It takes all kinds of kinds

I'm an introvert. You probably wouldn't guess that by the fact that I head an organization, co-manage a very active Facebook page, write a blog, have a marketing speech up my sleeve, communicate with multiple vets and rescuers across the world every day, and work in nonprofit/ social service management for a living. But the fact is, in my private life I have a great appreciation for the quiet moments and alone time that I can sprinkle throughout my busy day. Which is what us introverts are all about.

It takes all kinds of personalities and interests to make a difference for animals in need. A bubbly, full of energy person would probably love face-to-face fundraisers and would jump on every opportunity to talk about his/ her favorite rescue. Do you love hands-on work? You can help with direct animal care. Have an artistic talent? Volunteer your skills to help a rescue group update the graphics on their website or the materials they use to promote their services. Super creative engineering thinking is your thing? Maybe you can come up with an even cheaper new design for warm shelter units for street kitties or dogs in your community or an improvement on the traps used for mass trap-neuter-release campaigns.

A hectic personal life doesn't have to be a deterrent from becoming involved in rescue either. In today's world, there are many rescue-related projects that are completed digitally and can be done at any time of day. It takes only a moment to share the story of an animal in need via your Facebook or Twitter account. Just a click or two to vote for a rescuer that is competing for a cash or other prize that would benefit animals.

We all can do something to help animal rescue and welfare. And if every one of us contributed a modest amount of our time every week, just imagine how big of a difference we can collectively make! So do something in support of animal rescue right now. Your time and talent will be helping save lives!

Two unexpected rescue stories

Stories of rescue and human kindness are everywhere around us. When it is situation-appropriate, I tend to talk about animals, be with animals, and wear rescue-themed clothes and accessories. These are excellent conversation-starters and thanks to them I get to hear many people's rescue experiences. Today, I'd like to share with you two inspiring stories I was honored to learn this week.

Earlier this week I took my car in for its 30k miles servicing. The regular person driving the dealership shuttle had called in sick, so another employee took me to work and back to pick up my car. Let's call this employee Kate. Kate is a sweet young woman, likely not more than 22 years old. She has a commute of about 75 minutes each direction. The reason why she moved to a smaller, more remote town? So she could provide her 4 rescued pets with a proper home that didn't have breed restrictions and would allow her to care for her dogs. Kate has 2 cats and 2 pit bull mix dogs. One of the pitties Kate literally found roaming the streets, scared and hungry. This doggie is like many rescues who've had a rough start in life: under-socialized, reactive in tense situations, distrustful of strangers. My own Julie is that way. But sadly people judge dogs differently on the basis of their appearance. My reactive 15-pound terrier mix is fine per the pet rules of my complex. Kate was unable to find a rental anywhere closer by that would allow a reactive pit bull. And yet everything tells me Kate is just as responsible and safe with her dogs as I am with mine.

So this young woman greatly altered her life in order to create a safe and welcoming place for her pets. She wakes up around 4 am so she has time to run and play with her dogs before she has to leave for work. Kate is aware that young, active breed dogs do best with exercise and is determined to give that to her pups. One of her doggies is more temperature sensitive, so Kate's project this fall is learning how to knit because she wants to be able to make him a sweater.

The second story comes from a woman my Mom met at the grocery store. Let's call this woman Susan. Susan is in her late 60s and happened to be in the pet care aisle of the store at the same time as my Mom and asked her for cat product recommendations. You see, Susan had acquired a new cat the night before. The cat used to belong to Susan's neighbors. The night before this chance conversation, Susan saw the kitty on the streets, picked her up, and knocked on the neighbors' door fully expecting that the kitty had somehow gotten out and the neighbor would welcome her back in. To Susan's dismay, the neighbor actually said that no, the cat hadn't gotten lost, they had "let her go". The reason, you wonder? The family had purchased a new red sofa set and the orange cat and orange cat hair was looking very ugly against the red couches. (Feel free to join me in wanting to punch those people!). So Susan took the kitty into her home. And the following morning she was at the store, getting kitty supplies for this unexpected but clearly welcome new member of her household.

Two such different rescue stories, yet so much love! Thank you, Kate and Susan, for having such big hearts! The world needs more people like you!

