 Dear Friends of the Animals, Fall is finally here and we are feeling the whispers of Winter just around the corner. With the colder weather, we are busy with several projects to ensure the care and safety of our residents, including making improvements to shelters, feeding systems, and storage. The Autumn weather has been even more enjoyable after the extreme heat this summer, and we've had some beautiful afternoons of late. One such day, we were able to celebrate the residents of River’s Wish with our Thanksgiving of Compassion with a Harvest for the Animals event. We'd like to thank the Venerable Professor Geshe Phelgye for coming out to bless the harvest and help feed the animals. While this year’s event was virtual, we hope to be able to invite the public back to this special celebration next Fall. We hope you all are enjoying this change of seasons, and we'd like to say an extra thanks to all of you who support us. Kit & Pete Jagoda Co-Founders River's Wish Animal Sanctuary We're looking for monthly sponsors! Starting at just $5 per month, recurring sponsorships are a great way to give Get the "Blitzen & Friends" monthly sponsor poster! As you know, each year we look to build our monthly sponsors with a end of the year campaign. Last year, we achieved our goal of doubling our dollar amount, and we're going to try again. We currently have 55 monthly sponsors giving a total of $1,760 per month. These funds are critical as they help us plan and schedule care for our more than 120 residents, as well as make improvements to our facilities. We can't emphasize enough how much every dollar counts here, and it could not be easier to sign up. This year our goal is to hit $4,000 per month in ongoing support by 12/31/21. Whether you want to share $5 per month with us or $500 per month, it all makes a huge difference. Just consider this:
As a way to say thank you, every current and new monthly sponsor will receive an 8 x 10 Monthly Sponsor "Blitzen & Friends" poster. This is a copy of original work done by River's Wish co-founder Kit Jagoda, and features many of the lovely residents at the sanctuary. Additionally, at the end of our campaign, we'll be drawing two lucky winners (one existing, one new) for their choice of a River's Wish Hoodie or Vintage Baseball Tee.
Coaster Fundraiser: local ceramics studio chooses River's Wish for annual benefit event Each year, Trackside Studio chooses a non-profit to benefit from their Coaster Fundraiser, an event that invites artists to create and donate coasters for a near-month long fundraiser. Trackside Studio is a working ceramics studio and gallery located in Spokane, WA featuring monthly professional ceramic exhibits. Artists pick up coasters and design them for the sale. Last year Trackside donated $1,325 to "Embrace Washington", a local non-profit that works to benefit foster children and families. River's Wish is proud to have been chosen and we want to invite all the friends of the animals to participate--whether by designing a coaster (there's still time!) or by stopping by and doing a bit of shopping at the event. All coasters sell for $10 each. Blank coasters can be picked up at Trackside or at Art Salvage (925 N. Ash). Completed coasters need to be returned to either location by November 4. EVENT INFO Annual Coasters Benefit Trackside Studio Ceramic Art Gallery November 5, 2021 - November 27, 2021 115 S Adams Street, Suite B Spokane, Washington 99201 www.tracksidestudio.net The Opening Reception & Sale will be held on Friday, November 5 from 5 - 8 pm The exhibit and sale continues from Saturday, November 6 (12pm-4pm) and then weekdays, Wednesday through Friday, 11am-5pm. Follow them on instagram @tracksidestudio
River's Wish Holiday Catalog Launches November 1 This year, we'll be hosting an online Holiday Catalog, where you'll be able to shop for the animal lover in your life. From sponsorships, to in-person experiences, we'll have a number of items available for the holidays. Stay tuned for more information!  We're looking for a volunteer Grant Writer!
