am seeking item donations for our silent auction.  If you have an item(s) that you would like to donate for this auction, please contact me via the email above.  The Big Bend Project is a huge undertaking and very expensive.  We need your help to save these wild burros.  Give money.  Give items for the silent auction.  Give your time to volunteer.  Spread the word.  It will take all of us to succeed, so please participate in any and all ways that you can.  Thanks!!

January 9, 2008
Okay, so it looks like someone abandoned a dog near our gate yesterday afternoon.  Devin put up posters all around Sand Cyn & in Tehachapi but no one has responded yet.  This is what we think:  it's a neutered male, he is around 1 year old (maybe a little less), some sort of German shepherd mix (maybe with Chow), very friendly and full of energy, and gets along with other dogs.  If this is your dog or if you are interested in placing this dog (either with yourself or someone you know), please contact me ASAP.  Click here for a couple of pics:

January 8, 2008
Sahara's (our albino Burmese python) new enclosure is coming right along.  We've been working on it since June.  The most complicated part is the lighting for such a large space.  Again, I want to THANK our star volunteer, Bob, for his continued dedication in making this enclosure a reality.  In other news:  Mark left today for Oklahoma & Texas for several days.  He is stopping by several areas of Texas, before ending up at Big Bend Ranch State Park in Southwest Texas.  He is getting a tour of the park and will assess the wild burro situation.  Afterward, he will formulate our capture plan.  The park officials estimate approximately 400 burros are on the property -- however, the actual number could be much higher.  We really would like to get a celebrity spokesperson(s) from Texas to help us with our Big Bend Project.   If anyone out there has any connections to celebrities from Texas that can help out in this area, or in any other area (like fundraising or equipment donations), please contact me directly.   I want to take a moment to explain the importance of having a celebrity spokesperson(s) from Texas.  Big Bend Park is HUGE.  And, it's in the Southwest area of the HUGE state of Texas.  Celebrities are capable of reaching a larger audience than us regular folk.  We really need to rally Texans to help out with this project, in order to ensure as much success as possible.  Either PVDR succeeds in removing these burros from the park or the alternative is that they will continue to be shot.  We don't like that alternative, and that is why we have stepped up to the plate to offer our assistance in yet another wild burro rescue.  So, here's where you can help:  1) monetary support; 2) donate needed (wish list) items; 3) volunteer (either with the rescue at Big Bend or at our Miles facility); 4) tell everyone you know about us; and/or 5) call your friends/family in Texas and ask them if they have any connections to celebrities from Texas.  As we've stated before, Big Bend is a massive undertaking.  We are up for the challenge but we need your help.  Please continue to support our cause in every way that you can.  Thank you!

January 7, 2008
The weekend storms definitely weren't as bad as predicted, thank goodness.  However, we did wake up to a 'winter wonderland' at the ranch in Tehachapi this morning.  There were a couple of inches of snow on the ground.  Click here for pics:

January 5, 2008
Yesterday, the first storm hit us.  Our whole canyon lost electricity sometime after 6pm.  It rained here a lot and it was very windy at certain times.  Fortunately, the electricity came back on after only a few hours -- sometime in the wee morning hours today.  We could really use a second generator for emergency situations like this here at the Tehachapi ranch for the Visitor's Center (reptile area).  If anyone out there has a new or used (but works good) generator that they would like to donate to us, please contact me. 

January 4, 2008
The third issue of our newsletter Beyond The Ears is now online, so check it out.  We are having some technical difficulties with the fourth page loading (as was also the case with the last issue), so you most likely won't be able to view the fourth page at this time.  Our area has three different storm fronts coming in between Fri-Sun.  The first (today) is mostly encompassing high winds.  Tomorrow, we are supposed to get lots of rain and maybe some snow.  And, Sunday, it is supposed to snow a lot.  Personally, I never quite believe weather casts until it happens.  So many times, they say one thing and it ends up being the exact opposite.  However, if the storm is as bad as predicted, the Tehachapi facility will not be open (as scheduled) tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 5th) to the public.  We have dirt ranch roads, which lots of rain/sleet can play havoc on. 

January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!  This new year promises to be a very exciting one, with lots of changes and growth for PVDR.  We have the Big Bend rescue project in Texas, a possible large rescue in the Redlands (CA) area, building a surgical suite, and completing our facility in Miles, Texas -- just to name a few things we are currently working on.  Of course, everything costs money, so please be generous in your financial support of PVDR.  We are the ones that get called in to rescue wild burros, when all other efforts fail.  For many of these rescued animals, we are their last hope.  We continue our 100% commitment to changing the plight of the American donkey in 2008 -- and, we hope you remain as committed to helping in every way you can, as well.  Best Wishes for 2008 from all the staff & animals at PVDR, and THANK YOU for your support!!

December 29, 2007
We had quite a few visitors stop by today, despite the very cold wind.  The next issue of  'Beyond The Ears' quarterly newsletter is just being finished up and should be up on the website in a week - if not before.  Check it out. 

December 26, 2007
The weather has gotten very nasty here this afternoon!  It has been very windy all day but now it is alternating between snow and hail.  Poor Amy & Mark had to feed out in this horrible weather just a few minutes ago.  When they came into the office, I got a couple of photos of them with visiting family members.  Click here for pics:
Inger and I just went outside and got a few pics.  Check them out:

December 23, 2007
I just wanted to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a wonderful New Year's from all of the animals and staff at PVDR!  I am very fortunate to be a part of the PVDR team -- doing what I love (working with animals), with people that I admire, and, hopefully, making a little difference in the plight of animals.  I challenge everyone to make a New Year's resolution to actively work to help animals.  It doesn't need to be some grand gesture.  Just take a little time to show compassion when it's needed -- it's something that crosses all of our paths at different times in our lives.  Make a difference.  The animals are counting on YOU!

