September 2010 Newsletter

 Greetings!

September is here and for many that means the end of the summer season. However here in Louisiana the heat tells us otherwise. Also, this will mean a three day weekend for many Americans celebrating Labor Day. If you will be out there on the road please be safe.

Our Founder: Tim Mills, founder of Yogie and Friends, is on the road to recovery from his leg injury from a puncture wound caused by a cow bone. Even cleaning up after the animals has its risks. He is home and improving daily, but has a long road to recovery. He’ll be off work for at least another six weeks and the medical bills are starting to pile up. But we are grateful that he is home and recovering. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. A special thanks to doctors Padilla (infectious diseases), Knight (surgeon) and Irby (Internal Medicine) for their lifesaving skills in getting Tim’s leg and life saved. And to the wonderful nurses, physical therapists, wound care and all the caregivers (too many to name) at Schumpert Highland and Dubuis hospital. We thank you all for the wonderful care provided Tim while in their care.

Update on Facility Upgrades:  We have great news to report. A local company, Cellexion, of Bossier City, Louisiana is going to donate the den houses for all the animals. Cellexion is the largest telecom shelter builder company in the world. They will donate all the buildings for the den houses, but we are still working with the difficult task of logistics. These buildings weigh 25000 pounds each and are transported two at a time on an 18-wheeler. They need a crane to put them in place. Hopefully we will be able to get a crane company to donate this part of the task as well. We continue to need donations to assist with other costs involved.  If you would like to help, you can PayPal’s “Chip-In” widget on the front page of our website, or mail a check to Yogie and Friends, 128 Fob Lane, Frierson, La 71027. We hope to have more info regarding this upgrade later this week. Stay tuned to our facebook page and our website for updates on this next project.

The fence work is almost complete and we hope to get another work crew set for the weekend following Labor Day weekend. We realize this is the last hurrah for the summer revelers so we know this is not the best time to schedule any work. We are very close to completing this task and the den houses will be the final task.

Volunteers of the month: We have several people that have been helping us since Tim’s injury. We want to thank: Chuck Stripling and David Deverts from Christ United Methodist Church’s “Helping Hands” program for repairing the steps to Tim’s home to help him with his leg injury. Thanks to Eric Welch and Margherita McWilliams for their help with things like going to the dump or pulling carpeting. Jill Durivage for homecooked meals. And everyone else for all the things that add up to getting things done when we need it. We appreciate it.

Upcoming Events:

11 Sep 2010   11 A.M. – 4 P.M. Bake Sale and Fundraiser, Petco, Youree Drive, Shreveport
Yogie and Friends will have their semi-annual bake sale and fundraiser at Petco. There will be lots of baked goodies and Yogie and Friends merchandise to include The Mountain brand T-shirts, Cardew Collectible ceramic mugs, teapots, and Alice in Wonderland Collectible items, as well as other unique merchandise. 100% of the proceeds go to the care of the big cats.

Esteban Guitar Raffle: We are raffling off a gorgeous Esteban electric-acoustic guitar. Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from our website. More details here!!  The drawing will take place September 11th, at our fall bake sale at Petco on Youree Drive in Shreveport. Winner need not be present, but will be responsible for pickup, or for shipping costs out of town.

8 Oct 2010  Funny Bone Comedy Theater Benefit Show for Yogie and Friends, 130 Plaza Loop, Louisiana Boardwalk, Bossier City Funny Bone will hold a benefit show for Yogie and Friends with two shows, times to be determined, at the Bossier City Funny Bone Comedy Theater. Tickets are $10 each and Yogie and Friends receives $8 for every ticket sold. Tickets are available at the sanctuary, The Funny Bone, or any of the Yogie and Friends volunteer staff. Ages 21 and up.

12 Oct 2010 Jambalaya Dinner Sponsored by Barkous and Meoux, Shavers Catering, 270 Ockley Dr., Shreveport. The Krewe of Barkous and Meoux will hold a jambalaya take out dinner at Shavers Catering. Tickets are $6 or two for $10. Tickets are available at the sanctuary or from Yogie and Friends volunteer staff and Barkous and Meoux volunteers. Dinners can be picked up at Shavers Catering between 4 P.M. and 7 P.M.

16 Oct 2010 Fall Craft Show First Baptist Church 543 Ockley Dr. Shreveport. Yogie and Friends will be participating in the Fall Craft Fair/Car Show/Chili Cook Off at First Baptist Church in Shreveport. Yogie and Friends will have Cardew Collectible ceramics and other really nice gift items for sale.

Yogie and Friends Season ends 30 October 2010 and will reopen in the spring in April 2011 for visitors.

Credit Cards: We now accept Visa and MasterCard at the sanctuary. We are using an old fashioned “knuckle buster” machine that you might remember from the 70’s.  There is a 5% accounting fee on all transactions and it takes a bit longer to process since we have to call in the numbers, but it’s all good when it helps the cats. 

Facebook: If you’re on Facebook, we hope that you are already a fan of Yogie and Friends! If you aren’t, please join us, and ask you friends!   As of this writing we have 1195 fans, but we want to get as many as possible. It is a great way to stay updated up with what is happening out at the sanctuary, too! Lots of great pics of the cats as well.

Print Cartridge Recycling Program:  This is a great way to help the cats and the environment all at once. Get your office involved!  All you need to do is use our pre-paid labels to ship your used printer cartridges to our recycling program, and we will receive credit towards our fundraising goals. It’s so easy!  We’ll be glad to mail you shipping labels –  Details are listed on our website.

Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Program: The accumulation for the 2010 season begins 1 July 2010. You can download the new Kroger letter and give it to the cashier when you check out. The cashier will link it to your Kroger plus card and every time you shop and use your Plus card, Kroger will donate a portion of the sales to Yogie and Friends. It’s such an easy way for you to help the big cats with no money out of your pocket. Please shop like crazy and use your cards when you do. It can really add up.

To find out more ways to help the cats of Yogie and Friends, see the section of our website “How You Can Help”

Please remember to spay and neuter your pets.

Also, do what you can to prevent flea and ticks causing serious illnesses to your animals. They deserve your care and kindness. Prevention should be year round and not seasonal.

Be good to your animals. Be good to people! Be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Jenny and the Yogie Cats!

 


Posted in Monthly Newsletter