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Dear Friends of the Animals, This summer has certainly flown by, and we're sure glad, like most of you, to have the worst of these extreme temperatures behind us. If you're a regular reader of our newsletters (or a social media follower) you already know that sanctuary life equals a busy life. We are so thankful to ALL our volunteers and donors that give so selflessly of their time and money to support us. Your generosity has helped us through this extensive heat and drought, where hay is scarce and prices are high, helped us provide necessary emergency and ongoing veterinary care to our residents, and supported ongoing farrier costs. Just this week there were eight pig pedicures, two turkeys molting, one Lizzy loving, lots of Barley Straw bedding, and Brother goat basking on a boulder. Hay continues to come in to keep our animals fed all winter long. Never a dull moment at an animal sanctuary. This month we're kicking off a fundraiser in support of our Golden Equines and we'll hope you'll consider giving. No donation is too small. Read more below and Kit & Pete Jagoda Co-Founders River's Wish Animal Sanctuary  Meet the Golden Equines of River's Wish These 11 special equines are excited to introduce themselves  River’s Wish is home to more than 120 residents, including 25 equines. Twenty of our equines are seniors. Ten of these seniors have special needs, beyond the additional care and maintenance required for aging equines. We call them our “Golden Equines”. As a sanctuary who has been serving the community for more than 25 years, it’s not uncommon to have such a large population of senior animals with special needs. All equines need ongoing vet care for dental maintenance, vaccinations, parasite control, a farrier for proper hoof care, appropriate feed and/or supplements, good shelter, proper hydration, and grooming. Senior animals, like their human counterparts, often require specialized care, medical interventions, and focused nutritional support. Most equine veterinarians define senior as older than 15 years. Depending on a horse’s background and situation, they can have varying health issues and special needs. From hay, to special feed, to medications for conditions such as Cushings or diabetes, we are committed to the care of these amazing equines. Costs to support this special group are more than $28,000 a year, with an average of about $250 between them all. We hope you'll choose to sponsor our Gold Equines Fund. We’re featuring special sponsor packages for donors in the following categories:
Thinking Vegan? Switch out your milk. Most of us grow up unaware of the inherent cruelty of the dairy industry. The sad truth is that in order for cows to produce milk, they must give birth. And in order for humans to consume that milk, a calf must be denied its mother’s milk. If the calf is female, she will be raised to be used for dairy and suffer the same repeated losses her mother experienced. If the calf is male, his life will be much shorter and even more bleak. Because there is no commercial use for grown male dairy cows, most male calves are confined in immobilizing crates and used for veal production. They are slaughtered after just a number of weeks. Some of them are simply killed at birth.  River's Wish is home to seven cows: Bob, Moxie, Rudy, Heidi, Olive, Henry, and Bergh. Bob, Moxie, and Rudy, the first three cows in the picture, were rescued from the dairy industry.  At River’s Wish, resident steers Bob, Moxie, Henry, and Bergh are survivors from the dairy industry. Bob and Moxie were rescued from slaughter at just one day old, and Henry and Bergh were saved from the veal industry when they were a few weeks old. It’s hard to believe that these beautiful, friendly, rambunctious cows almost didn’t get a chance at life. In their honor, I’d like to invite you to try out nondairy milk! The options on the grocery shelves are pretty much endless these days as nondairy milk has surged in popularity, so you’re sure to find a kind you enjoy. The most common nondairy milks include soy, almond, oat, coconut, hemp, and rice milk, but you’ll also find a bevy of other choices, including macadamia, pea, flax, cashew, and hazelnut milk. Most nondairy milks are available in a variety of formulations – plain, vanilla, chocolate, unsweetened/sweetened, vitamin-fortified, etc. My go-to for everyday uses is plain, organic soy milk made from just water and soybeans (Trader Joe’s Organic Soy Beverage Unsweetened and Pacific Foods Organic Unsweetened Soy Original). I like that soy milk provides an equivalent amount of protein to cow’s milk, and that it works well for baking and cooking. Feel free to try any unsweetened nondairy milks for baking, though – a lot of recipes call for a nondairy milk of your choice. If I’m in the mood for something more decadent and creamy, I’ll go for hazelnut or oat milk. Oat milk has become increasingly popular in recent years. Readers of VegNews magazine voted Oatly the “Best Vegan Milk” for 2021, and Starbucks added oat milk from Oatly to its nondairy lineup across the nation this past spring. River’s Wish founders Kit and Pete Jagoda are digging oat milk too and primarily use Planet Oat in their house (available at Safeway and Target). By the way, store-bought milk isn’t the only option. Oat and nut milks are easy to make at home with a high-speed blender. As you start trying out nondairy milks, aim to keep an open mind and have fun experimenting. No nondairy milk will taste like cow’s milk, but they’re tasty in their own way and offer lots of variety. After a while, I bet you won’t even miss dairy milk. For more information on the cruelty of dairy, please check out the Food Empowerment Project: foodispower.org/cows-raised-for-milk.  Thinking Vegan? is a monthly feature by Megan Jonas, River's Wish volunteer and vegan activist. This information should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor if you have questions about your health.