December 20, 2007
Yesterday, Mark & Amy's daughter, Shelly, held Sahara for the first time.  She is working on getting over her fear of snakes.  She did GREAT!  See pic below of Shelly, Sahara & Inger.  It has been rainy and cold here today.  I'm still working on the next issue of the Beyond The Ears Newsletter -- hopefully, it will be done shortly.  We have a Christmas tree up in the Visitor's Center, and we took a couple of pics this afternoon with the bearded dragons.  Click here to view: 

December 17, 2007
If you'd like to learn a little about venomous snakes, check out our friends Tracy & Brendon's website for The Venomous Snake Research Center at:  www.vsnakercenter.com  They work with all kinds of amazing reptiles.  This morning, I've let Sahara explore the Visitor Center.  She always loves to try and get into the Gift Shop.  I normally don't let her but today, with constant supervision, I let her.  She is always attracted to the shelves, as she loves to climb.  I got a couple of pics of her checking out the merchandise.  Click here for pics:

December 14, 2007
Reminder:  if you are planning on buying holiday gifts from our online store, please order by Monday, Dec. 17th, to ensure you receive your order by Christmas.  It's been another really busy week here at PVDR.  On Monday, Dec. 17th, we will be joined at the ranch by our first "volunteer vacation" participant:  Jules.  She is coming in from Boston for 2.5 weeks.  Jules is working on opening a donkey/dog rescue in the country of Turkey.  We are delighted to have Jules join us here at PVDR.  Welcome Jules!  Yesterday, I got a cute pic of our ranch hand, Todd, with Gromit, our rabbit.  Click here to view:

December 11, 2007
We sure have had a few very busy days in a row.  Last Saturday, we had our December PVDR Trustee meeting, followed by the Trustee/Staff Christmas party.  Great news to report:  Devin Kerley, our Medical Tech/Trainer, was promoted to a position on the PVDR Board of Trustees to PVDR Secretary.  Congratulations Devin!  On Sunday & Monday, we (Mark, Amy, Dr. John (our vet), Kevin (our farrier), Devin, and I) trimmed the hooves of the Moms & Babies Herd.  In addition, Dr. John castrated a couple of our male llamas.  Sunday, it was FREEZING here!  The wind was very bitterly cold all day.  I think we all got chilled to the bone.  Anyone out there who thinks working with animals is all glamorous and fun?  If so, let me set the record straight right now.  It is a lot of hard work in extreme temperatures.  Sometimes, it is unbearably hot, and other times, unbearably cold.  Very rarely is it 'perfect' weather for working outside all day long.  For anyone wishing to order holiday gifts from our online store:  please submit your orders by this Friday, December 14th, if at all possible.  We want to ensure that you receive them in time for your celebration.  Again, we have all kinds of great gift ideas at our online store, so stop by and visit.  As always, all proceeds go directly to benefit the animals here at PVDR. 
Click here for pictures from Nov. 7th - Dec. 11th, 2007:

December 5, 2007
Today was a very busy day.  Mark, Amy, Devin & I wormed the entire B-Herd.  We wormed a total of 188 donkeys in 1 day!  That is a lot of donkeys at one time!  Next week, we are doing hooves again for two days.  We have our PVDR Trustee meeting this Saturday night, followed by the staff holiday party. 

November 30, 2007
Can you believe tomorrow is Dec. 1st?!?  Wow... time sure flies!  It definitely seems like winter is officially here at PVDR.  It has rained off and on all day, and supposedly, it is supposed to start snowing tonight through tomorrow.  The cooler weather always seems to make the donkeys & horses a bit more frisky and fun to watch.  When it rains hard, we try to drag the pastures to even out the ground.  One particular yearling donkey had great fun chasing the drag.  It was hilarious to watch! 

November 29, 2007
As I mentioned previously in the online newsletter, we are still having some difficulty with our internet.  Therefore, at this time, I am not able to add any photos since Nov. 7th.  This means that from my Nov. 12th blog entry until now, there aren't any pics, even though I have some pics to accompany the entries.  After Dec. 1st, I should (hopefully) be able to add the pics for you all to see.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Yesterday (11/28), was Mark Meyers' 43rd birthday.  We organized a little surprise b-day party for him in the office.  A funny anecdote:  I had gotten a cake with a couple of hockey figurines and a net on it, since Mark is such a hockey fan.   While were were waiting for Mark to walk in the door, the candles (there were so many!) caught the net on fire -- and actually the top of one of the hockey players' heads.  It was pretty funny as we were all trying to blow out the fire and then quickly re-light the candles before he walked in the door.  Never a dull day here at PVDR!

November 26, 2007
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday.  My sister, Nancy, and her boyfriend, Gabe, visited from Las Cruces, NM, for several days.  They helped take care of PVDR animals, and Gabe got to work on his fear of snakes by handling all three of our girls.  Great job, Gabe!  This Wednesday, Nov. 28th, is Mark Meyers' 43rd birthday.  Please wish Mark a happy birthday at:  mark@donkeyrescue.org
Our television show project is very exciting!  Mark & I have been working very diligently on it.  We have a couple of major networks that are interested -- keep your fingers crossed that it becomes a reality very soon.  If you haven't already, check out the website at:  www.pvdr247.com 

November 19, 2007
We've been having problems with our internet for a week now, so that is what is going on with my blog and everything on our website.  It won't let us publish new stuff, so please hang in there.  You'll all probably get inundated with all of the changes on December 1st -- just means a lot of back reading!  I apologize for that.  This also affects our online newsletter that I send out.  When everything is up and running normally, I'll probably just group the down weeks together.  I spent yesterday (Sunday) at another facility helping out with a big work party.  The animal world is really amazing in that it really is all connected and everyone knows everyone else.  There are a lot of terrific people that come together to help each other out when needed, which is always a pleasure to see and be a part of.  The facility I went to specializes in large/exotic cats & venomous snakes, both of which fascinate me.  I've been fortunate in the past to work closely with many different types of exotic cats, and it's always so much fun to spend time around them again.  As far as venomous snakes:  they intrigue me like no other.  They are beautiful to watch and admire.  I know there are a lot of people out there reading this that only like mammals, for instance.  I'd like to encourage those people to just spend a little time around other creatures, like reptiles and birds.  Every animal has something unique and special about it.  We can learn a lot from observing nature's handiwork. 

November 13, 2007
Mark & Amy's daughter, Shelly, and their granddaughter, Amaya, are up visiting.  I got a couple of shots with Sydney(our male beardie).  First, he was hiding in his house.  Then, he came to say 'hi' to them.  *I'll add the pics on a future date.


