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Animal rescue hero: Chic Miller
American Red Cross Shasta Area Chapter: Chic Miller, animal rescue hero
Chic Miller is my neighbor. She honks and waves as she drives to and from her many stops that help support her business, Bella Vista Farms animal sanctuary in Cottonwood, near Igo.
Chic Miller is such an amazing, diverse hero that her good works fit into almost every Red Cross hero category.
She and her husband Bob own and operate Bella Vista Farms. She’s a family hero to Bob, who’ll tell you that Chic is the driving force behind their place.
She’s a fire rescue hero, because in June and July (and previous years) when fires threatened country property and livestock, and even when her road was evacuated (she stayed, of course) Chic was the go-to person on the phone as she arranged horse trailers and transportation for the animals, some of which found food, shelter and safety on the Miller’s property.
She’s often an adult good Samaritan, such as when an elderly woman died and left a house full of cats, and Chic took the animals in.
Obviously, she’s an animal rescue hero in countless ways. When she sees stray dogs and cats wandering streets and roads, she’ll stop traffic to save them. When she gets an anonymous call about a sack full of kittens tossed over a bridge into a creek, she jumps in, saves them and brings them home.
Every dime Chic gets goes to the animals’ food, medicine and supplies.
Chic cares and tends to more than 600 animals every day, all day and all night. Bella Vista Farms has no employees; just Chic and Bob.
She doesn’t get pedicures. She doesn’t go shopping with girlfriends. She doesn’t go to movies. She doesn’t take a vacation. She doesn’t get down time or “me” time or quiet time.
Ever.
It’s not a sacrifice, because Chic is doing what she loves.
Even so, it takes money to care for all those animals.
Community donations help keep the Bella Vista Farm alive, but it’s never enough. And Chic doesn’t believe in begging.
So Chic finds ways to bring home more money for her animal sanctuary.
She operates a shaved-ice booth on wheels that she takes to every imaginable kind of event.
She drives into Redding where she makes stops at area restaurants and businesses, such as Jack’s Bar and Grill and Orchard Nutrition, where she picks up food scraps for her animals.
She hauls ponies, goats, calves and other animals to children’s parties all over Shasta County for petting zoos and pony rides.
Four to five days a week during the school year, Chic brings a collection of barnyard animals to about 30 area elementary schools where she teaches animal care and kindness to children. (It’s called Project SHARE, through the Shasta County Office of Education, and the ACE program, through the Enterprise Elementary School District.)
She gives year-round tours of her farm. Come fall, she takes people on hayrides around her property and the pumpkin patch.
When Bob became ill last year, she cared for him and picked up the slack when Bob’s illness meant he could no longer drive.
She did all those things — she does all these things — while keeping the animals her No. 1 priority. She bottle-feeds tiny kittens. She milks goats and cows, then feeds the milk to some of the animals.
She’s up before sunrise. Sometimes she never goes to bed.
As nurse who helped human patients in a former career, Chic now uses her medical training and experience to treat sick, abused, abandoned and wounded animals.
She works harder than anyone I’ve ever known.
She turned 60 last year. I’m willing to bet she never stopped for birthday party. (Husband Bob is 70, the guy Chic counts on to maintain the farm equipment and buck the hay and shovel the stalls.)
Chic Miller is a saint to all animals, but she’s a saint to people, too.
Chic is my hero. She’s funny, she’s kind, she’s honest, she’s blunt, she’s smart, she’s community-oriented and she’s so inclined to smile that I can’t even picture what she looks like without a grin. (Unless she’s ticked off about someone who hurt an animal.)
It’s no exaggeration to say that she’s saved, loved and cared for thousands of animals over the years.
If those animals could talk, they’d tell you that Chic Miller is their hero, too.
What: American Red Cross Shasta Chapter heroes breakfast
When: 6:30 a.m. Tues., Sept. 16
Where: Win-River Casino in Redding.
How: For free tickets, call the Shasta Area Red Cross at 244-8000
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Congratulations. The Millers are such wonderful people.
What a great story! I moved away from Redding 11 years ago- specifically, Bella Vista. When my kids were little, they had birthday parties “Pony Parties” at Bob and Chic’s farm and it was always a big hit. Congratulations Chic! You deserve this recognition for all that you do!