Art for the Auction is a wrap! 11th Annual Art for the Animals Auction wraps up, another success in the books We can't thank our community of supporters enough for the success we had in this year's auction. We were able to raise more than $25,000 in donations, sponsorships, and bidding to go toward our annual hay purchase, which has already started rolling in on trucks. We had 262 items donated and bidders from all across the country. Thank you all who participated. On average, we purchase about 140 tons of hay a year, and this year, with drought and other conditions, prices are way up. We're seeing some tons at $300 delivered, with our normal suppliers being short in supply. This means we'll spend around $42,000 just on hay.  Just some of they hay starting to come in... Where do Vegans get their protein anyway? Perhaps the most frequent question vegans get asked is, “Where do you get your protein?” Many people equate protein with animal products and worry that vegans must be deficient, but the reality is protein deficiency is not at all common in the United States. Protein comes in many types of plant foods. The key to a healthy plant-based diet is variety. The Mayo Clinic reports that you can can get “sufficient protein from plant-based foods if you eat a variety of them throughout the day. Plant sources include soy products and meat substitutes, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.” Let’s break some of these sources down… Soy products: Delicious and nutritious options include soy milk, tofu, and tempeh. Soy milk is on par with cow’s milk in terms of protein, containing about 7 grams of protein per cup compared to cow’s milk’s 8 grams. A 3-ounce serving of extra-firm tofu contains 8 grams of protein, and a 3-ounce serving of tempeh contains a whopping 18 grams! Nuts: Almonds, pistachios and cashews are some of the highest-protein nuts. You can eat them raw or buy or make your own tasty nut butter. Legumes and lentils: The USDA in particular recommends black or kidney beans, cooked split peas, and yellow or green lentils. I personally love chickpeas, and who can forget peanuts when it comes to protein! One hundred grams of peanuts contains over 25 grams of protein – half of one’s daily recommended amount. Seeds: Try sprinkling hemp, chia, or pumpkin (pepita) seeds on your next bowl of oatmeal or vegan yogurt or incorporating them in homemade granola. Whole grains: Some of the grains with the highest protein are oats, wheat, spelt, amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa. With the right variety of nutrition, there’s really no limit to what your body can do on a vegan diet. Think about elephants and gorillas – some of the strongest animals on the planet build their muscles from plants! For some inspiration about what’s possible, look up vegan ultra-endurance athlete Rich Roll (who has visited River’s Wish!) and check out the documentary film about vegan athletes called “The Game Changers” on Netflix.  Thinking Vegan? is a monthly feature by Megan Jonas, River's Wish volunteer and vegan activist. This information should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor if you have questions about your health. Fulfilling our mission by sharing the wonder of animals, art, compassion Despite some hiccups due to the extreme heat, River's Wish is so pleased to be welcoming groups back to the sanctuary in-person. We are holding four weeks of art classes at the sanctuary in partnership with the Spokane Art School (spaces still open for 7/26 class!), and have had seven field trip groups from local schools. As the summer progresses we hope to be hosting some more events and tours. Keep your eyes on our Facebook events page for the latest updates. The Art, Animals, and Garden workshops with Kit Jagoda have introduced quite a few budding artists to the residents here, and allowed them to expire a variety of art techniques and media in the presence of the rescued animals who call River’s Wish home. Students also spend time in the garden at River’s Wish, learning about plants through observational drawings and scientific illustration. Our Sanctuary Based Education provides a peaceful setting for creating, reflecting and connecting with the residents of River’s Wish while fostering compassion and empathy.  Art for the Animals is less than a month away! Join us online July 7-10 for our largest fundraiser of the year  Our annual auction is our largest fundraiser and source of income for our organization. We're hopeful you'll share this event with your friends and family far and wide--that's one of the benefits of having it online. You don't have to be local to attend. We've started holding small group events onsite, and will continue to do so throughout the Summer and Fall. The animals love seeing people again! Do you have something to donate? Right now we're busy collecting donations for the event. We would love to be able to offer a donation from you or someone you know. You can learn more about the kind of items we are looking for by following the link below. We welcome vegan/animal friendly products and services. Making a donation is easy—simply click the link below and complete the online form. Then you'll mail an image of the item to our Auction Coordinator. (This year, we are asking donators to ship items directly to winning bidders if possible). Thank you so much for your consideration. Get registered to bid online! Last year we had hundreds of donated items that appealed to a wide range of bidders. We're looking forward to "seeing" you there. Use the link below to get yourself ready! You can bid on any computer or smart phone. Thinking Vegan? Simple BBQ Swaps by Megan Jonas