November 12, 2007
Sahara's (Burmese python) new habitat is coming right along.  I want to THANK Bob Hoath and Bob Brandelli for all of their help with making this a reality.  The water tub was installed on Saturday.  Now, Bob H. is working on making a platform to go around it and we are gathering some big tree limbs for her perches.  It's very exciting!  My goal to get Sahara into her new enclosure is Dec. 8th.  However, it might be more realistic to say by New Year's.  We have been working on this since late June.  It's been a slow process but it's going to be very cool when it's complete.  Sahara continues to grow and is now pretty close to ten feet long.  Her maximum length will be around twenty feet long.  She is one lucky girl to be able to go from an 'enclosure' to a 'habitat' -- which is something most captive snakes of her size don't get to experience, unfortunately.  Other reptile news:  Shackleton, our Savannah monitor, is in her "terrible twos," so to speak.  It is extremely important to handle her during this period of her life as much as possible, so that she will settle down as she matures, and will end up being a docile adult.  If you work around animals long enough, you WILL get bit, scratched, stepped on, etc.  It's just part of the experience.  On Saturday, Shackleton bit my left index finger.  No big deal -- just a little blood.  It was my fault because I lessened my grip on her to change hands while holding her.  Monitors are known for their intelligence.  She had a momentary opening and she took it, hence I got bit.  It's a good reminder to always anticipate the unexpected when handling animals.  Also, please remember to always disinfect a bite or scratch (that breaks the skin), to ensure it doesn't get infected.  If you look closely at the pics, you can see the blood on my left index finger.  And, see the pic of her trying to bite me again!  *I'll add the pics on a future date.


November 7, 2007
This morning, Mark, Amy, Devin & I assisted Dr. John with several castrations of wild jacks.  Then, this afternoon, while Dr. John & Devin continued to work on castrations, the rest of us went on a rescue to Rosamond, CA.  PVDR worked with Kern County Animal Control to rescue:  2 donkeys, 1 goat, 2 pot-bellied pigs, and a llama. 

November 3, 2007
We had a very busy week getting donkeys/burros.  On Wednesday, we drove to Oatman, AZ, to get 19 burros.  We left at 6am and didn't get back until 8pm -- one long day!  Then, on Thursday, we picked up an owner surrendered donkey in Inyokern, CA, and then drove to the BLM facility in Ridgecrest, CA, to get another 11 burros.  Busy days! 
Click here to view pics from Oatman:
Today, it has been a warm and beautiful day.  Therefore, I took  Sahara (the Burmese python) outside to take a little bath and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. 
Click here for pics of Sahara & I:

October 30, 2007
Today, we had to catch and treat all of our feathered friends in our aviary.  We have chickens, geese, ducks and guineas.  The guineas are especially quick and tough to catch. 
Click here for pics:

October 29, 2007
Wednesday & Thursday of this week:  Mark, Amy, Devin, and I will be going to collect burros from two different places.  Wednesday, we are going to Oatman, AZ, and will be bringing back 19 burros.  Then, on Thursday, we will be going to Ridgecrest, CA, and will be bringing back 14 burros.  We have A LOT more pick ups planned throughout the month of November, so it's going to be very busy around here.  In other news:  we will be updating our info on Joan Jett, our celebrity spokesperson, very soon.  She has been on tour for the last 14 months and is on her European leg of the tour right now.  We thank Joan for squeezing us into her busy schedule!  We have a couple of projects coming up that we would really like some more celebrity involvement.  If you know of someone that is well-known and an animal advocate that might be interested in donating a little time to help us out, please send him/her my way.  I can be emailed anytime at the top of my blog or at:   rachael@donkeyrescue.org 

October 27, 2007
We definitely had smoke in the air today in Sand Cyn.  Mostly, we have been unaffected by the fires South of us.  The closest fire is over an hour away, so it hasn't been a problem.  However, today, the smoke traveled up to our area.  The next couple of weeks, we have a lot of rescues planned.  We will be traveling all over Arizona, California and Oregon to collect these rescues.  There certainly doesn't seem to be a shortage of donkeys in need, unfortunately....

October 22, 2007
One of our donors, Steve Giger, actually spent the entire weekend (Fri-Sun) helping out at the ranch.  He helped with feeding the animals three times, even though it was very cold and windy -- and he wore shorts!! 
Click here for pics:
Also, we got several pics of PVDR donor Ria Nolen and her family (husband Bill and son Pat) interacting with the animals on Saturday.
Click here for pics:

October 21, 2007
Yesterday, we had several of our donors come visit us, which was wonderful!  We love being able to show our donors the ranch.  And, everyone always loves meeting the animals -- the true stars of PVDR! 

October 17, 2007
Wow - we sure have had really bad weather the last couple of days.  Both the 58 Fwy & the 14 Fwy were closed yesterday due to severe wind and dust storms.  There have been major car accidents due to the low visibility.  And, today, the really bad dust storms continued in our area.  For anyone out there that thinks working outside with animals is glamorous, I have a couple of pics for you to see.  It is really no fun at all to feed when it is super cold and windy and blowing dust.  Every pore in your face gets covered with dirt, including getting it in your eyes, ears, nose and mouth.  Definitely not glamorous. 
Click here for pics:

October 16, 2007
It's very windy and chilly here today.  Winter appears to be right around the corner.  Got a couple of great pics of Sahara, the albino Burmese python, exploring the Visitor Center this morning. 
Click here for pics:

October 15, 2007
I can't believe it's the middle of October already.  Where does the time go?!?  Mark & Amy & family are leaving on Wednesday for a weeklong trip to Hawaii.  This is the first real vacation they will have had in a really long time.  As you can imagine, PVDR is a 7 day a week commitment.  They are using their settlement money from their car accident last February to pay for their trip.  They were in a bad car accident -- a person pulled right into them and claimed he didn't see them.  It's hard to understand how someone can not see a big truck hauling a big trailer with a donkey in it.  Anyway, the donkey was okay but the truck was a complete loss.  Hopefully, they will have an amazing time, where they can allow themselves to relax and forget about us here for a little bit.  As always, when Mark & Amy are out-of-town, I hold down the fort.  Once they return from their trip, we have a lot of pending rescues to take care of.  The weather has actually been warm and beautiful the last couple of days here in Sand Canyon.  To see photos from last Saturday of members of the public interacting with some of the reptiles, click on the link below. 
Click here for pics:

October 12, 2007
Sydney, our male beardie, loves to go outside for walks.  However, it's been a little chilly the last few days (except for yesterday).  On Wednesday, with the sun beating down, it was nice and toasty in  my car.  So, Sydney and I sat in my car for a few minutes.  He loved it!  Click here are pics:



October 10, 2007
Last night, Devin & I rescued two horses that had been abandoned by their owner in a local canyon.  Both horses were emaciated and extremely dehydrated.  We have placed them in foster care for the time being, since we are a donkey rescue and not a horse rescue.  Once they are checked out by a vet, we will permanently place them.  I think the part of this story that is most disturbing is that these horses were abandoned in an affluent, equestrian area.  Apparently, many people in this area knew of these horses' plight and yet did nothing.  To me, it seems rather contradictory to 'love horses' and yet turn a blind eye to hungry/thirsty ones.  In rescue, one has to realize that everyone can't be saved.  But (and I really want to emphasize this) we as human beings have an obligation to show compassion and to help out to the best of our abilities.  Not everyone is capable of walking into this canyon, collecting the animals and then walking out the 5 miles like we did last night.  However, most people are capable of picking up a phone and calling Animal Control.  And, most people are capable of providing a little water and food to hungry animals.  Please take an active part in helping animals in need.  I'm sure if given a choice, these horses would have preferred euthanasia versus starvation, as the latter is a very slow and painful death. 

