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!!!

:-) 

Calm amidst the (minor) storm

On Monday I came back from work to find a maintenance crew from my apartment complex in my home. A pipe had burst in the kitchen and my home had flooded. Thankfully, my next door neighbor called for help soon enough (when his own kitchen started flooding as well) so the damage was not as terrible as it could have been. But what followed were 48 hours of chaos. Furniture moved around, carpet ripped up, 24/7 loud dehumidifiers and fans, maintenance people in and out of the home. More than enough to give you a literal headache in addition to the enormous frustration of dealing with this right before a holiday. And yet in the midst of it all, my puppies helped maintain the normalcy of my existence.

Don't get me wrong, Tigger and Julie were distressed by the madness surrounding us. There was a lot more barking and protecting of our home and furniture than on an average day. But every step of the way, my doggies stayed with me, completely willing to ignore the world and focus on what our 'pack' was doing. As soon as the strangers were gone, life went on. Furniture is in a different spot? They sniffed around it a couple of times and started chasing each other in play, actually enjoying the new obstacle course my home had become. Too loud to hang out in the living room? That's ok, we'll camp out with Mom in the bedroom. If I had been unable to stay in my home because of damages (and had no support or resources, as entirely too many people experience), I am completely certain my dogs would have snuggled up against me in my car and spent however many nights necessary that way. As long as we are together.

I was very tempted to give in to my frustration, the terrible timing of this minor disaster, the inconvenience of having to replace so many personal items. But it was basically impossible to do that. Why? Because I had one puppy wildly wagging and giving me her paw as her very polite invitation to play. And another pup who found his favorite toy in the midst of the chaos and brought it over to me so we can engage in the shortest-distance fetch game anyone has ever played - from one end of my bed to the other. So at the end of the day, we curled up together and went to sleep. Knowing everything will be ok as long as we have each other.

Moments that melt your heart

Having pets can be a lot of work. Just consider my pet-related schedule for today. By the end of the day I will have taken my dogs for literally 5 walks. First thing in the morning and at night the weather is too cold for the them so I put on and take off not only leashes but also doggie sweaters. One of them has skin sensitivities, so we do an extensive paw wipe every time we get home. At noon I drove them to a nearby park so the walk can be more entertaining. I am right now doing a second load of laundry of doggie towels, blankets, and the like. And in the meantime I'm cooking some chicken for them. As I said, a lot of work. But the amount of work involved in having pets is in no way comparable to the joy they bring into our lives. Today, I have been reminiscing about some of the sweetest moments I've shared with my current pets. If you haven't done so yet (or recently), please consider adopting a pet and you are guaranteed to have so many heart-melting moments of your own.

Charlie, my Mom's blind cat, was rescued from the streets of Bulgaria. I literally put him in a carrier and headed to the vet where his eyes were examined and it was confirmed they would need to be removed. He stayed at the clinic for observation for a couple of days and came home the week we were heading back to the US. Heart-melting moment: the first time this tiny, blind ball of fur, who had never known a home or toys, played with his toy mousey. He could hear and touch the mouse and that was enough. Charlie's movements were tentative at first, he didn't know his surroundings so he bumped into a couple of things. But in spite of it all, he was just a kitten craving play time. I cried watching him do that. And I knew he was a survivor!

My pup Tigger has always been very food-motivated. One time when he was still little his interest in food got him in a unique kind of trouble. I was offering him a treat and he came running over to get it. Unfortunately, being in such a hurry he misjudged his jump and instead of getting on top of the couch, he sort of crashed into it. He gave out a whimper and I was immediately by his side, his treat on the floor next to us. No, Tigger was not in any way injured. Of course, I thought he'd 'console himself' by devouring the treat. Instead, he gifted me with a heart-melting moment: tiny Tigger climbed into my lap and curled up for a few minutes, as I was petting him and talking to him. Only after he felt better did he wiggle his way to the treat. At that moment, I knew that the comfort of mama's hugs had become more important than even food!

My Mom's cat Latte is a very shy boy. He is incredibly sweet but his little heart gets worried by unfamiliar sounds, sights, and people. Socialization takes time and I had all the time in the world for Latte. He would at first hide and not come out at all while I was visiting. Gradually he started making a brief appearance in my presence but maintained a solid 5-foot radius around me. I made it a habit to sit down on the living room floor and talk to them so Charlie and Latte can visit with me, if they chose to. Latte kept inching his way closer to me, at a pace of no more than 2 inches a month. It was going to be a long road. And then one day the heart-melting moment came: Latte not only had bridged the distance but he actually came over sniffing my face and his tiny pink nose touched mine. That touch gave me goose bumps because of how much trust it represented and how persistently both me and Latte had been working to get to that place.