Fostering saves lives

For many animals, the rescue journey has multiple stops. Vet clinics, adoption events, meetings with potential new families, possibly extensive physical or behavioral treatment and rehabilitation. But regardless of the specific combination of care and support they receive, every rescued pup and kitty needs a place to stay until they are adopted.

Shelters can be great. Some organizations maintain wonderful, clean, comfortable shelter facilities, with on-site vet care and plenty of volunteers who socialize the animals and keep them company. Right now my Mom volunteers at a place like that, PAWS. Unfortunately, plenty of shelters are far from wonderful. For lack of funding, poor management, or a number of other reasons, shelters can be sad, cold, terrifying places with no comfort and the almost-immediate danger of euthanization. (And yes, some of the methods shelters even in the US use to euthanize on average 5,500 animals every day are horrific - gas chambers, 'heart stick', etc). In places around the world with poor animal welfare infrastructure, shelters can be even worse (yes, worse things are possible). Animals are kept in tiny cells, sometimes with no light, no sanitation, no walls, minimal food, no vet care... You can only imagine the combination of horrors an animal may experience at a shelter. Indeed, sometimes it is much better for the animal to be homeless than to be housed in the shelter of hell.

Foster homes present a fabulous, loving alternative to shelters. When an animal is fostered, he/ she lives in an actual home, often around other pets, with all the comforts of indoor living and much love. Animals in foster care also have significantly more interactions with humans than those at shelters. This allows them the opportunity to learn basic manners, potty training, to socialize, to experience human kindness and begin trusting people. Animals with specific medical needs often have a foster home as their only option for survival since they need care which many shelters can't accommodate.

In the countries with which AAI works, foster homes are a key part of the rescue network. People from those countries are often not as well-off financially so it is hard for them to donate money to animal rescue. But a number of wonderful individuals open up their homes and take in animals in need of a temporary place to stay. Sadly, the need for foster homes is still greater than the supply. But with time and education, our hope is that more people will consider letting a pup or kitty into their home.

Have you considered being a foster parent? Do you want to be around animals but are not ready to make the commitment of adopting a pup or kitty? Fostering may be perfect for you! The rescue organizations provide food, vet care, supplies, and tons of emotional and practical support to foster parents. You are never ever alone in the foster experience. Fostering is tax deductible. And above all, fostering saves lives!!!

Latte's story

Earlier we shared with you the adventure of how Charlie came to be a part of our lives (and along the way helped serve as inspiration for founding AAI). Today's story is about Charlie's adoptive kitty brother, Latte.

Latte was born in the summer of 2011 in Joplin, Missouri, while his pregnant mama was at a local shelter. Unfortunately, that was the time when Joplin was hit by a tornado and suffered significant flood damage. Many rescue groups found themselves in a panic and needing to relocate animals. This is how little Latte and his family came up to Washington state. (Western Washington rescuers enjoy fairly high rates of adoption and solid funding so some groups are able to pull animals in danger from other parts of the state and the country and find them homes locally. It is a true blessing that such options exist and so many lives can be saved via inter-state coordination of rescue efforts).

By December 2011, Charlie had been in the US for 3 months, adjusting beautifully to life as an indoor kitty. My Mom who adopted Charlie, had learned what it's like to raise a cat with no eyes and was ready to find him a friend. Naturally, we turned to the local group with which I was volunteering at the time, Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, and decided on adorable little Latte.

Charlie is spunky and opinionated. Latte, on the other hand, is a mellow, shy, wonderfully gentle young man. He has a loud purr and an incredibly caring way in which he looks out for his brother. Latte has a flair for decorating and has been known to drag objects around the house to what he believes to be their proper location. If there is something Latte dislikes (such as the kitchen sponge) he actually buries it in the litter box!

When Latte first came to us, we noticed he was breathing as if he had a stuffy nose. No, the little boy didn't have a simple cold .Many tests and specialists later, we now know the details of his chronic respiratory illness. Latte requires medication at times but is otherwise not experiencing any discomfort. Living with a furbaby with such a condition also means making environmental changes such as not lighting candles, not having fragrant or pollen-heavy plants around him, being extra careful about dust in the home, and choosing a natural, low-dust litter. Latte may have a few special needs but the love he has given everyone who knows him is so profound and touching that any accommodations are truly a pleasure to make for our sweet boy.