October 8, 2007
It was a busy weekend, so I'm just now getting a moment to put up pics from last Saturday.  First, here are some pics of one of our young volunteers interacting with various animals.  Her name is Niki and we really appreciate her help:
Click here for pictures

October 6, 2007
On Thursday, we welcomed a new member to our Educational Animals program:  a 3-month old baby girl Savannah monitor.  She was an owner surrender.  Who could not want such a cute baby?!?  Anyway, I had been looking to rescue one of these for awhile because they make great educational animals, and are unlike any of the other lizards we currently have in our program.  Once the name is finalized, I will let you all know.  She is about 4 inches long right now but will grow up to 4 feet long as a mature adult.  Due to their size & habitat requirements, they do not make good pet choices for most people.  Here are a couple of pics of the baby with Devin & me:
  Click here for pictures

October 4, 2007
Here is a pic of our newest ranch hand, Garrett.   Garrett started one week ago.
Click here for pictures 


October 3, 2007
We just finished with our two days of doing hooves, vaccinations, and castrations.  These days are always long, dirty, and full of hard work but I think they are a favorite of us all here at PVDR.  They are rewarding because we accomplish a lot but it also allows us to all work together.  We get to catch up and crack jokes and have some fun.  Devin, our new donkey trainer/animal handler, got to experience her first 'hoof days.'  The team included:  Mark, Amy, Dr. John (vet), Kevin (farrier), Devin, and me.  Also, two of our ranch hands, Todd & Ryan, pitched in here and there.  And, PVDR Trustee Debbie Foley helped out on Wednesday.  Here are a few photos that I took.  WARNING - these photos show surgical procedures.  If blood bothers you, you may not want to view the photos.  The first photos are of Kevin, our farrier, trimming hooves: Click here for pictures


October 2, 2007
Today and tomorrow are hoof/vaccination days here at PVDR. 

September 28, 2007
The old jenny we named Matilda that we got in over a week ago has stolen my heart.  She is estimated to be 45+ years old.  Every day, I have to stop in and give her some love and attention or boy, does she let out the loudest brays -- ones that only a spoiled old gal like her are capable of.  We got our photo taken together -- and she sure was a ham!  Click here for pictures


September 27, 2007
Some of our regular visitors to the ranch are  Andrea & two of her girls (Morgan & Taylor).  Here are a couple of photos.  The ones with Adelaide (bearded dragon) actually show her 'arm waving' (a common method of communication with beardies): Click here for pictures


September 22, 2007
It has rained off and on most of the day today.  Devin & I fed this afternoon in pouring rain, which is always a delight.  When you throw hay in the wind and rain, some of it blows back and sticks to you.  I'm sure we'd make a great pair of scarecrows, with all the hay we're wearing!  Earlier today, we were thrilled to have a visit from two antique car clubs:  the Pomona Valley Model A Club & the Bakersfield Model A Club.  They had around forty people visiting us today.  Here are some pics:
Click here for pictures

September 19, 2007
Mark, Amy & I went to Ventura Animal Control in Camarillo today and picked up a donkey and a llama.  Most likely, we will be placing the llama with a lady interested in him but unable to take him by the deadline.  Also, we picked up a donkey in Quartz Hill -- an owner surrender -- on the way home.  On Saturday, Mark & Amy will be heading out again -- this time for Oregon -- to rescue several donkeys.  While PVDR has done many out-of-state donkey rescues, this will be the first one to utilize  staff from one of our Satellite Adoption Centers.  Cindy Sinks, one of our Satellite Adoption Center Operators for Oregon, will be assisting in the rescue. 

September 18, 2007
It was a beautiful day in Sand Cyn today.  The weather was perfect.  Tomorrow, Mark, Amy & myself are going to Ventura County to collect a donkey from a shelter. 

September 15, 2007
Update from yesterday's blog entry.  It is with an extremely heavy heart and with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of the little blind donkey boy.  In 3 short days, he captured my heart -- along with many others -- and made a permanent impression on me.  He steadily declined all day yesterday despite our best efforts to help him.  I kept hoping for a miracle but, it seems to me, his fate was predestined by nature.  He was held and loved until the end.  I'm grateful to have had the privilege to know such a sweet little soul.  I want to thank everyone who helped take care of him (especially Devin, Inger, Todd, Ryan and Tracy) and for all of you that sent good thoughts and wishes his way.  Here are a few more pics of the baby's brief time with us:  Click here for pictures


September 14, 2007
Happy Anniversary to my parents today!  Boy, have I been busy the last few days -- hence, not being able to write on my blog until now.  This past Tuesday, one of our wild pregnant jennys that came in this spring gave birth.  Then, less than 24 hours later on Wednesday, she abandoned her new baby.  I want to point out that this is highly unusual for a donkey/burro to do.  However, nature has a way of taking care of itself.  Sometimes, animals will willfully abandon their babies if they have health issues, which was the case with this baby.  He was born blind.  And, due to his mother's neglect, he went without precious nutrition during a critical time.  I've worked with other abandoned babies in the past, from housecats to rabbits to baby tigers, and it is extremely difficult to keep the baby/babies alive after being abandoned.  We are doing everything possible and I'm going into my third night of little-to-no sleep due to the frequent feedings.  He is a cutie, and he needs your good wishes for improved health.  Please send good thoughts his way and I'll keep you posted on his progress.  Here are some pics.  The first is him sleeping on the floor of my cabin.  The following pics are of me feeding him this morning.  Click here for pictures