I adopted my pup Julie on a Saturday morning. Circumstances were such that I wasn't able to take any days off from work to spend extra time with her and Tigger. I had stayed with them the whole weekend, watching interactions, redirecting play, setting boundaries. In spite of that, Monday came too soon and I was anxious as I left for work. I don't crate my dogs so even though I had puppy-proofed the part of my home they had access to, I could come home to a disaster. Even though Tigger and Julie had gotten along well during the weekend, they were still relative strangers to each other so they could have gotten in a bad fight while I was away. Julie could be put off by my extended absence - pups can definitely suffer from separation anxiety, especially if the relationship is brand new. So I came home a little early, with butterflies in my stomach. I was not prepared to have my heart melted: not only was there no chaos and no injuries at home, but I opened the door to see Julie fiercely wagging and coming over to lick my hands in greeting. She had accepted us as family, this was just the beginning of a wonderful life together.

Last walk

A beautiful and touching entry guest written by the wonderful Abby. What a humbling way to start the day!

On my daily walk this morning with my little pup, we had the most humbling experience.  We typically walk the same route every morning.  Today, about half way down the causeway, I noticed an older gentleman with his dog.  The man had a scowl on his face that was unmistakable.  My instant thought was to kind of sigh and think oh dear, I bet I won’t get a good morning back from him.  As we got closer, Marley, my pup, kind of stopped, looked ahead and moved slowly forward.  This was unusual for him as normally he would either start barking or run the other direction.  He clearly sensed something I had yet to learn.

I noticed that the dog with the man was older, lots of gray around the face, walking extremely slowly and painfully.  Clearly his hips were giving him pain.  We finally caught up to them and I smiled.  “Good morning, isn’t a beautiful day?” I said to the man.  He half smiled with his furrowed brown and said “why yes, I guess you could say it is”.  Turns out, this was his last walk with his 19 year old Chow named Misty.  She has terminal cancer, painful joints and hip problems, can hardly walk on her own and has lost all control of other important life functions.  She was scheduled to cross the rainbow bridge around 4:00pm today.  She could only take about 2 steps and had to lie down and rest.  My heart just broke wide open. 

Misty was named after his late daughter who had died in a car accident 20 or so years ago.  He had just lost his wife 5 years ago.  The pain on his face was indescribable, yet there was love and light and hope in his moist eyes.  Marley and I turned around and walked with him and Misty, stopping with them every few steps to rest.  He knew it was the right thing to do and kept saying how amazing this dog had been for him throughout all of his life struggles.  His heart was clearly breaking, but his attitude and kindness blew me away.  He wanted to know all about me, where I lived, what my pup’s name was and what kind of dog he is.  He couldn’t say enough about the community we live in and how there is just something about the ocean that can bring you peace.  After everything he had gone though and will go through again today, he wanted to know about me.  Wow.

I will say a prayer for Misty this evening.  I will never, ever forget this encounter as long as I live.  What an amazing reminder to not judge anyone ever.  You never know what they are going through, have gone through or what they are about to go through in a few short hours.  Marley and Misty strolled together, and I with the man.  I hope our conversation helped his heart a little bit.  I hope he knows how much he and Misty affected me.  I hope he can somehow know that he reminded me to always be kind.  I hope I will get to see him again soon and perhaps give him a hug or be able to offer my ear or a hug if he should need it.  People never cease to amaze me.         

Michelle's story

Today's entry is by one of Animal Aid International's wonderful supporters, Michelle. Enjoy!

Hi... My name is Michelle.....

A.A.I. found ME in 2011 and ...I've been ADDICTED since!!!!

They've made me see things that I REALLY did not want to see!!!!! But... Things I've NEEDED to see!!!!

I guess I've Always been a Rescuer @ Heart!!!!

All my life.... If an animal was Hurt or Lost.... I'd do my best to help!!!!!!

Dogs;Cats;Birds;Raccoons; even the NASTY ALL TEETH Opossum!!!!

Much to my hubby's Frustration!!!!!!! An Opossum???? REALLY??? He's thinking.... It WILL Tear you to SHREDS!!!! Me.... But.... He's Hurt! I've GOT to try!

LOL

Anyways....

Let me Confess: None of my "Kids" have been Rescues....

EXCEPT for Boozer!!!! The Amazing Yellow Lab.... Who walked into my CarPort and.. NEVER left!!!!  ( including my heart)

BUT! They have all come from VERY DETAILED/RESEARCHED Breeders.....

And.... Me being ME......

