How getting spayed saved Lola

On countless occasions, in many setting, I have advocated for the importance of spay and neuter efforts. Yes, I am also the person who wears a T-shirt that says "I'm into S&N" and is a very fun conversation starter. TNR (trap-neuter(spay)-return) is hands down the absolutely best way to regulate the population of homeless animals. One single street cat can over the years give birth to many, many kittens who will in turn face illness, hunger, cold, and abuse. The kittens who survive to an old enough age to reproduce will continue the cycle. Into perpetuity.

Animal Aid International regularly raises funds for spay and neuter efforts. During our latest round of spays, we came across Lola - a kitty whose own life was saved quite directly and unexpectedly by being trapped and spayed.

Lola was homeless on the streets of Bulgaria. Maybe she was born homeless, maybe she was dumped. We would never know. A kind person trapped Lola and took her in to get spayed as part of AAI's Winter 2016 campaign. The procedure started as usual. Except that when the vet made an incision, he came across something unexpected - Lola had a severe infection of the uterus! Being homeless, nobody noticed the poor kitty was suffering and was likely having symptoms for a while. Lola's illness was so advanced, that the vet estimated she would have died within a week! Our spay campaign afforded Lola the lucky, life-saving attention which every kitty deserves but only few will get. The vet performed full surgery to remove the badly ill uterus and the rescuers took Lola into a foster home and will find her a forever family instead of returning her to the streets - this particular sweetheart has suffered enough!

By donating to spay and neuter, YOU can make a life-saving difference. Choose to help a homeless soul, you may be the only one who does.

AAI's current spay campaign fundraiser can be found here

It may not be easy, but it will be worth it

 

Rescue work is hard. It is inconvenient in more ways than I can count.

 

Pulling over on the side of the road to help a lost animal has more than once resulted in work clothes needing to be dry cleaned or a car that smells like a wet and dirty dog for a few days. But doing laundry can't in any way compare with the amazing feeling of seeing that dog furiously wag his tail upon seeing the owner from whom he was separated.

 

I like sleep (I know, shocking, right?!). Like any one of you, I enjoy waking up when my alarm goes off and not a minute earlier, leisurely drinking my coffee, and getting ready for work. Instead, I wake up when I'm needed. My foster cat is on multiple medications due to his cancer diagnosis. So I allow time to prep and administer medications starting at 4:30 am, and clean the litter box which he can't help but make a giant mess of. Every single day. And yes, there are enough times when I have woken up at 2 am to take a very old dog to pee. Because he can't help that with old age comes poorer bladder control. I partly jokingly say that I will never sleep through the night again. And this may very well turn out to be my reality. But fostering allows me to give love and hope to those who need it most. And that is worth every lost minute of sleep.

 

Before every new case AAI takes on for fundraising, I ask myself if we can do it. After all, donations have been slow. And animals in need abound. Will the donors be touched by this particular animal's story? Before every animal I have adopted or fostered, I have asked myself if I can do it. Do I have the time, can I face the good bye (for fosters and hospice cases), won't it be hard to fit the new addition in my already busy household and schedule. And the answer is usually: heck yeah, it won't be easy. But immediately following that my heart reminds me that it will be worth it. The warm your entire being and give you invaluable memories kind of worth it.

 

So on those extra challenging days, that make me question everything, I have 3 answers that work for me time after time. Have another cup of coffee. Put on my adorable customer bracelet (photo above). And allow myself to rejoice in the purrs, wags, and love of those to whom I am making a difference. I assure you it won't be easy. But also that it will be worth it. Don't trust my word, though. Give rescue a try. You will be hooked before you know it!

Perspective

It's a new year and a new opportunity to raise funds and awareness for animals in need! This year, our resolution is to always maintain perspective. Allow me to explain what I mean by that.

The last post on this blog was from early February 2015. Almost a year ago. Around that time I got discouraged at the rate that AAI was making progress and felt my efforts were making so much less of a difference than the previous year. I lost perspective. And yet at year close, AAI stats spoke loud and clear - even during the very slow 2015 we had helped 302 animals in need! That's almost one a day! Not bad for a tiny volunteer-run organization! And all thanks to our donors. Perspective re-established.