September 8, 2007
A big THANK YOU to my work party volunteers today:  Debbie, Christy & Rachel!  They helped with a mailing project, cleaned the large 'senior' donkey enclosure, & groomed/socialized donkeys.  Here are some pics: Click here for pictures

 Click here for old pictures

September 7, 2007
Wow - what a crazy busy week!  Let's talk a little bit about 'rescue.'  As you know, we rescue, give sanctuary, and educate here at PVDR.  One important point I want to make, though, is regarding rescue.  The first rule of any kind of rescue work is:  you can't rescue everybody.  It would be incredible if we could but it is just not possible.  Anyone working in any kind of rescue learns this rule almost immediately.  It is sad but it is reality, unfortunately.  Therefore, one has to come up with his/her own criteria of what is or is not rescued.  Here at PVDR, we rescue donkeys/burros.  We are the largest donkey rescue in the U.S. and we are 100% committed to helping as many donkeys as possible.  Donkeys are, and always will be, first and foremost in the pecking order of helping animals for PVDR.  With that said, I want to point out that PVDR is committed to helping out other species of animals whenever possible.  We are able to take in a certain amount of other livestock and educational animals.  However, it is not an infinite number.  It has a lot to do with the space required for the animal, whether or not we already have that particular type of animal, if it will benefit the education program that we have, and if there are circumstances in which we feel compelled to take in the animal.   If we are not able to take in a particular animal, we try to network with other groups & individuals whenever possible to help an animal in need.  Please understand:  if we took in every dog, horse, snake, and mule that we heard about, it would use up our space and resources, so that we would be more limited in our efforts to help donkeys.  We are called Peaceful Valley DONKEY Rescue for a reason -- the bottom line is that it's about the donkeys.  With this said, I do want to report some great news on the rescue front at PVDR.  On Wednesday at 10am, I received an email that 2 red-tailed boas (snakes) were going to be euthanized at Pasadena Humane Society at 11am that day, if no one came forward.  I called PHS and asked for an extension, which they granted until Thursday 2pm.  I put out several calls to the reptile rescue community to try and place these animals before the deadline, since we weren't able to take them physically here at PVDR at this time.  Well, it came down to the wire and I left Tehachapi at noon yesterday to make the 2-hr drive down to pick up the animals before their scheduled euthanasia time.  Both animals are beautiful & receiving GREAT foster care by our friends, Tracy & Allen.  A big THANK YOU to Tracy & Allen!   The other positive aspect of this story is our new relationship with PHS.  We love happy endings here at PVDR!  Other news:  we currently have a full-time & a part-time position as ranch hands available.  Please email me if interested.  Also, the new issue of "Beyond The Ears" newsletter is finished.  It will go up on our website for viewing/printing in the next couple of days. 

September 2, 2007
Can you believe we are already in Sept?!?  Where did the summer go?  It has been very hot in Southern California the last few days.  I've been busy putting together the next quarterly issue of the "Beyond the Ears" newsletter.  It's got some really great articles from new contributing writers.  It should be on our website for viewing & printing by mid-Sept.  Reminder:  our next big work party is Sat., Sept 8th from 9am until noon.  If you are interested in joining us, please drop me an email.  Here is a photo of one of our visiting families yesterday:


August 30, 2007
We had a welcomed surprise this morning:  rain!  It started at 5:30am and rained off and on for a couple of hours.  It sure was nice to get a little moisture.  Also, today, we offered to take some animals from another sanctuary in Southern California that is threatening to close it's doors.  We were turned down.  Hopefully, they will contact us before it comes to the point of them having to euthanize their animals.   Here is another pic from yesterday:
 Liz, Terri & Rachael (with Sahara)

August 29, 2007
Gwendolyn, our female California desert tortoise has a respiratory infection (which are common ailments of these animals).  Here is a pic of me giving her medication this morning:

This afternoon, my good friends Liz & Terri came to PVDR for a visit.  Here is a pic with Terri & Liz with Pocahontas, and with the gekkos (Caesar & Octavius):
 

August 28, 2007
We have been working with Kern County Animal Control to take a neglected donkey.  However, today, when Mark & Amy showed up, they discovered that the animal in question was in fact a mule.  If anyone is looking to adopt a mule, please contact Kern County Animal Control.  It is a female, approximately 3-yrs old.  And, she is very aggressive and will need a lot of TLC to become manageable. 
Recently, I took a few photos for my holiday/Christmas card this year (yes, I'm early but December always sneaks up when you're not looking!).  I picked out 3 of my favorites and would love your feedback as to which is your favorite and the one I should use.  Please email me the name of the animal in the photo with me to identify which picture.  Here they are: 


August 25, 2007
It's a beautiful Saturday at PVDR!  We've had many visitors today, including the Hargiss family reunion (with family members all the way from Wisconsin).  Here is a pic of them enjoying their time with the donkeys:


August 24, 2007
Awesome news to report:  we have approached a very talented celebrity to become a national spokesperson for us and she has accepted.  Drumroll please..... Joan Jett!  Joan has been a trailblazer for women in music, and now she is lending her voice to help us get out the word on a national/global level about the plight of the American donkey.  Welcome aboard, Joan, to the PVDR team!  You can check out Joan Jett's official website at:  www.joanjett.com
Stay tuned for further updates. 

August 21, 2007
We have an email newsletter that we are sending out weekly.  To sign up, go to the Donkey Rescue home page.  We've had a lot of smoke the last couple of weeks in the Tehachapi area due to the out-of-control Zaka fire in Santa Barbara County.  The fire is nowhere close to us but the winds carry the smoke and ash into our area.  We've come into possession of 3 baby hamsters that need a new home.  If interested, please contact me at:  rachael@peacefulvalley.info 

August 17, 2007
Yesterday, 8/16/07, was our visit from KTLA-TV Los Angeles.  Gayle Anderson, reporter, and her crew drove up to Tehachapi by 6:15am and stayed until after 10am.  It was very exciting for us to be interviewed by someone so interested in helping animals.  Gayle was a real trooper!  She went in with the donkeys and even rode on the hay cart during feeding time.  Any time we are able to get the word out to a large audience about the plight of the American donkey, it's a great thing. 

August 15, 2007
Reminder to everyone that gets KTLA:  PVDR will be doing a LIVE interview tomorrow morning (August 16th) with KTLA-TV Los Angeles.  Reporter Gayle Anderson will be spending the morning with us.  Here is the actual time breakdown (PST):
6:55am LIVE pre-show open; 10 sec.
7:30am LIVE tease; 10 sec.
7:40am LIVE 3-4 min.
8:30am LIVE tease; 10 sec.
8:40am LIVE 3-4 min.
9:30am LIVE tease; 10 sec.
9:45am LIVE 3-4 min.