Emergency preparedness with pets

Nobody wants to experience a disaster. And some of us never will. But the reality of life is that emergencies, minor and major, happen and recovering from them is much easier if we make readiness part of our routine. If you have pets, it is important to plan for how you would meet their needs in unforeseen circumstances. Today I'd like to share my approach to preparedness with pets.

Know the dangers
I live in a suburb of Seattle. Let's face it, this area is fairly safe from natural disasters. We have no tornadoes or hurricanes, I'm nowhere near a river than may flood, extreme winters and droughts typically skip this area. We do get an occasional earthquake, though. And just like any other place, extensive power outages and fires can happen at any time. So I know the danger that my pets and I need to be prepared to face.

Be ready in your home
The most likely emergency for me is a longer power outage. So I have lots of warm blankets I could let my pups snuggle in. I have extra food and water in the house, both for me and for them, and, of course, a manual can opener. Each of my dogs has a sweater and a coat. I bought two different types so, if need be, I could layer them on for extra protection from the cold. In case of a fire, the only pet-related modification that I could make to my home is put a pet alert sticker on my doors. If I am not at home and emergency personnel need to enter my apartment, I want them to know that I have 2 dogs who need to be saved and, hopefully, whom the fire department won't let run away and get lost. Yes, this scenario worries me and I hope to never be away from my pets if something scary happens.

Be ready to evacuate
Some disasters may require you to evacuate your home and make do with what you were able to grab on your way out. I have an emergency backpack with basic 5-day supplies for 1 person (there are tons of products like this ready for purchase). In order to make it pet-friendly, I added a few items. I have a plastic bag of dog food (marked with expiration date), a water bowl that folds flat, a spare leash (old ones that you no longer use but still fit work just fine), lots of baggies, a booklet of pet first aid, and a few extra of the emergency blankets. I also keep a photo of each of my pets (in case we get separated) and copies of their recent vet records. The backpack lives near the front door so I can easily grab it on my way out and can carry it on my back while I am holding two scared dogs (who are hopefully on leash shortly after we have left the building). Teaching my dogs to actually come quickly to me in extreme circumstances... well, that's another story and a work in progress. I am partly counting on their instinct and pack mentality kicking in and helping me out.

I hope to never have to make use of my emergency supplies because of an actual emergency. But having them available and having thought about extreme circumstances gives me peace of mind and a sense of being a responsible pet parent.

The rescuers: meet Cat Friends

We are very excited to start a new series of posts in which we will introduce you to the local rescue organizations we work with. Our partner rescuers will tell you a bit about themselves, how they got started in the rescue field, and other fun tidbits. (Some of the entries are being submitted to me in Bulgarian and I am translating the content). 

Introducing: Cat Friends

My name is Maria and I am one of the two people responsible for Cat Friends (located in Sofia, Bulgaria). My responsibilities with the organization include maintenance of the Facebook page, administrative duties, handling mail and email, coordinating adoptions abroad and travel of the animals being adopted, and (of course!) daily cat care and trips to the vet with the many sick and injured souls we help. By profession I'm an IT specialist and I work full time in the communications field. I do all rescue work on my own time, before and after work, nights and weekends. I studied in Germany for 2 of my college years which now helps me communicate in German with donors, adopters, and supporters of our organization.

I've loved animals all my life and 10 years ago became actively involved in animal rescue. This is how my first cat rescue case progressed... In the fall of 2003 I was walking through the yard of the building where I lived and came across 4 ill kittens - they had horrible diarrhea and their eyes were sticking shut due to terrible eye infection. I started bringing them food to gain their trust. One day one of the babies fell down into an abandoned basement and broke a leg, one kitten got a fungal infection. I took them to the vet for treatment and thus started the journey of learning more about veterinary illnesses and local vet offices than I had ever imagined I'd know! (Even though our organization works with cats, along the way I have been personally helping dogs as well; the first doggie whom I rescued after he was hit by a car and for whom I found a home I met during my college days)

In 2007 I became the co-founder of Cat Friends. Soon I realized how important to the rescue effort spay and neuter is. My dream remains to some day have a mobile spay and neuter van with which we could travel to poor and remote areas of the country, sterilizing animals, educating people, and preventing homelessness at its root. Our organization is small, completely run by volunteers who share a passion for rescue and persistently, with lots of love save one animal at a time. Over the years, this has added up to a significant number of cats helped! Balancing our rescue work with full time jobs, family responsibilities, and a personal life can be very challenging. But there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that as a result of our efforts, animals who have been homeless, sick, and abused are now safe, healthy, and loved in wonderful homes!