I've always picked the Runt! The Timid one! The one who CHOSE ME!!!!!

My "Kids" have all Rescued ME in One Way or Another!!!!!

Everyday I see people THROW their "Kids" away!!!!!!! Because... They're Sick/ They don't Listen!/ They're Old/ We've Lost Interest!!!!!!

This HURTS me!!!!! Mentally and heartfully ( I know.... NOT a Word)

Our sweet Old Lady: Baby.....

She's Blind, has Addison's Disease & K9 Diabetes.....

I'd work Double s EVERYDAY to keep her HAPPY & Healthy!!!!!!

These are My KIDS!!!!!!!!!

So.. Wish.... EVERYONE felt the same about the animal they PROMISED TO LOVE!!!!!!

Well...... That's my Story!!!! And.... I'm sticking to it.

:-)

Life on a chain

You wake up and are cold and achy. Your doghouse lets plenty of the wind and snow in but at least it has three walls, a roof and a floor. There used to be an old rag on that floor. It got dirty very quickly and it was never particularly warm. But at least it was something you could curl up against and feel the tiniest bit of softness. But that was long ago and by now the rag has disintegrated into individual threads of fabric which the wind keeps blowing around the yard and beyond. Beyond the yard, that's an interesting thought. You hardly think about that world anymore since you haven't seen it for years, since the day they chained you to your doghouse. You hear sounds coming from that world and you used to respond to them with a bark, a howl, or a whimper. You hardly ever do that anymore since the human yells at you every time you do it.

There are days when the wind, so bone-chillingly cold most of the time, brings interesting smells from the world beyond the yard. You know they make your mouth water, even if you can't identify what they represent. Your stomach growls and you check your bowl. It's been probably a day since you hungrily finished the piece of dry bread that the human threw into it. Maybe one of these weeks you'll get a bone again. Long ago you gave up on hoping there would be actual meat on the bone. You shiver and have a sip of the dirty water in your bowl.

You go back into your doghouse and curl up in a corner, trying to feel as much of the walls against your body as you can. You close your eyes and imagine these walls are actually something else. Maybe the backs of other pups in the pack you so desperately wish you had. Maybe even a human's lap. You know it's no use (and it may actually earn you a kick in the ribs) but every time you see the human your heart leaps in the briefest of hopes that maybe this time he will pet you. Scratch your ears or your belly, tell you that you are a good dog. Because you so desperately try to be a good dog. You stay as quiet as you can. You keep the tiny radius that your chain allows as clean as possible by relieving yourself as far away from your doghouse as the chain allows. You haven't asked for a new rag, it's ok that you had one for a while, you didn't mean for it to get all torn up. And you wait. You wait for the day when the human might actually take a liking to you. You wait.

Life on a chain is terrible and lonely. No dog deserves such existence!

Loved until his last breath

This is a bitter-sweet real life story. Even though the end is not happy, the love and sensitivity it speaks of is heart-warming and inspiring.

This is Juja. She was rescued in May from the streets of Bulgaria as a small, dirty, weak and hungry ball of fur. Juja was completely covered in ticks and was so exhausted from trying to survive on her own that she kept falling asleep in the rescuers' car, as they drove her to the vet. Animal Aid International funded Juja's vet care and she, thankfully, turned out not to suffer from any other of the terrible diseases that animals on the streets often contract. Juja was fostered by the rescuer herself (as usual, at that time there was a shortage of foster homes). The little girl fit so well into her foster home and showed her tremendously sweet personality that the decision was made - the rescuer adopted Juja!

Diesel was found on the streets of Bulgaria a few days ago. Tiny, weak, hungry, and alone, he was crying out in hopes that someone would notice him. It's anyone's guess how long this baby had been on his own and what his story was. The same rescuer who adopted Juja couldn't resist the sweet baby and took him into her home to hopefully save and find an adoptive home for.

Juja showed an immediate interest in Diesel. She took every single opportunity to be near him, groom him, respond to his weak little meows. Unfortunately, even with food and shelter now a nonissue, Diesel kept getting weaker and losing his appetite. Medications and supplements were started. The sicker Diesel got, the more vigilant Juja became. She slept with him and nuzzled him gently when he would adjust and make himself cozy in her fur.

Sadly, yesterday Diesel passed away. His body had gone through too much too early in his innocent life and the rescuers' and vets' best efforts couldn't save him. However, as Diesel crosses over Rainbow Bridge, we are beyond certain that he does so knowing with the entirety of his little heart that he was loved until his last breath. Rest in peace, Diesel! Juja, you are a little 4-legged angel, thank you for giving love and comfort to this tiny boy!