August 14, 2007
This past Saturday, we had a lot of visitors.  Here are some pics from August 11th:

In other news:  Saturday & Monday (August 13th) were the next two steps for Sahara's new enclosure.  Saturday, a light green paint went on the walls.  Then, Monday, we added tree branches.  Next, will be the vines and leaves.  After the walls are completed (which will take a few more days of work), the floor will be the following step.  It sure is exciting to see the day-to-day progress. 

August 10, 2007
Our interview with Channel 17 of Bakersfield aired earlier this week.  Unfortunately, most of our message was lost during the editing process.  Hopefully, during our LIVE interview with KTLA next week, we can really get the word out about our new National Plan to Improve the Plight of the American Donkey.  Here is a pic of our farrier, Kevin Elliott, with Sahara earlier this week.  Kevin was in town for two days this week to trim hooves.


August 6, 2007
Our interview with Channel 17 of Bakersfield is supposed to air tomorrow (8/7) between the 5pm-6pm news time.  So, if you get Channel 17, check us out.  The next two days, we will be trimming hooves here at PVDR.  Today, the next step in Sahara's new enclosure was completed.  Two coats of sealer/primer went on the walls.  It's very exciting to see the weekly progress on her future enclosure.  Again, a big thank you to volunteer Bob Hoath for his hard work and expertise.  Here is a pic of one of the primed walls:


August 3, 2007
I can't believe it's August!  Where has the time gone...  On July 31st, I got a couple of great pics of each of the beardies.  Here is our beautiful Adelaide:

We've been busy lately getting the word out about our new national campaign to improve the plight of the American donkey.  We can use your help with this:  please tell your friends and family about us, our website, and the important work we are doing in the animal field.  The cornerstones of our organization are:  rescue, sanction, and educate.  It's not enough to just rescue; it's not enough to just give sanction; it's not enough to just educate -- all three of these play an equal and important part in the mission to protect animals for now and for the future.  Be a part of our team.  Getting the word out, volunteering, and/or donating are great ways to do this.  We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, that relies solely on private donations.  All donations go directly to help PVDR help animals.  In our efforts to get the word out, we are presently conducting several interviews with Southern California media -- i.e. television stations and newspapers.  Today, we were interviewed by Channel 17 of Bakersfield.  The air date hasn't been finalized yet but it will air during the evening news sometime next week.  Also, we have an interview scheduled with KTLA for this coming Friday, 8/10.  As soon as the times are finalized (it will be a LIVE interview), I will post it on my blog for all of you to check out, if you get KTLA (Los Angeles). 

July 30, 2007
The last couple of days, it's been pretty warm in So. Cal.  A wild rabbit took a little shade under my vehicle yesterday:

Today, we (PVDR) were mentioned in a story about Donkey Days in the local Tehachapi newspaper.  And, photos of one of the donkeys, Adelaide, and Sahara appeared in the story.  Also, the very cute calico kitten (scroll down & see photos in my blog entry on July 16th) is up for adoption again.  The person who adopted her turned out to be allergic, so she is looking for a great home once again.  If you are interested, please contact me at:  rachael@peacefulvalley.info

July 27, 2007
Congratulations to Lynn Laborde for having the winning raffle ticket for our PVDR gift basket from Donkey Days!  And, a reminder to everyone that we are open to the public every Saturday from 9am until 4pm, so if you're in the area, stop in and see us!

July 25, 2007
Happy Birthday to my sister Nancy!  Yesterday, we had a visit from our friends at Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue.  They are a mustang rescue.  You can check out their website at:  www.wildhorserescue.org  Jill, Chris, and Lisa came on the visit.  They, like us here at PVDR, have an appreciation and respect for all types of animals.  Here are pictures of them meeting Sahara:

Also, our first 6 donkeys for the satellite adoption center in Oregon left today.  Two of my favorite girls were in the group.  Ruby is on the left and Chop is on the right.  We sure will miss them but we are excited for them to get great new homes of their very own.

Also, work has begun on the wonderful new habitat for Sahara.  We are converting an entire room to accommodate her size and future growth.  It's going to be very exciting when it is finished.  The first step was taking all of the existing stuff out of the room (we are converting a room that was a bathroom).  The second step (which we are currently on) is putting up green board on the walls.  We have a star volunteer (with carpentry skills) that is heading up this huge project.  THANK YOU to Bob Hoath for your time and hard work -- you are going to make Sahara one happy girl!  Here is Bob hard at work:

Anyone else that wishes to help build Sahara's new habitat, send me an email at: rachael@peacefulvalley.info

July 23, 2007
Donkey Days last Saturday went very well.  It was really nice to meet people, and show them some of our amazing animals.  We brought several donkeys, a horse, and a steer to the event.  In addition, Adelaide (our female beardie) and Sahara (our albino Burmese python) attended.  All animals were a huge hit, especially with the kids.  Although, I will say, Sahara is a star wherever she goes.   She is such a big beauty that she catches everyone's eye as they pass by.   And, today in the Tehachapi area, we had a very strange occurrence.  There was this cold, wet stuff falling from the sky....  We couldn't imagine what it was... Low & behold, it was rain!!  It's been so long that Southern California has seen the stuff, it was tough to remember what it looked and felt like.  Unfortunately, it BARELY sprinkled -- not even enough to coat the ground.  I'm crossing my fingers for a big old thunderstorm. 

July 20, 2007
Good news -- the little calico kitty I talked about on July 16th WAS adopted into a GREAT home.  A girl named Alison adopted her and named her "Pepper."  Yeah!  We love happy endings around here.  Today, we have been getting ready to participate in Donkey Days in Tehachapi tomorrow.  Hours will be from 9am until 5pm, then there will be a street dance in the evening.  It is located on South Street, near Ranch Supply.  If you are planning on coming to Donkey Days, stop by and check out our booth and animals.  We will be bringing several animals to the event, and we will have a raffle set up for a really great PVDR gift basket.  Also, I want to send a big THANK YOU out to our newest volunteer at PVDR:  Bob Hoath!  Bob is helping us out with a large project.  Thank you, Bob!