If you’re a new vegan or simply curious to explore more compassionate food choices, you may be wondering how to navigate one of America’s favorite summer pastimes – barbecues. Fear not! While barbecues are often a meat-centric affair, they certainly don’t have to be. With more and more innovative plant-based burgers, brats and sausages coming on the market, you’re bound to find something you enjoy throwing on the grill. Plus, you can always use portobello mushrooms or cauliflower as your protein (look up “grilled cauliflower steaks"!) or make veggie kebabs. Hamburger alternatives range from veggie-based patties with their own distinct flavors to mock meat that just might fool the staunchest carnivore. Tasty options are available from Field Roast, Organic Sunshine Burgers, Hilary’s, Gardein, and many more brands. All of those brands, as well as all burgers by Amy’s, are plant-based. Make sure to read the ingredients on veggie burgers you’re unsure about, as eggs are often used as a binder. You may have heard the hype about Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods’ Impossible Burgers in the past few years. These are great options if you’re craving a traditional, juicy burger, or if you’re feeding friends or family who are skeptical of plant-based food. Readers of VegNews voted for the Beyond Burger as the Best Vegan Burger of 2021 and ranked Impossible Foods as having the Best Vegan Meat. Kit and Pete Jagoda, River's Wish co-founders, are fans of the Beyond Sausage. Once you have your burger picked out, there are just a few more things to keep in mind. Buns: Milk and/or butter are common ingredients in hamburger and hot dog buns, so you’ll want to check labels. Some major brands with vegan buns include Dave’s Killer Bread and Rudi's. The organic buns from Trader Joe’s are vegan too. We recommend choosing organic buns if possible to bypass the issue of sugar that may have been processed with bone char (animal bones). Organic sugar is not processed in this way. Condiments: Many mustards, ketchups and relishes are vegan! Again, just check the ingredients. Mayonnaise is the major non-vegan barbecue condiment, but plant-based mayos are readily available at most stores. Follow Your Heart’s Vegenaise and Best Foods Vegan Dressing & Spread are two of our favorites. You can easily “veganize” your macaroni and potato salads by using these too! Cheese: There are many delectable vegan cheeses on the market these days. We love slices from Violife, Chao, and Follow Your Heart. Of course, you can always opt for avocado instead to get your fill of creamy, savory goodness. Enjoy your next barbecue knowing that no animals were harmed!  Olive, a Low Line Red Angus and resident of River's Wish, drools for good vegan barbecue! Thinking Vegan? is a new monthly feature by our very own Megan Jonas, River's Wish volunteer and vegan activist. All About Ginger In our last resident interview with S'Mores, we had several of our followers ask about his gal pal Ginger. We wanted to give you all an update about this lovely little lady. Ginger is a mini-horse who is approximately 20 years old. As you know, she arrived to River's Wish along with S'Mores in 2010. She was extremely fearful, which was really hard to see. Over her time at the sanctuary, she has become a little more trusting, but prefers her herd to people. Ginger is very spunky and happy. She loves spending time with her mini friends!  Little Ginger getting a manicure. If you'd like to support Ginger, or any of the other residents
of River's Wish, we welcome your support. About S'Mores S'Mores is a miniature horse who joined the River's Wish family in 2010. He was born with a clubbed hoof which could have been corrected but was not. Now he is gelded and his hoof is well cared for. Both our veterinarian and farrier monitor it and take all necessary steps to ensure that his life is as good and as comfortable as possible. While S'Mores is a little slower than the others in his herd, he is by far the sweetest! We are all better from the influence of this little gelding in our lives. An Interview with S'Mores Q1: What was your life like before you came to River's Wish? A1: When I was born I had a clubbed hoof but no one did anything for it. They used me for pony rides. It wasn't fun at all. Then some nice people rescued me and I didn't have to do pony rides anymore. I lived in the Cascade mountain range and winter was coming. The farrier thought I should be put down, so my people contacted River's Wish, because they wanted to help me (and my extremely shy friend Ginger). River's Wish had a veterinarian come out and look at me. He said I was cute and friendly. Duh. He said that maybe I'd only have a good year, but he thought I deserved a chance. Kit from River's Wish drove over to Cle Elum to pick Ginger and me up and bring us back to the sanctuary in October 2010. They had the veterinarian xray my leg and hoof and the farrier worked with special shoeing for my hoof. Oh. And they had me gelded. I don't recall ever asking for THAT! Well, 11 years later and I'm still here. Every morning I play with my friend Winter. I'm so happy that I was not put down. I love my herd and I'm happy Q2: Who is your best friend at River's Wish? A2: My best friend is Baby. I'm pretty sweet on her. When Flip came to live here, he also thought she was pretty cute, and I had to step up and let him know she was all mine. I might be small, but I am mighty. Q3: What is your favorite thing to do? A3. I love going out in the pasture on a nice day, running with my mini-herd, and eating grass. Sometimes I'm a bit slower, but Baby waits for me. Q4: What is one thing that people don't know about you? A4: Well, people sometimes look at me and feel sorry for me because I walk a little slower and my hoof is curved over. They see my hind knocked knees and they think I must be so sad and in pain. But guess what? I'm not in pain and I'm not sad. I have the best team of people who care for me, and I have an awesome veterinarian, Dr. Kennedy and a super cool farrier, Chris and a whole lot of horses and humans who think I'm the cutest guy ever. Q5: What do you want people to know about miniature horses? A5. We are small and cute, which makes people want to get us as pets. But we are long-lived--our average life span is 30 years. And we are actually horses, meaning we require all the same kind of care any horse would need--vaccinations, worming, hoof care, feeding, cleaning, and more. We get very shaggy in the winter, so we need lots of brushing when it starts to warm up. We are all unique individuals. My herd is made up of shy, high spirited, sassy and sweet equines. We get along in spite of our differences!  I know. I know. I'm pretty dang cute.