Meet the rescuers: RescueMe Romania

We are very excited to continue the series of blog posts introducing you to the rescue groups with which AAI works. Today's entry is about RescueMe Romania and is written by the wonderful Gill. 

RescueMe Romania is based in Targu Mures, which is located in the historical area of Transylvania. Although the scenery may be beautiful, the street dogs suffer just as much as all the other street dogs in Romania, suffering starvation, hostility and even death as they try to survive.

RescueMe was set up in February 2010 and was the idea of a small group of people who wanted to do something to alleviate the suffering of the street dogs. The core volunteers are Mr Rad (pictured above), Doina Milutin (pictured above) and Loredana Siklodi Luncasu (pictured below). Initially they simply fed the street dogs and tried to help those needing medical attention. They had hoped one day to find the money to build a shelter, but any money they managed to raise was spent on food and vets'  bills. I had got to know Doina thorough he involvement with Fiducia - another shelter - and suggested that we put RescueMe on Facebook as very few people seemed to see our web page. Shortly after I started the Facebook page a Hungarian lady living in Targu Mures,  Natasa Kiss-Pusok ,contacted me saying she wanted to help. I thought she meant to volunteer but actually she wanted to donate money and thanks to her, RescueMe were able to build pens on some land belonging to Monia Kovacs who they also pay to look after the dogs on a daily basis.

Since we started trying to help the dogs we have had our share of successes and tragedies. We were alerted to a factory dog, Florin, who had been attacked by some passing sheep dogs. He was badly hurt and sadly, he died, but we discovered that there were more dogs in the factory and started taking food to them. With the attention we got on Facebook we were eventually able to get all the dogs adopted in the UK. One, Molly (pictured below), had a tiny puppy who has grown into a very large GSD cross and both now have wonderful lives. Sadly, Romania being Romania, more stray dogs are now living in the factory.

The rescuers in Romania go the extra mile for the animals. Our vet, Borka-Vitalis Levente, found a poor paralyzed dog dragging himself down the road. I am sure that in the UK a vet would euthanize such a dog, but after treating him he asked us to look after him and gradually the dog, now called Keven, recovered and is now living in the UK with one of our supporters, Janey Beever-Fortes who became a volunteer through seeing Keven on Facebook. We also found a small dog called Pepper (pictured below) lying at the side of a railway track with a mangled back left leg while stray dogs were trying to eat it. Again, he is in a loving UK home now.

Unfortunately sometimes all we can do isn't enough and we lose them. Sweet Pea (pictured below) was a tiny puppy found, covered in infected wounds and hanged by the neck from someone's car door. Although we were full, had RescueMe not taken her, she would have been treated and released back onto the street. Sadly, no amount of love and medical attention could save her. 

Currently the situation in Romania has worsened with a new law passed allowing the authorities to put the street dogs to sleep. This is often done in the cruelest ways, such as being battered to death with pieces of wood, as the aim is always to save as much money as possible when dealing with the street dogs. Our pens are full and we are constantly looking for adopters, mainly in the UK, and struggling to raise funds. Having the support of  Animal Aid International makes such a difference as we know that we have someone to turn to when we need help with out medical bills.

Behind the scenes of AAI

Many of you follow Animal Aid International's work and are familiar with the cases with which we help and the countries of our focus. What most of you don't know, however, are the fun, funny, confusing, and sad details that take place behind the scenes. Here is a glimpse.

The fun and funny
Ay vey, Facebook. Although it might not always come in the "funny" category, Facebook certain offers a lot of opportunities for us to be amused. Abby and I co-admin AAI's Facebook page. We try to coordinate posts and frequently succeed at it. But there are times it occurs to both of us that we would like to repost a case and, without checking with the other, we both go ahead and post it basically at the same time. So yes, you guys see duplicate posts phrased slightly differently. We try to quickly recover and take one of them down so they are not confusing but.. stuff happens. ("Why did you post now?"... "Because I have a break at work and it seemed like the right time. Why did you post?"... "Because it seemed like the right the time. Which one do we take down?"... "Well, mine has shares"... "Well, mine has comments"... "Dang it!")

Abby and I also collaborate on projects such as putting together the AAI calendar. This is certainly a fun undertaking and we love the final product (I have mine right next to me at my desk). I must admit we have a pretty fun time deciding on which photos to include, which background should be used for which set of photos, etc ("I like the red background".. "But we used it for the previous month already"... "But it matches the color of the sofa in one of this month's pictures"... "And by matches you mean 'clashes with', right?"... "Oh forget it, just use the blue"... "But all the pictures for this month are girl animals, shouldn't we use something more feminine?"... "Oh boy, I need more wine!).