July 16, 2007
Anyone out there looking to adopt an adorable kitty?  A beautiful calico female kitty was found abandoned outside a local Burger King.  She is approximately 8 weeks old.  We are trying to help place her in a great and loving and permanent home.  Here are a couple of photos:
Please contact me for more info if interested in possible adoption of this beautiful and very friendly girl.  Other news:  we have another awesome addition to our animal family.  Last night, we received a gorgeous 3-yr old female California Kingsnake from our friend Tracy at a reptile rescue.  We have named her Pocahontas. 


July 13, 2007
Happy Friday the 13th to you all!  Another warm and beautiful day in So. Cal.  Tomorrow morning, Mark & Amy leave for Texas with six donkeys.  They are bringing them to our Satellite Adoption Center there.  They are all very sweet and loving donkeys, and we'll miss them here -- although we know they will all be eventually getting great homes of their own.  One of the donkeys is Beaumont, who is one of our favorite personalities here at Peaceful Valley.  In the June newsletter, we featured a close up picture of Beaumont's favorite activity:  getting his butt scratched by anyone willing to scratch it.  Beaumont isn't shy about letting you know he wants his butt scratched.  Our hope is that his new adoptive family will enjoy scratching it as much as we have.  Below are a couple of pics from this morning.  The first is Inger saying 'goodbye' and the second is of me scratching just one more time. 


July 7, 2007
We sure have had some hot weather here in So. Cal. the last few days.  Tip of the day:  it is important to make sure your pets have plenty of water available to them in hot weather in order to keep them healthy and hydrated.  Today, Sahara and I got a little sun together, as you can see from the photo below.  Also, one of our fat-tailed gekkos (Caesar) is shedding.  I was able to get a great photo of his shed as he pulled it from his body.  All lizards shed as they grow.  Fat-tailed gekkos actually tear their shed from their body with their mouth. 


July 6, 2007
I hope you all had a good 4th of July.  It was a regular work day around here, except that I had several friends come up and interact with the animals and groom donkeys, which was great.  Below are a few photos from the 4th.  The first one is with my friend Liz Hernandez (center of photo) with some of her family members and our two California desert tortoises.  The second photo is Diana Sabat with our albino Burmese python.  And, the remaining photos are of grooming donkeys in the A-Herd.  


July 2, 2007
On Saturday night (6/30), we got another new member of the PV family.  We got an albino Burmese python snake named "Sahara" donated to us.  She had outgrown her owner's space.  I'd like to use this opportunity to remind everyone how important it is to research your animal before getting it.  Find out if an animal (like a snake, for instance) will max out at three feet long -- or twenty feet long.  There is a BIG difference.  Just because you can care for an animal when it is young, doesn't mean you will be able to provide for it as it matures.  Another example of this are iguanas.  Anyway, we are delighted that Sahara's owner chose us to give her permanent residence, and she is going to make a GREAT educational animal for the school fieldtrips that visit us.  She is nine feet long at this time, and she is only four years old.  She will get much larger.  I will be putting up more info regarding Sahara in the "Our Animals" section very soon.  Here are a couple of photos of her first day with us.  The first one is her with me, the second is with Todd, and the third is with Inger (Inger was giving her a big kiss!). 



July 1, 2007
Where has the time gone...  I can't believe it's already July!  We've been very busy the last few days.  Yesterday (Saturday), we had a lot of visitors that stopped to see us while on vacation.  It seems that our visitors are always amazed at the magnitude of our operation -- our website is great but to accurately get a feel for our size and scope, you must come visit us in person.  We have visitors from all over the U.S. come to see us.  It's so wonderful to know that our message is getting out there to you all -- and thanks to all of you for passing along our info to others.  As Mark has mentioned, we are on a huge fundraising mission.  We need to raise a lot of funds in order to continue our mission of rescue & education.  And, we really rely on your help in making this happen.  Other news:  Friday, we had a lady donate her California desert tortoise to us.  She is moving out-of-state.  The tortoise is a female and is approximately 40 years old.  Her name is Gwendolyn.  She is really a sweetie, with a big appetite! 

June 23, 2007
I want to THANK our three volunteers today:  Justin Dobson, Edwin Cernas, and Juan Cortes.  These young men drove up from Culver City to help us clean a large enclosure & groom donkeys -- THANK YOU for your help! 

June 21, 2007
For the last couple of days, Jan & Charles, our Satellite Adoption Center operators from Odessa, Texas, have been visiting us in Tehachapi.  It was great to finally meet them.  Also, we have a new ranch hand named Eric.  Cleopatra, the ball python, shed her old skin yesterday, so she is looking especially vibrant and beautiful.  I want to give a big shout out to Inger Wiltz -- it is her birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Inger, and thank you for all you do for PV!  We have a new satellite center that will be opening in Central Point, Oregon.  Over the last few days, we have taken in 7 more donkeys.  One came from a horse rescue, 3 from a shelter, and the rest were surrendered from owners who could no longer care for them.  Again, I want to remind everyone that before you take on an animal in your life, please make sure you are able to care for it for the life of the animal.  If you can't make that commitment, please don't get the animal... 

June 19, 2007
Let's talk about bearded dragons today.  Bearded dragons are lizards native to Australia.  They are very popular in the pet trade because they are very docile, they stay relatively small, and they only live (usually) between 8-10 years.  They are omnivores, so they eat a diet of various vegetables and fruit, with some protein (i.e. animals).  Sydney, our male, loves superworms and mealworms.  Adelaide, our female, loves (almost exclusively) crickets.  A lot of beardies don't necessarily like to eat their veggies, so it can be a challenge to find ones they will eat.  Every second or third feeding, they also need a calcium supplement added to their food.  Here, we 'shake-and-bake,' so to speak.  This means we put the crickets or worms in a small plastic bag with the calcium supplement until they are lightly coated with the supplement.  Beardies need heat lamps, UVB/UVA lamps, and under tank heating pads.  For adult beardies, I would recommend at least a 40 gallon tank to house your beardie in.  They need a higher place in which to bask in the heat lamp, like a nice big piece of driftwood.  All animals should be provided a house or place to hide, if they wish.  And, of course, water and food dishes are needed.  Males can be especially territorial, so if you have more than one beardie (and at least one is a male), you may want to block their view of each other.  Sydney is very territorial and doesn't care for Adelaide at all, so we have a three-sided desert motif on the outside of his enclosure.  And, when we have either of the beardies out, we strive to make sure they don't see each other.  Beardies love to be held and really enjoy just sitting on laps.  As I write this, Sydney is sitting on my lap.  As with all animals, every beardie has their own personality and likes and dislikes.  Syndey really enjoys going for walks every day and is not shy about letting me know when he is ready.  Adelaide, on the other hand, doesn't care to go on walks.  She prefers to sit on my lap and have her head stroked.  I do want to clarify:  when I take Sydney on walks, I am holding him and I'm doing the walking -- he is just enjoying being outdoors and seeing the sights and sounds around him.  I have seen leashes for beardies and it is great to get them exercise.  However, it is a safety issue here, so we don't do that.  There are a lot of potential predators here (i.e. red-tailed hawks), so I prefer to carry the beardies when outside. 