Art for the Animals Auction in July This annual event will be held online again for 2021... Our annual auction is our largest fundraiser and source of income for our organization. We're hopeful you'll share this event with your friends and family far and wide. With COVID protocols still in place, we made the decision to hold this event online, while also beginning to hold small, in-person events at the sanctuary. And while the animals will miss seeing you, and you'll miss seeing them, please know that they, along with our dedicated volunteers, appreciate your support so much. Do you have something to donate? Right now we're busy collecting donations for the event. We would love to be able to offer a donation from you or someone you know. You can learn more about the kind of items we are looking for by following the link below. We welcome vegan/animal friendly products and services. Making a donation is easy—simply click the link below and complete the online form. Then you'll mail an image of the item to our Auction Coordinator. (This year, we are asking donators to ship items directly to winning bidders if possible). Thank you so much for your consideration. Soon enough it will be time to register for the event! Last year we had hundreds of donated items that appealed to a wide range of bidders. We're looking forward to "seeing" you there. Thinking Vegan? Ditch the Eggs! A few weeks ago, we introduced readers to Wendell, one of the several handsome roosters who call River’s Wish home. You may have read his interview, where he explained how male chicks in the egg industry are killed upon birth. And the females don’t have a pretty fate either in the cramped conditions of factory farms. Perhaps Wendell has inspired you to think about exploring cruelty-free alternatives to eggs. Awesome! Did you know that many egg alternatives exist? They range from pantry staples to vegan specialty products. Here are a few to try: For scrambles: Tofu has long been used to create protein-rich vegan egg dishes. Recipes for tofu scrambles are readily available online, but it’s not hard to improvise. Create your own scramble with a block of firm or extra-firm tofu (pressed), veggies you have on hand like peppers, mushrooms, or leafy greens, and spices like onion and garlic powder. Also when scrambling, nutritional yeast or turmeric can be added to achieve that familiar yellow color, and kala namak (black salt) is a trick for imparting a seriously eggy flavor. For another fun option, try a ready-to-make vegan egg replacement like Just Egg. This product is a new favorite among several River’s Wish volunteers. It scrambles up just like an egg and can also be used in baking and to make breakfast staples like pancakes and French toast. For baking: Think you need eggs to bind your baked goods like cakes, quick breads and cookies? Think again! A plethora of alternatives are available. Try experimenting with banana (1/4 cup mashed for one egg), flaxseed meal (make a “flax egg” by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water), applesauce (1/4 cup), or baking soda and vinegar (1 tablespoon white or apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of baking soda)! For egg whites: Around 2015, “aquafaba” (bean water) became a vegan buzzword when it was discovered that the foamy brine from cooked beans, typically chickpeas, can be whipped up like egg whites. Aquafaba can be used to make everything from meringues, macarons, and whipped cream to baked goods, cocktails, and mayonnaise. Next time you cook chickpeas or open a can, reserve the liquid and hop online to find a recipe that piques your curiosity! Watch for in-person events at River's Wish As the weather improves, and COVID-19 phases for Washington State open up opportunity for more in-person activities, we're busy planning for ways to create small events focused around our mission statement. You can keep up to date with our public visitation events on our Facebook events calendar. Just a few events in the works:
An update on Little Diego You may remember Diego from earlier this year. He came to River's Wish in pretty bad shape, with pneumonia, and what turned out to be a urinary blockage that required surgery. He'd apparently been living in a car with his person, eating dog food, which isn't healthy for goats. He was pretty sick and malnourished. We're happy to report that Diego is doing AWESOME now, feeling so much better, living his best little goat life, surrounded by all the friends he's made. We are so appreciative of all the support and well wishes we received for Diego! When he first arrived, we were told he was about 2 years old, but soon found out he was more like 8+ years. Because our sanctuary has been in existence for more than 25 years, many of our residents are older, requiring a higher level of care and support. That's why your ongoing support means so much to us. We appreciate all you do for us, and could not do it without you. We love little Diego so much and are so happy he can live out his life safe and well cared for. He is a little love and has a special spirit. 