Countless donated hours

Did you know that AAI is 100% volunteer-run? Nobody involved in the operations of the organization is paid a salary/ wage or other compensation for their time. We all firmly believe that saving lives is a fabulous goal to invest our time in and couldn't possibly imagine taking a "cut" from the contributions which our donors have worked hard for and which are so badly needed by the innocent pups and kitties AAI helps.

So is AAI run by the independently wealthy? Not at all (although wouldn't that be fantastic?!). We have bills to pay and thus we have jobs that keep us plenty busy. Which means operating AAI is a fascinating juggling act! Today, I'll share with you a glimpse into my world and how I attempt to balance running much of AAI with having a full time job and a life.

I get up early, usually around 5-5:30 am (Pacific). I'm not necessarily a morning person by default but I trained myself to be that since it serves a functional purpose. Lots of mail/ posts/ updates typically accumulate at night. Why? Because many of the rescuers and vets we work with are in vastly different time zones so my night is their day and therefore their active time (we have a 10-hour difference with Romania and Bulgaria, for example). I catch up on all of the AAI updates in-between having breakfast, walking, feeding, and playing with my pups (boy, do they have energy in the mornings!), and getting ready for work.

Work breaks, lunch time, coffee breaks - a standing order of business is to check what is happening with AAI (my phone or laptop are with me close to 100% of the time). I am blessed with a wonderful co-admin of AAI's Facebook page, the awesome Abby. Abby lives on the East Coast and works from home so we tag team and hand off work plenty during the week. The end of the day is catch-up time as well. When the world around me quiets down, the pups fall asleep next to me on the sofa, I'm done with social and personal activities, and it's just me, my laptop, and a cup of tea... I organize correspondence, pay bills, get upcoming cases ready. Because in the morning, the juggling act starts again.

I have no idea how many hours a week I spend on AAI. My friends and family know (and mostly very graciously accept) the fact that I check my phone a lot. Because I want to thank donors as soon as possible. Because I want to chat with the rescuers and not make them stay up any later than it already is in their country just so they can communicate with me. Because I believe saving lives through AAI is one of the best things I could ever spend my time on!

When muzzles are awesome

This is Julie, one of my pups. She is a happy, playful, snuggly little girl. She looks into my eyes eager to know what we are doing next and ready to follow my guidance. She loves life, wags during most of her waking moments, and is the part-mountain-goat extra-agile trouble-maker I mentioned in an earlier post. Julie is a treasure!

However, my girl is also a rescue pup. She comes from an unknown situation (in the kill shelter from which she was pulled she was marked as a "stray"). Julie was at the very least under-socialized and neglected and her behavior tells me she may very well have been mistreated by people. Julie startles easily, she is scared of strangers (especially men), and her response is to growl and lunge at them in self-defense. We are working on all of this but progress takes time and lots and lots of positive experiences. In the meantime, though, Julie needs to interact with strangers in some less than comfortable situations. Like at the vet's.

We go to a wonderful, skilled, caring, and very professional vet. She has helped us through a variety of routine and potentially life-threatening circumstances. And yet, however much time our vet spends calming Julie down and giving her awesome treats, my pup does not want to be touched by the doctor and will attempt to bite. I sincerely get it. My sweet girl in a scary situation, among smells that likely remind her of the shelter, with a stranger trying to lay hands on her. Julie likely has a powerful memory of strangers' hands being a source of pain. So during the hands-on part of the exam, we use a soft muzzle. I put it on Julie myself and then hold my pup in my arms so she is gently cradled but secure from doing the nice doctor harm. The muzzle comes off when the hands-on part is done, Julie receives lots of treats to make up for the experience, and she gets to have proper vet care. All is well. Were we not using the muzzle, I am not even sure how the exam would have to go but I am willing to bet it would be much more traumatic for all of us involved.