June 16, 2007
Today (Saturday) was our weekly visitor day at PVDR.  We had a lot of folks stop by, which was great.  One of our donkey trainers, Colleen, gives 'donkey talks' when she is here and people are allowed in with her and the A-Herd for some one-on-one interaction.  Some of our popular donkeys are:  Chewy, Jet, Beaumont, Timmy, Teabags, Carmen, and Thomas.  Colleen's tip for the day is:  "when training donkeys, you need to be consistent and patient.  And, it is equally important to touch your donkey's legs and lift their hooves regularly to aid when they get their hooves trimmed."  Also, today was our first volunteer work party day.  I want to send a big THANK YOU to:  Deborah, Randy, Jo, Cynthia & Olga for helping fold newsletters & moving donkeys around (to different enclosures).  The last two days this week (Thurs & Fri) were our monthly trimming hooves/vaccinations/castration days.  Mark, Amy, Kevin, Dr. John & myself had long days out in the sun & wind taking care of the Moms & Babies 1 Herd, plus a few others.  A little sad news:  one of our senior residents in the Forgotten Animal Sanctuary has departed us.  Sassie, a beautiful quarterhorse 20+ years old passed away on Thursday.  We will miss you, little girl.... 

June 12, 2007
My family's visit to PVDR is now over, and they are on their way back to Minnesota & New Mexico.  My mom (Becky) and my grandma (Elma) came to visit from Bemidji, Minnesota.  While, my sister Nancy, the archeologist, came to visit from Las Cruces, New Mexico.  While they were here, I had an open house for some of my friends, so they could meet my family and witness the educational programs that we do here at PVDR firsthand.  It was a great crowd and I think everyone learned a lot about the various animal residents of PVDR.  I want to remind all of you local folks that our first big work party will be this coming Saturday, June 16th, from 9am until approximately 12pm.  Bring plenty of fluids to drink (the weather is getting very hot here) and wear old clothes & work gloves.  And, a reminder:  anytime you are around donkeys or other livestock animals, you need to wear close-toed shoes (boots are preferred).
 

June 7, 2007
Wow -- it sure was cold and windy up here yesterday!  The last two days, the weather was unusually cold for this time of the year.  However, today, we are back to warm and sunny.  We have named our female beardie "Adelaide."  We wanted to keep the theme of Australian city names for our beardies.  She is really sweet.  And, she sure loves eating crickets!  Today, we've been working on de-worming and vaccinating our A-herd and Moms & Babies 1-herd.  Tomorrow, I have family coming to town for a long weekend visit.  They are coming from Minnesota & New Mexico.  Hopefully, I can get some pictures of them with some of our animals to share with you all.  

June 5, 2007
I am delighted to announce the newest addition to the PVWAR family:  another bearded dragon!  It is a female, and she actually looks quite different than Sydney.  She came with a name that we may or may not keep -- I'll keep you posted.  She is 2-yrs old and absolutely beautiful!  Her family couldn't keep her any longer, so she came to live with us at Peaceful Valley.  Very soon, I will take her photo and add it  to the Our Animals page.  It is an especially windy day today in the Tehachapi area.  We are under a wind advisory until tomorrow morning.  Since we are located in a canyon, the wind can really whip through here at times. 

May 31, 2007
Yesterday was a very busy day, as several of our animals had their routine vet check ups.  I really want to emphasize the importance of regular medical check ups with your animals.  When we get animals, we need to provide the  5 basics:  food, water, shelter, vet care, and love.  Those people that are unwilling or unable to provide any of those five, need to not get the animal(s).  It has to be a 100% commitment.  And, one of the things I emphasize to the school kids that visit is that getting a pet is a LIFETIME commitment.  This means that when the puppy or kitty becomes an adult, it is NOT acceptable to bring it to the shelter because it's no longer "cute" and get another animal.  When it comes to animals, I have a soap box that I like to jump on rather frequently.  The thing is:  animals, like children, cannot defend themselves.  So, it is up to us to stand up for what is right and humane.  I had a young girl the other day come up to me and ask  a question.  She said she had a neighbor that abuses his animals and she didn't know what she could do about it.  I told her that it could be reported to law enforcement and/or other agencies.  She seemed to ponder that answer and asked me again what she specifically could do about it.  I told her that it's okay for her to tell another person -- even an adult -- that it's bad to hurt animals and to ask him/her to stop what he/she is doing.  She seemed a little surprised by that but I reassured her that it's okay, even at a young age, to speak out against what you know to be wrong.  And, it's been my experience that sometimes when you call people on their behavior, it causes them to have to do a little self-examination.  I was raised to believe that standing idly by and allowing bad things to happen in front of you is almost as bad as doing them yourself.  So, everyone out there in internet land:  stand up for what is right and protect the animals (and the environment) around you!

May 29, 2007
Today, we had a field trip from the 6th grade classes of Jacobson Middle School of Tehachapi.  We had a great time telling the students about the importance of animal care and responsibility.  Then, we introduced them to all of our animal residents.  We have been very busy the last few weeks with class field trips from the Palmdale, Tehachapi, and Bakersfield areas.  

May 28, 2007
Hi everyone -  I joined the Peaceful Valley team officially on my first day, April 30, 2007.  I have been very busy setting up the new Volunteer Program & the Education Program, and learning the day-to-day operations of the ranch.  One of the things I most enjoy doing every day is taking our bearded dragon, Sydney, for a long walk.  He is getting very spoiled!  Last night, I had a large gopher snake on my front porch, so I guess that means I am back to living in the country.  I grew up on a farm in Northern Minnesota, and after many years of living in large cities, it sure is nice to be back in the country -- even with snakes hanging out on my doorstep!  This is a DREAM JOB and I'm thrilled to be here!