Wendell's special spirit inspires us all... About Wendell Wendell came to us as a chick who was going to be destroyed due to neurological issues. We named the chick Wendy after our friend sought sanctuary for this special chick. As Wendy grew, her neurological issues didn’t improve. Our vet found her to be in good health otherwise. Of course, as time went on, we found out "Wendy" was actually a handsome rooster--so we started calling him Wendell. An Interview with Wendell the Rooster Q1: Why do you move your head around so strangely? A1: I was born with neurological issues that cause that, but it doesn't keep me from enjoying the simple pleasures in life, like the sun on my feathers, and hugs and petting from the River's Wish volunteers. Q2: Who is your best friend at River's Wish? A2: I actually have two! My best buds are Mr. McBeevee Theo Hawkeye Roo (I just call him Theo) and Belle. They are both awesome. Q3: What is your favorite thing to do? A3. I love being held and taking dust baths. You might think it's odd that a rooster loves being held, but it's pretty common. We love being pet and snuggled, just like any other animal. Q4: What is one thing that people don't know about you? A4: I have been the subject of several works of art. I don’t want to brag or anything, but people find me ridiculously good looking. I really can’t argue… Q5: What do you want people to know about roosters? A5. Roosters are one of the most misunderstood and discarded animals. It's sad. Every summer River's Wish receives multiple calls asking us to take in someone's rooster from their backyard flock of chicks they purchased at the feed store. When they learn that one or more of the chicks is a rooster, they often find that they are not zoned for roosters or that they don't want roosters. This is one of the saddest aspects of backyard flocks. The boys are unwanted. In the egg industry, they are treated even worse. It's a disturbing and terrible fact, but millions of male chicks are ground alive on their first day of life. Females live out a bleak existence, often kept in cramped, polluted quarters to produce eggs. They are then replaced at about two years old. The majority of the hens who have outgrown their use are then killed. But what can we do? It can feel overwhelming and hopeless sometimes, but there are steps you can take to make a difference. Here are some suggestions:
 If you'd like to sponsor Wendell or one of his friends at River's Wish, click the button below to find out more.
Dear Friends of the Animals, We hope you are all enjoying the beginnings of warmer weather. We know the animals are. We have been busy at the Sanctuary, cleaning up after a long winter, caring for our friends, completing some amazing adoptions, and sadly, saying goodbye to some of our residents. This is the sad part of what we do, and while we are glad we are able to provide love and care during their lifetime, it's always hard to say goodbye. We also have some news about some events happening on site! We are excited to start welcoming visitors back (masked, socially distanced, and in small groups, of course). Read on to get up to date with us! A Day in the Sanctuary Life While it can be warm and fuzzy, it's also hard work, often full of surprises...
If you'd like to support us, we have lots of ways you can help, from becoming a monthly sponsor, to one-time donations, or even purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List.