I know that some of the dogs we post on AAI's page have pictures in which they are wearing a regular or make-shift muzzle as they are first taken to the vet. Over time, people have expressed concern about that. I'd like to encourage everyone to consider the circumstances under which rescue efforts often take place. The dog is already homeless and has likely suffered at the hands of humans on the streets and therefore might not trust them much at all (and rightfully so). The pup is injured, scared, and in pain. Even the most docile pets often become aggressive in such situations, it's simply survival instinct. And the rescuers are needing to touch/ carry/ transport this scared injured animal for whom they are just strangers. If I was in pain and giant creatures looking exactly like the ones that just hurt me were putting their hands on me and taking me somewhere... I'd probably bite too!

So next time you see a muzzle being used, I encourage you to examine the circumstances and not assume that the pup is being mistreated. It may very well be that the pup, just like my Julie, is very loved and cared for, and the muzzle is the safest way to actually provide them with the treatment they need. In the hands of caring, gentle individuals, muzzles can be awesome.

How did dog hair get there?!

Not to be confused with the post of "How did I grow hair there?!" which may be due in another few years. 

 
All of us who have pets have experience with the occasional (ok, regular) appearance that hair makes on our clothes, furniture, and, let's face it, food. "Tasted each other" may not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking of activities you have shared with your pet. But secretly you know you've had at least one moment with at least one pet when you wondered what it is you just chewed on and realized it was one of their hairs. If you haven't had a moment like that, please excuse me for assuming and enjoy your iguana.

So I am not referring to those banal places like the sofa. What baffles me is how dog hair got on top of the ceiling fan blades?! I haven't crafted a dog hair pinata nor dog hair confetti, colorful as those may be if one collects samples from the right dogs. I know one of my pups has the agility of a mountain goat (don't ask how much finding this out has cost me). But however creative Julie gets in her mountaineering pursuits, there is no path she could have found up to the ceiling fan. Does our home, by some chance, fall on the path of a very small workday-only air current? (Which I haven't come across personally by virtue of it being active only on work days). Or is someone secretly taking dog hair off the sofa and putting in atop the ceiling fan just to mess with me? Think about it, it's not entirely out of the question.

I guess this might remain one of the mysteries for the ages. For now, I clean and wonder...

How AAI got its start (Part 3): One blind kitten, one informative vet, and a SWOT analysis

Make sure to check out parts one and two of this series of posts before proceeding to the final installment below if you want to learn the complete story of Charlie and the start of AAI.

So back in the States we were, Charlie, me, and my Mom. Yes, my Mom and I were traveling together. An absolute animal advocate herself, she helped me move some of the minor mountains (and be wise enough to take some cash with us in case the Bulgarian airport mountain required a small bribe) to get Charlie home. Being the lover that he is, in the little time that we had spent together Charlie managed to purr his way into my Mom's heart. He had not only hitched a ride with us, he had found a home with my Mom! (Charlie is a very happy boy and you will be reading more about him in future posts).

With Charlie adopted into a fabulous home, I could now focus on the ideas my trip had sparked. Rescue groups in Bulgaria?!?! This is fabulous! This means there is finally hope for change in that part of the world! Ok, so I really wish I could load up a few planefuls of kitties and puppies and take them home with me like I did with Charlie. Needless to say, that is not feasible. That means I need an alternative plan. So the business geek in me broke out the dry erase board (I have 3, don't ask...) and started up a SWOT analysis (SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). Because brainstorming solutions is more fun when there are colored markers and acronyms involved!

One thing I know for sure: now that I realize there is hope for rescue in other parts of the world, I can no longer be content with only volunteering locally. I have to reach further, I have to aim higher. I can't ship animals. That's too expensive and,well, impossible. I don't want to try and somehow start up and run an organization abroad - that is a logistical nightmare and too risky in corrupt areas of the world. What I can do is help organizations operating abroad! Enter, SWOT analysis!

The strengths of foreign organizations: they know and can navigate the local political and regulatory climate; they have (wish it could be bigger) network of foster homes willing to help animals in need; they are largely made up of people who embrace social media and are willing to communicate asynchronously and in concise bursts in order to share maximum information. Weaknesses: small organizations with minimal global exposure; some language barriers; located in time zones opposite to those in which a large group of potential donors live; local donors may be willing but are themselves poor and can only help minimally. Opportunities: cost of vet care and pet care supplies is very low compared to the West. A relatively small amount in US dollars makes a significant difference. Threats: the sheer extent of the need, it's a deep, overwhelming ocean; local culture - there isn't a tradition of animal welfare advocacy, government institutions often hinder the work rather than help it, and people are largely uneducated about spay and neuter.