I also recently chose to make a donation which touched me in a particularly unique way (aside from volunteering my time for AAI, I also volunteer for other causes and make modest donations, given my means, to animal charities). The donation was a modest amount I contributed to the very small volunteer-run rescue group AAI helps in Romania - RescueMe Romania. I chose to give money for the building of better shelter for 4 sweet dogs who live at a Romanian cemetery. You see, the rescue group is badly short of foster homes. Some of the animals they help, the rescuers visit at their pre-existing locations and provide with food, medication, and basic living conditions. The cemetery keepers were kind enough (not always the case) to allow the rescuers to visit and help the dogs and to bring them small houses filled with straw. Unfortunately, the roofs of the dog houses were not keeping the water out during heavy rain so a sturdier roof was needed. And so I helped with the purchase of materials. The end result is below.

Nothing very complex but enough to help the pups survive. And this the rescuers counted as success, as a potentially life- and health-preserving improvement. Until adoptive homes are found. Once again came time for perspective. I may have little to give. The end result of my contribution may not be glamorous at all. But it is the source of comfort and safety when those are desperately needed.

You too can make a difference. Donating a small amount can have a big impact. Join us this year in maintaining perspective about the countless ways in which each of us can better the world. And visit our Facebook page for the next story of an animal in need: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAidIntl/

Life with a (mostly) blind and deaf dog

This is Bobby, my final refuge foster dog through Old Dog Haven. He is an absolute sweetheart of a dog. He also happens to be mostly blind and deaf (in addition to being ancient, arthritic, toothless, and having an eye lid that doesn't close). When I welcomed him into my home I was prepared to work with his limited eye sight. He sees only a tiny bit, mostly shadows and some motion, out of his right eye. However, I quickly learned that he is also very hard of hearing. Through the 4 months we have been together Bobby and I have experimented with different things and have some tips on making the life of a mostly blind and deaf dog safer and more stable. These are our suggestions:

• A blind & deaf dog is much easier to disorient! Now is a great time to have stability in the environment and schedule. As much as possible, keep large objects in the same place, don't rearrange furniture or go through major remodels. Keep the routine as consistent as possible since you will need to rely more on habit than on commands (your doggie will no longer be able to perceive them). Keep his food and water in the same place, his bed and other favorite objects easy to access. Blind and deaf dogs also sleep much more soundly than your average pup so he will be harder to rouse.
• Safety will become a bigger issue. Do you have roses or other thorny plants in your yard? Might be time to fence them off since a blind dog might walk into them. Even worse, he might walk into them with his eyes open and actually sustain damage he otherwise would instinctively protect himself from by blinking. Consider putting up a gate at the top of the stairs so your doggie doesn't take a tumble. If you have other pets in the house or meet other pets on walks, your doggie will not be able to see their nonverbals that otherwise would warn him to keep his distance so he may inadvertently get into their space and the other pets might feel provoked. Getting tangled in his own leash or stepping in poop is much more likely so plan accordingly. You may want to watch your own step much more closely and check before opening doors or cabinets - your pup might not see these obstacles and would be easier to accidentally bump.
• If your pup sees a little bit still (and is not entirely blind), consider moving from side to side or waving so he can see you, instead of calling him but staying still. If your pup can hear a little bit, try finding the frequency that works. Usually higher pitch is the last to be lost. If possible, allow your doggie to sniff you before you touch him so he is less likely to startle. But be prepared that startle response will be activated more often. This doesn't mean he is scared of you, not to worry, it is just an automatic, survival reaction.
• While the sight and hearing are weakening, the other senses are your friend! Your pup will rely on the sense of smell a lot. So if you need to guide him into an area you may want to place your hand in front of his nose and move it in the direction you want him to go. He will also be more likely to remain in his bed or another spot you want him to stick to if you put there an item of your clothing that you have just worn and which smells like you. Also consider having a blanket or towel that is specifically dedicated to your pup and marks his space. Move that blanket to his sleeping area at bedtime and to his daytime comfy spot in the morning. That way if you need to take him for a car ride or be some place new for a while, taking the blanket along will provide a sense of orientation. 
• Touch will become more important to your pup as well. He will likely become a bigger snuggler since feeling you against him will help orient him to your location. You may also want to use touch as a way to orient to a direction in which to go. If your pup is facing away from you and calling him is of no use, touch him and he will turn around and likely follow. He may seek more physical contact with other pets and people in the household - be prepared for this and warn/ supervise as needed. 

This sounds like a lot. And at times it can be. But blind and deaf doggies are wonderful, loving, and completely capable of a lot of joy. So be patient and learn from each other. The times you share will be very worth it!

Happy New Year!

It's been yet another amazing year of helping animals in need. There were tough days and challenges, there were fantastic happy endings. One of those transformations was pup Avgustina.