Our Mission Statement River's Wish Animal Sanctuary saves lives through rescue, education and advocacy. By treating animals as individuals and expressing both their wonder and plight through art, we foster empathy and understanding that leads to compassionate life choices.  Spring and Summer bring in-person events back to River's Wish As the weather improves, and COVID-19 phases for Washington State open up opportunity for more in-person activities, we're busy planning for ways to create small events focused around our mission statement. You can keep up to date with our public visitation events on our Facebook events calendar. Just a few events in the works:
Art for the Animals Auction Because we still won't be able to have large group events, our 11th Annual Art for the Animals Auction will be online again this year. Stay tuned for more information, including how to donate and register for our most popular event. Farewell to our faithful and entertaining friend Ennis Ennis entered our lives in February of 2010 and left his tired old body on March 20. Our friend Lori from Cle Elum told us about a 3 year old pig whose people were going to shoot him, because he was knocking things in their shop. Without hesitation we said yes, and he was transported to us on a cold February day. We felt certain that Delilah would welcome this poor boy, but we didn't realize how territorial pigs were. As he lay next to the house shaking, I thought of the millions of pigs on factory farms whose lives must cause them to tremble often. We set up a cozy pen for Ennis in our warm shop. Ennis spent his first winter here, in a warm shop, where he was welcomed, loved, and cared for. Over the next eleven years Ennis was a presence of love, fun, laughter and pure appreciation for who he was. He loved having his belly rubbed and receiving spa treatments. He cruised throughout the yards and chose his own spot to sleep each night. He is remembered for blocking a doorway now and then, locking volunteers in the Bunny Barn while they cleaned, or for interrupting the blessing during our Thanksgiving of Compassion events. Ennis wasn't about to wait on that to get his treats. He was always an independent sort. For the last few years Ennis has had the warmth of the bunny house in the winter and the companionship of Dwin the pig. Even though she could be really rude about taking his food, they had a bond. They seemed to work it out and were often snuggling. In January 2020 we thought we were going to have to say goodbye to Ennis. He was nearly immobile. We received wonderful life saving advice from Richard at the Pig Preserve (thank you Richard!) and we worked with our veterinarian Dr. O'Bannan. This gave Ennis another 14 months. When Ennis began a recent decline, we knew he would not recover this time. Without question, it was time. While he was still eating, we increased his pain medication and surrounded him with extra soft hay. Dwin, in her usual fashion, still tried to steal his food. Dr. O'Bannan came to the sanctuary and helped us say goodbye to this precious boy who we are so grateful to have had come into our lives. The euthanasia was very gentle and his passing was peaceful. Thank you so much Dr. O'Bannan, for your extremely kind and gentle ways. Ennis will always be a part of our lives out here. He taught us so much. Sadly, pigs are given up, abandoned, and killed when they are no longer cute little piglets, when they have grown too large, when demonstrate their curiosity by investigating where they shouldn't, and when they are simply no longer wanted. They are very smart and sensitive. They, like any animal, require commitment. There are no magic homes lining up to adopt the thousands of pigs, whose novelty has worn off, whose size has become a factor, whose very presence is no longer appreciated. Ennis was that pig who showed us this truth, but he also showed us his truth and it truly was beautiful. He will be dearly missed.  If you'd like to donate to our other pigs, we welcome your support, in honor of Ennis.
This handsome bun is looking for his forever home! About Colonel Potter Colonel Potter came to us a couple months ago, after we were contacted by a kind person who let us know about his situation. This poor lovely rabbit was found in an empty apartment after his owners moved and left him behind. Of course, we couldn't say no, especially when one of our volunteers took him in as a foster bunny. Learn more about C. Potter below:  An Interview with The Colonel Q1: What is your favorite thing to do? A1: Receive love. I love my ears gently pet, my nose, cheeks, hips, each individual ear. I love being loved. Q2: What's your favorite snack? A2: I have so many favorites! I love green leaf lettuce, radish, a little carrot, celery, parsely, and even cilantro. I also love timothy hay. When I feel like just doing some chewing, I really enjoy my wood chew toys. Q3: What kind of a home are you looking for? A3: I would love to find a home with someone who would really like companionship. I am a big guy so someone strong who can hold me correctly and safely would be good as well. I have a lot of love to give and am really looking for someone to bond with and share my life. Rabbits are the third most common animal at shelters. We are commonly abandoned or found as strays in neighborhoods. Q4: What was your life like before River's Wish and foster care? A4: It was sad really. At one point I had a family, and enjoyed my life. But one day, I noticed a lot of activity around me, and then everything was gone and I was all alone. I waited for someone to come back and take care of me, but that didn't happen. I was very scared, and also very sad. I was so glad to find someone to take care of me until I can find my very own family. Q5: What do you want people to know about rabbits? A5. I know Easter is coming up, so I would really like people to know we aren't toys or gifts. We are loving, feeling animals. We also make great pets, but need and deserve a life long commitment. Rabbits are the third most common animal at shelters. We are commonly abandoned or found as strays in neighborhoods. Because we are not generally spayed and neutered, and because we have a short gestational cycle, overpopulation is a problem. We need to be spayed and neutered, for health and population reasons. I found out that River's Wish is contacted daily by people who have rabbits they no longer want, rabbits they found, or rabbits who have become inconvenient. There is only so much they can do to help and cannot help all the rabbits in need. I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to go to a loving foster home until I am adopted. To learn more about the plight of rabbits, read more here. River's Wish works to educate and encourage people to keep their rabbits and other animals. I'd really like people to do their research at rabbit.org and learn all about how to care for and keep a rabbit as a house pet. We are really wonderful, loving house pets, and what many don't know is having us in your home can be similar to having a cat or dog. We have very distinct personalities. We can be be silly, fun, territorial, and loving. Just like your other pets, we have moods, need exercise, a proper diet, and we need to be kept safe. If you'd like to apply to adopt Colonel Potter or one of our other rabbits, please visit our Pet Finder's page! Sponsor Colonel Potter or one of his sanctuary friends If you'd like to sponsor one of our rabbits, or one our other animals, you can do so for a month, or more!
