Happy New Year!

As 2013 draws to a close, I can't help but reflect on the last 12 months. To say they have been colorful is an understatement. Animal Aid International made every single day of this year filled with so much emotion, most of it overwhelmingly positive. I learned about great new organizations and welcomed new AAI partner groups and vets. You may be surprised how logistically challenging this can sometimes be behind the scenes. Add language differences and time zone differences, and the juggling act requires the use of colorful charts! (Or my ever-faithful dry erase board, of course).

AAI doubled the number of donors from the previous year! While I'm typically shy about approaching donors for a personal friendship, the times that I did overcome this sense of boundary have paid off terrifically through the beginnings of great friendships. Indeed, having a shared passion for rescue sets a solid, unshakable foundation that assures you this is a good person who is willing to put his/ her own money and emotional comfort on the line for others. And that, friends, means a lot in today's world.

There probably wasn't a single week when I didn't shed a tear. Some of those tears were for the animals we fought for but lost. Others were for the unfortunate many whom we couldn't even reach. But there were also tears of utter gratitude and an overwhelming sense of being loved. Without AAI, I would never have known this experience. The sense you get when you read words so genuine and caring that you physically feel the warmth of being loved engulf your entire body, starting with your heart. The feeling of sharing a need and seeing it immediately met by someone across the world who so truly believes in you that there is no need to wait and consider the investment. The way your heart races when you see the video of a soul whom so many left for dead and who is now rejoicing in the glory of health and safety. And knowing you had a part in making that possible.

I am grateful, I am humbled, I am thrilled. Ok, to be honest I'm also frequently exhausted, occasionally frustrated, and at times plain thankful I know more than one language in which I can verbalize my annoyance with the world. And I can't wait to do it all over again in 2014! Cheers, friends, to many more successes and lives saved!

I just got tired to “look the other way”

Guest written by our wonderful friend Walter, this is his experience with the horror of animal homelessness and the great work his organization is doing to help animals in need. 

My name is Walter Guillioli and I am the founder, director and main volunteer of www.facebook.com/peoplesavinganimals. Growing up in Guatemala I unfortunately saw the ugly as it relates to animal care and respect… especially for dogs.  To many people, dogs that are not pure breed are worthless. Seeing homeless dogs on the streets is an everyday thing and considered “normal”. It is even normal that they are run over by cars and left for dead. To some, dogs roaming the streets are just annoying and they will even run them over on purpose. If the dog is a pure breed worth a $1,000, well that is another story…

Writing the text above makes me sick. Growing up in a country like that made me sick my whole life. Seeing how even today some of my old acquaintances and relatives act towards this make me sick. Thinking of all the years that I did not do anything makes me sick…

Today, I try to ignore that and focus on the present. I now run a small nonprofit focused 100% on helping the incredibly courageous people from the rescue groups in Central America with fund raising (all this in big part to Bilyana at Animal Aid International that opened my eyes and taught me how I could help from my home in Seattle in my ‘free time’). Every day I get angry at the world for seeing how cruel and ignorant they can be towards animals. Every day I am afraid to look at my email for the next horrible case in great need or to get the next accusation in Facebook that I am exploiting animals and stealing money. But then I think of the animals I am helping, I think of the amazing people that trust in me (without knowing me) and donate their money and I get strength to continue.

Pretty much every day when I am tired, when there are no donations, when I see animals suffering by the thousands and I think that I might be able to help hundreds in a year (if lucky); I wonder... Is it worth it? Why bother? If I won’t change anything in the world, why even try? But then I see the ones I have helped and I can say it’s worth it (see some pictures below).

Sometimes it feels ‘weird’ to say to people that I do nonprofit work to help homeless animals… especially to people in Guatemala. I know they don’t understand it. I know they wonder “is he crazy?”. It makes me sad and angry that they don’t get it. If people would only open their eyes and see how much better we can be as humans if we learn from animals, how much fun they are, how much love they give. It would be a different story.

Doing animal rescue work is the proudest effort I have done in my life. It’s not easy and I cry and curse often… but looking back I am happy I got tired to “look the other way” when I saw animals in great need. I won’t change the world, but I will change the world for many… one at a time!

 

Celeste from Costa Rica is one of those who stole my heart and makes me happy to see and know I helped change her world

 

Leon Terry from Guatemala also stole my heart. He had a fractured jaw when rescued and was a mess.

 

We picked up Chepito from a shoulder in a highway in Guatemala when doing volunteer work. He was a mess and now he is spoiled and loved by an amazing couple in Alaska. He stole my heart and gives me strength every day! He made me act and not "look the other way"

Is that food in your pocket or are you happy to see me?

I grew up in an environment with countless homeless animals. Every time I went out my front door, there were tens of cats and dogs hoping for attention, warmth, food. As you can imagine, my ultimate wish would have been to find each and every one of them a home. Unfortunately, given the scale of homelessness, such a global solution has never been within my reach. But ever since I was a little, I learned there was always one thing I could do. I could offer a bite of food to temporarily quiet the rumbling of a hungry tummy.

As a kid, my family knew (and encouraged me!) that I would frequently leave the house with food in my pocket or simply in my hand. A piece of hotdog, a little cheese, half a pastry (imagine something like a danish but baked with some feta and eggs), or just a slice of bread dipped into some broth. Anything that would provide some nutrition. I would happily share my little treasure among the expectant souls, careful not to skip the shy ones simply because they are too scared to approach me.

Now that I visit Eastern Europe as an adult, I take a larger-scale approach and carry with me a bag of cat food every time I leave the house. Yes, seriously, a purse or any other personal item, plus a bag of pet food. The little handfuls I can leave in my path warm my heart: I know that for that moment, for that day, the homeless pup or kitty I encountered will not starve. It's not much, but if enough people did the same thing, collectively we could alleviate a lot of suffering.

This habit follows me around the world and I frequently have a baggie of dog treats with me, even in the reality of the US. There are no homeless animals in my community for me to feed, but pups and kitties get lost and food can be a very helpful tool to attract a confused lost soul. So I am ready. I also am a big believer in positive training. Having treats on me allows me to praise my own pups every time they follow a more challenging command or display a behavior I have been encouraging.

So when you happen to meet me walking down the street, I probably do have food in my pocket. And if you are an animal lover, I am happy to see you so we can swap rescue stories and compare treats!

Being found by a Tigger

Another fun entry guest-written by Michelle about how she met her kitty Tigger

 

Let's talk about Tigger the cat......

Tigger was My BUDDY!!!!!!!

When my NOW hubby & I got Serious..... I told him... I need a Friend/ Pet!!!!!! ANYTHING!!! ( I'm a true anything Animal lover)

He agreed to a cat ( he'd NEVER had a pet)......

Anyways..... We go to our local Rescue Center..... Go to the Cat Section......... I make B Line for everything Long haired!!!!! ( HIGHLY ALLERGIC to ANYTHING Short Haired) .... And ... Hubby is Partial to Persians....

So.... This Orange Tabby keeps trying to get our Attention..... I IGNORE!!!!! Well.... Our 3rd Pass.... The Tabby.. Snags my sleeve..... Me being ME.... I open the cage... I SWEAR....... HE JUMPED OUT & HUGGED ME!!!!! Well...... He came home with us!!!!!!! He became my BUDDY!!!!! We called him Tigger... Because........ He BOUNCED EVERYTIME he saw me!!!!   :-)

He was my Guard Kitty!!!

:-)