 

Avgustina was rescued from the streets of Bulgaria. She was found horribly emaciated, sick with ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. As if this were not enough, one of Avgustina's legs had sustained an injury at some point in the past and at the time of rescue was completely dead. Poor Avgustina was simply dragging it along with her. 

 

The amazing supporters of Animal Aid International came together and raised the funds for Avgustina's treatment and amputation surgery. As always, the vets proceeded with treatment immediately, working on credit and trusting the wonderful reputation AAI has built over time for always keeping our word to the animals in need. Avgustina did her part and worked very hard at her rehabilitation. 

 

The sweet girl blossomed with the love that the rescuers and foster parents gave her. This was likely the first time in her life she was safe and no longer hungry. These simple, basic joys that every innocent soul deserves allowed Avgustina to relax and let her personality shine through. She proved herself to be a happy, loving, gentle dog. It was not too long before wonderful adopters in Western Europe saw the gem that this three-legged pup was and decided she was meant to be a part of their family. And thus Avgustina was adopted and will live happy and loved for the rest of her life.

 

Stories like those of Avgustina are all around us. Rescue changes the world. It saves lives and generates hope for the future of humanity. 

This year, we resolve to work hard to make many more such happy endings possible. But we will need your help! What is your rescue resolution?

 

 

 

Happy 3rd birthday to AAI!

Happy 3rd Birthday to Animal Aid International!!!

This year was a bit of a challenge. As many of you know, AAI relies almost exclusively on the amazing power of social media to reach caring people who want to help animals in need. And during our first 2 years we were incredibly successful in doing so. The world changes, of course, and with that so the opportunities for a small, volunteer-run nonprofit with no marketing budget. As Facebook shifted its algorithms, the reach of our posts plummeted. So we starting adding more social media outlets and trying extra hard to increase interaction with our page.

But the going was slow and we raised funds at a significantly slower rate than during our 2nd year. I must admit there were times when behind the scenes we were so frustrated, we almost felt like giving up. But we kept seeing the faces of need and hope. We kept receiving the happy updates of pups and kitties we had helped in the past. And even if it were down to 1 animal per month, we knew we would without a doubt keep going. One day at a time. One furry soul at a time. Because every single life is worth saving. 

Today we are thrilled to share that since AAI started operations, we have raised the funds for 2,060 animals in need! This number is amazing. Humbling. Inspiring. And it is all made possible by you, our unbelievable supporters. Every donation, every share, every "like" has made this number a reality. So today, join us in our celebration. For it is our collective labor of love that has touched so many lives and created such a solid legacy of hope!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After a long, busy (and, honestly, overwhelming) stretch, today feels like the right day to come back to our blog. There are plenty of things to share, and more importantly, so much to be thankful for. 

During this past year I was blessed with the opportunity to buy my first house. Yes, my commute is longer and my bills are higher. But the new home has meant so much to me. I've always loved animals and having adopted 2 dogs, I felt I was lending a hand. But I was under strict landlord limitations. Since moving to my house, I have been able to start fostering! I now have an adorable senior Jack Russel Terrier through Old Dog Haven. Bobby is around 12 years old, mostly blind, partially deaf, arthritic, and has 3 teeth. So he is not considered adoptable. I am honored to be able to give him a final refuge home and love him for the rest of his life. 

I have also started fostering through a no-kill cat shelter, Purrfect Pals. Right now I have a super sweet 1 year old kitty under my care, little Anju. He was surrendered by his family and the stress of this transition caused him to contract an upper respiratory infection. By inviting him into my home for just 2 weeks, I give Anju a break from that environment, and a peaceful, quiet place to play, take medication, and recover so he can find his forever home. 

Very soon after moving to the new location, I also had the privilege of meeting some amazing people who help with lost and found animals. As a pet parent, I can only imagine the horror of losing your baby and am thrilled that I can play a small role in the recovery efforts. The community I have come to be a part of is so unbelievably caring, responsive, and always willing to put their own convenience aside for the benefit of those in need. 

And, of course, I have Animal Aid International. My baby, my love, a constant source of angst and joy. Your support has continued to allow us to save kitties and pups in some of the saddest parts of the world, where animals are considered even less than disposable. The impact our donors and supporters are making is indescribable. I am thankful for you every single day. 

So, yes, I firmly believe that animal lovers are among the best people you could meet. Surround yourself with as many of them as you can. You will be in the presence of true friendship, selflessness, and hearts almost as pure as those of the animals we help. THANK YOU for caring and making a difference. Here's to saving many more lives during this holiday season!