Celebrating our Pig Residents Pigs are curious, intelligent, and sensitive beings Monday, March 1 was National Pig Day. And while this might not be a Hallmark card kind of holiday, for us, there's always a reason to celebrate our pig friends. River's Wish is home to 12 pigs--3 large pigs (Virgil, Vegan, and Vinny) and 9 small pigs (Lil Pig, Alice, SweetPea, Nigel, Dwin, Ennis, Sawtooth Stanley, Donna Lou Parsley Pickle Pig and Blitzen--Hazel was just adopted!). Whether they were saved from slaughter or came to us because they grew too big for their home, or any other number of reasons, we love and enjoy them all so much. According to the Food Empowerment Project, "Domestic pigs come from an ancient lineage of wild ancestors who evolved to live in harmony with their environment. They are curious, intelligent animals with strong instincts and a resourceful nature. Numerous researchers have concluded that pigs are more intelligent and have better memories than most dogs. Capable of living over 20 years, their lives are stimulating and complex." If you'd like to learn more about pigs and the plight they face as food animals, we've included a link below. You can also sign up to sponsor one of our pig residents--we offer one-time on or ongoing sponsorships. Meet the Boer Bros: Mason, Sven, and Chubs These three friendly fellas recently arrived at River’s Wish, where they will get to live in peace after avoiding having their lives cut short. Mason, Sven, and Chubs (the names they came with) are members of the Boer goat breed, and were bred for meat by a youth in the 4-H program before being rescued by a caring couple who were unable to keep them long term. Now they’re getting a fresh start at River’s Wish. We don’t know the exact story, but it’s quite likely the youth raising them through 4-H had a change of heart when it came time to sell the goats to market. Animal sanctuaries in the U.S. are full of such stories. The Boer goat industry association in the U.S. registers 45,000 of these fast-growing animals every year. We’re thankful these happy boys did not meet the same fate as many of their kind, and they can now act as ambassadors for their species at River’s Wish.  Monthly Sponsorships Update Our initial goal was to double our monthly sponsorships from $885/month to $1,770/month. And you did it! We are now at $2,055! THANK YOU!! Monthly sponsorships help us plan for special animal care procedures, schedule ongoing care, and complete small improvement projects around the sanctuary. We currently have 55 monthly sponsors and 11 are new this quarter! We are so grateful. Recently, we were able to rescue little Diego, an 8 year old goat that had been living in a car. Because he wasn't receiving adequate food or care, he had pneumonia and needed surgery for urinary blockage. Between our local vet and the WSU Veterinary Hospital, the bills for Diego's initial care were more than $1,600. But we didn't have to think twice because of you. We're hoping to wrap up this month strong by getting to $2,500/month in monthly sponsors. Please join us! For as little as $5/month, you can be part of a group of dedicated monthly supporters that allow us to do this work. Thank you for helping us get there! We have been so amazed at all the people from across the country who have joined us in meeting our mission of rescue, care, and advocacy for our residents. As a reminder, from now until March 31, there are two ways to win:
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About your donations River's Wish depends entirely on private funding from compassionate people who want to support a safe haven like ours. We are designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Your contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all donations support our charitable mission. Our federal tax ID is 20-1226268.
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River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary advocates compassionate choices through vegan living.
Out of respect for the animals and the sanctuary’s mission, values, and vision, only plant based foods will be offered at our fundraising events, meetings, or other functions. The animals in our care represent millions of others who suffer in animal agriculture and other exploitative industries. We remember and honor them in our everyday actions and through our vegan menu policy.
We will never share or sell your contact information. View our full privacy policy.
©2021 River's Wish Animal Sanctuary. All Rights Reserved. | River's Wish EIN 20-1226268
Out of respect for the animals and the sanctuary’s mission, values, and vision, only plant based foods will be offered at our fundraising events, meetings, or other functions. The animals in our care represent millions of others who suffer in animal agriculture and other exploitative industries. We remember and honor them in our everyday actions and through our vegan menu policy.
We will never share or sell your contact information. View our full privacy policy.
©2021 River's Wish Animal Sanctuary. All Rights Reserved. | River's Wish EIN 20-1226268
Contact us at (509) 951-3650 or via e-mail.