Her commitment and her love for those animals is astounding - she manages, by sheer determination, to save many critters that were thought to be hopeless cases. She once explained to me: “That’s what love can do.” It’s a profound message that she lives day in and day out.
Congratulations, Chic, on a well-deserved honor.
Congratulations to Mrs. Miller, and all the other awardees for the Shasta Area American Red Hero Award. Please bring forth information on the others who received the Award this year. So little publicity is given to this affari either before or after, few people even know about this annual worthwhile event.
Maybe half the audience last year, 2007, attended compared to two years before, 2005. And, that is a shame. It is such a marvelous presentation to Heros in our own community. I hope that the affair is full to the brim to see those who give of themeselves to our area.
This shows how everyday people help others, without any government funds or support. Just good people doing good for others. God bless them!
Thanks for this article.
Chic is my hero, too. She’s a veritable modern day St. Francis of Assisi and the REAL DEAL of animal rescue. Because she doesn’t self-promote with fancy fundraisers, direct mail or publicity through high profile abuse cases, she is often overlooked for charitable donations.
If you give to only one animal welfare organization this year, please make it Bella Vista Farms! The money will go directly to the animals – guaranteed.
Chic is indeed a hero. I really admire her. I love animals. Let’s have the address so we can send a few dollars to help.
Congratulations, Chic! It was not a surprise when I was told you had won the “Real Hero Award - Animal Rescue”. When writing my nomination to the Red Cross, I became somewhat emotional thinking about all the times (way too many to mention) you had saved, cared for, or helped an animal. Living next to you has been so rewarding, as a neighbor, as a friend, and even an adopted member of our family. We see firsthand everyday how much you and Bob do to make a better life for not only your own animals, but others not as lucky. Bob and Chic, we are so happy to be a part of your lives and even happier to have you a part of our life.
Congratulations Chic! I can’t say congratulations without including Bob, too. You two are amazing. You truly are an animal rescue sanctuary in the purest sense. You never seek recognition or brag about what you have accomplished. Here is a chance for the world to know what you do for the animals. If anyone ever wants to donate to a worthwhile and deserving home for animals, please remember Bella Vista Farms and Bob & Chic Miller. You will NEVER have to wonder where your money was spent! And if anyone wants a wonderful, old fashioned snow cone it’s worth the drive to find Chic and her “sno mobile.”
I haven’t ever heard of Bella Villa Farms but after reading your article and
knowing we have such kind and caring neighbors that do so much
how about the
address for
Bella Vista Farms
Donations are in order so having been born and raised in Redding lets show
our appreciation Shasta County and help our neighbor take care of all these
pets.
I’m going too!
I am definitely inspired to donate to this strong woman and her husband. She has always been a driving force behind animal rescue in our area.
I used to give to Haven Humane, but stopped once Yvonne Preston started her reign of terror. At least if I give to Bella Vista, I know that I really will be helping animals. So where can I send my check?
Dear fans of Bella Vista Farms,
4301 Lower Gas Point Rd., Cottonwood, CA 96022 is the mailing address to send money or gift certificates (like from Jones Valley Feed on East Side Rd./Girvan in Redding) to help Chic and Bob Miller.
I will write more on this soon and tell about my and Kelly’s plan to help the Millers and their 600 animals, while also telling you more about them, and even giving you a way to meet some of the animals.
Very important: Chic and Bob work so hard and such long hours that it would be a huge hardship if even a few well-meaning, curious people decided to stop by for impromptu tours of the farm.
Since we ran the story about Chic, she’s had calls that go like so: “I dropped off an injured chicken at your place 10 years ago and thought I’d come out and visit it.”
No, no, no. Likewise, calls to the Millers with questions (what kind of dog food would you like me to donate?) are thoughtful, but they take Chic and Bob away from the animals’ care.
For now, until Kelly and I hatch our plan, the best way to help the Millers is via mail, which they open when time allows.
Thank you for all the kindness toward the Millers. I can personally vouch for them. They have been carrying this load alone for so long. They are so worthy and needing of our help.
….”until Kelly and I HATCH our plan” ….hahahaha