A few circles, stars, and highlights later, the idea for AAI was born: partner with local nonprofits in countries with high levels of animal homelessness and minimal animal welfare infrastructure. Specialize in the part that is hardest to do for those groups yet very doable for a US-based 501(c)3: raising funds for vet care of injured pups and kitties as they start their rescue journey! And by raising US dollars and paying foreign bills, we'd be getting the best of both worlds! Thanks to the AAI supporters, this model has turned out to be more successful than I ever dreamed possible!

The rescuer at Rainbow Bridge

For me, anyone who has a role in the rescue of an animal is a rescuer. That includes the people who pick up the poor souls from the streets, the vets who treatment, the foster families, the adoptive families, the people who post the cases of animals in need, the people who fund the badly needed treatment. You all, friends, are rescuers. So the story below is for you as well.

"The rescuer at Rainbow Bridge

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, "Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.” The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?” Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see.”

In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm, and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug.

One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?” The cat responded, "That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, "So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven." "

~ Author unknown

How AAI got its start (Part 2): One blind kitten, one informative vet, and a SWOT analysis

Be sure to read part one of this series of posts for the beginning of the story of Charlie and AAI. 

As Charlie, the blind kitten I picked up from the Bulgarian streets, was being checked in for eye removal surgery, I chatted with his vet about the recent rescue activity in the country. Dr. Todorov shared with me that information, policy recommendations, and funding associated with animal welfare were starting to flow into the country from the European Union (Bulgaria has been a part of the EU since 2007). As a result, local activists have been forming small but passionate rescue groups and working their hardest to start making a dent in the numbers of homeless and suffering animals on the Bulgarian streets.

Ok, so I’m a skeptic (and not too big of a sucker), especially when it comes to Bulgarian/ Eastern European institutions, so one of my first questions was about corruption and the actual care the animals receive. The answer thrilled me (and has been subsequently confirmed time and time again): the rescuers have no connection with government entities of any sort, they are volunteers and operate entirely on donations! (As everyone involved in rescue work knows, your desire to help extends far beyond the funds you have so you always, inevitably, give of your own money and other resources and don’t get compensated for it). I was hooked! I took down the names of a couple of groups to continue my research at a later time. Thank you, Dr. Todorov, the information you shared as a courtesy started an avalanche of activity and was pivotal in helping save so many lives! (Yes, Dr. Todorov is one of the vets with whom AAI works and you may even get to see a profile of him and the vet office he heads in a later blog entry).

Little Charlie had a successful surgery and came home with me for the few days before our trip. These were his first days having a roof over his head, clean water to drink any time he wanted it, a tummy that was always full. With the resilience that animals are so amazingly capable of, Charlie adjusted to his new life and always, always went in search of a caring voice and someone to play with. He got the first toy he had ever had: a little mouse which was a gift from Dr. Todorov. Watching him play with that mouse (which he couldn’t see!) is a treasured memory for me. Here is a brief glimpse into that simple but wonderful play: Charlie playing

A few days following his surgery, Charlie joined me on his trip to America. 3 flights (one of which was 10 ½ hours!), a long layover in Amsterdam, an airline mistake in adding him to my ticket and a terribly impolite clerk correcting it (why should it be any different!), and lots more worry on my part than on his, and we landed in Seattle. Oh, and if you ever wonder how one takes a kitten through security, here is the process: 1) set kitty carrier and other carry-on (which is, of course, full of spare kitty supplies) on the side and go through body scanner, 2) get back to your bags, take kitty out of carrier, and push carrier and bag through bag scanner, 3) walk with kitty in hands around the body scanner (thank you, TSA, for not requiring Charlie to be scanned!), 4) put kitty back in carrier and haul your stuff to the plane (with kitty currently not excited that snuggle time with you got over so quickly).

So I’m on US soil, with an unplanned kitten, and tons of daring thoughts running through my head. Unfortunately the running was taking place in a very disorderly manner due to jetlag. And leftover adrenaline from worrying if the change in air pressure would somehow impact Charlie’s eye sutures (it didn’t). And airport food. As we get home, awesomeness begins to happen…

(To be continued)
Read part three of the story here

How AAI got its start (Part 1): One blind kitten, one informative vet, and a SWOT analysis

August 2011: perfect weather for vacationing by the beach in the mostly Mediterranean climate of Varna, Bulgaria. Except that I'm not there as a tourist but to visit family members since this is my native town. And yes, I kinda hate heat. Completely naturally, as if I have been doing it every day, I fall back into the routine of carrying around cat food and feeding the many, many neighborhood homeless animals. (Why cat food and not dog food? There are many more homeless cats on the streets of Bulgaria than homeless dogs. In addition, cats have higher protein needs than dogs so cat food can be protein-adequate for dogs while dog food won't be protein-adequate for cats). With every kitty I see my heart breaks because I know how hard their life is and how soon the harsh winter will come. And then I come across a kitten who leaves me speechless.

His eyes are completely covered in dirt, stuck directly onto the eyeball, to the point where the lids don't close. He is following the sound of my voice but bumping into things since he clearly can't see me. And he's only a month and a half old! Yes, people in the neighborhood have seen him before, they say, they know who his mama and litter mates are. "Poor blind thing, he'll probably die soon". The verdict is terrifyingly accurate. Winters in Bulgaria can be very cold and snowy. Food becomes exceedingly scarce, shelter is largely nonexistent. Dogs get to the point of starvation where they kill and eat cats. Being blind in a winter like that (if he even survived until the winter) means certain death. I am perfectly, stubbornly unwilling to let this kitty die!

With a little over 2 weeks left until I fly back to the US, I need to formulate a plan. The only way I can personally guarantee this baby is safe is if I take him back with me and find him a home. I volunteer with a local rescue group (as I have been doing on and off over the years) and they will help with advertising his case. I do some research: the US requires only a rabies shot (whew, that is easy), the airlines I fly with allow up to 2 in-cabin animals and none of my 3 flights have reached that maximum (booked!), I note down the airline carrier requirements and start searching for the right one that will match the disparate requirements the 2 companies I fly with have (of course, why would they be in agreement with each other?!). But before all of this is done, I take the sweet baby to a vet.

At the vet office the diagnosis is easy: the little baby's eyes cannot be saved. The eyeballs need to be removed, the lids stitched together, since the tiny unseeing eyes are now open wounds waiting for a horrible infection to happen. As I give authorization to proceed with the surgery, I get to name the sweetie: World, meet Charlie! Charlie, you won't get to see the world but, boy, does it have a lot of wonderful things in store for you! While chatting with the vet about immunization, travel, and follow up care for Charlie, I mention that I volunteer with a rescue group which will help me with finding Charlie a forever home. Yes, there are so many rescue groups in the US, I wish this was the case in Bulgaria. "Funny you should mention this", Dr. Todorov replies, "Over the last year or two there has been more and more rescue activity happening in the city. Let me tell you more about it..."

(To be continued)
Read part two of the story here

And this is how this blog got started

I'm Bilyana - the founder of Animal Aid International. I run much of AAI's operations on a daily basis. I go through many more animal stories than make their way to AAI's page, for better or worse. I have lived for years in Eastern Europe and know first-hand the harsh reality which many of the rescuers face all the time. So I have stories to tell.

I also happen to be an opinionated woman who believes in the power of words to inspire. (Great shock to those of you who have been following AAI's Facebook page, right?!) Since my mama taught me to speak my truth (yes, you will hear about her and my grandma), I have been sharing some of these stories with the organization's followers. However, a good portion of the details and the deeply personal elements remained in private messages or simply undisclosed. Some of those details are silly, some are painful, but all are descriptive of the animal rescue reality.

So I invite you into my world. Join me as I reminisce about the simple ways in which my family raised me to love animals. Soar with me on the emotional high of finding an adoptive home for a doggie about whose future the rescuers were privately very concerned. Shed a tear with me on the cold nights when I grieve the pups and kitties on the streets. And with every line written, every entry published, help me keep animal rescue and welfare on the minds and in the hearts of many.