The confusing
Currently AAI works with 5 organizations from 4 different countries and we are gearing up to welcome a 6th rescue group from a 5th country. Of course, this also means multiple vets. So keeping track of which animal originates from where and is being treated by whom takes a system! Add to that the animal's diagnoses, funds needed, funds raised, when the bill was paid... and things can get confusing in a hurry! I keep a master spreadsheet, pretty and color coded, for all of this information. But the reality is information doesn't all come to me nicely organized and all at once. Thankfully, I have a pre-existing love of sticky notes and a near-miraculous ability to read my handwriting after I scribbled something in pencil, upside down, in the rain. And as long as the confusion remains behind the scenes and lasts only the briefest of moments, it's all good.

The sad
As you are likely well aware, rescue work is not all fun and happy endings. There are times when animals whom we fight for succumb to their illnesses and injuries. Early on in running AAI, I learned a lesson: don't check my phone if I happen to get up at night. I vividly remember the first time I got up to get some water at 3am and decided to check my email. And what was expecting me were news that one of the pups we were helping passed away. Needless to say, I didn't go back to bed. Last year I was on my way to the company picnic, when (safely, albeit not legally, at a traffic light) I checked my messages and learned about another soul that had crossed Rainbow Bridge. That was a case that was so sad, I had to pull over in a nearby parking lot because I was sobbing so hard with my overwhelming, immediate grief. I hate, hate, hate posting the candle signifying loss. There are, sadly, times when the rescuers and I discuss a potential next case and the animal dies before we even have a chance to post him/ her. Those pups and kitties are grieved more privately but not any less sincerely.

Any way you look at it, AAI is an awesome adventure. The good and hopeful always outweighs the sad and ugly. And the knowledge of the many lives saved forever warms my heart!

Older pets are wonderful

The appeal of baby animals is pretty clear. Adorable in their miniature size, playful and snuggly, quick to wag and purr, uncoordinated and curious. Most people love pups and kitties. Today I'd like to speak about the beauty of older pets.

Giving a mature pet a loving home during his/ her final years should, ideally, be motivation enough to adopt. But the reality is that there are multiple very practical reasons why you should consider inviting an older dog or cat into your life.

Established habits Unless you are adopting an animal who has been feral, an older pet has experience with the basic habits of living with a human. Getting up around the same time every day, eating from a bowl rather than scavenging, seeing the human go off to work, going potty outside or in a litter box, walking on a leash. You may need to help your new household member with a refresher of these habits. But overall, you would definitely not be starting from scratch and needing to spend the months it would otherwise take to train a baby. Chewing on things around the house? Much, much less likely to be an issue at all since your mature pet is not going to be teething at any time of your life together.

Settled personality When you get a puppy or kitty, you mostly don't know what kind of an animal your pet will turn out to be. Unless your baby pet is very assertive or very shy, you likely won't see too much personality differentiation until he/ she starts to grow up and settle down a bit. An older animal, on the other hand, has a clearly settled personality. Foster families and shelter staff will have the experience to fairly quickly tease out the temperament and preferences of an older pet. So finding a mature dog or cat with whom you are an excellent match is a breeze!

Experience Just like a mature human, mature pets have experienced a lot. They have likely known multiple humans and have had to adjust their interactions with each of them. They may have lived at multiple places. They have heard thunderstorms, fire trucks, children screaming, and many, many more things. And all along, they have made adjustments, learned new ways, adapted. Even if some of the habits they picked up were not as good, older pets are resilient and experienced with change. So contrary to popular belief, an older dog (or cat) most definitely can learn new tricks since he has a long track record of trick-learning on his resume. Of course, you may need to convince an older dog your tricks are worth learning. Because with age comes the wisdom that not all tricks are worth your while.

The rescuer's reality

The author of the passages below is unknown but the words are incredibly touching. They spoke to me and I hope they bring hope and strength to you as well.

For animal lovers like me, animal rescue is one of the most incredible, rewarding jobs... in the history of ever.

At the same time... it's also the most heartbreaking... The truth is... You see a lot of things... you never thought you'd see. You witness a level of cruelty... you didn't think was possible. You feel a degree of helplessness... you never thought you'd know.

You stare at painful images... soon burned into your memory... that will haunt your thoughts forever. You try to pick up the pieces... so many pieces... of the damage you didn't do. You do everything in your power... but even still... you'll never reach them all.

You'll try to stay strong... but you'll mostly feel weak. You'll build walls to protect your heart... but they'll never keep you safe. You'll place barriers around your soul... but the pain will always reach you.

And no matter how hard you try to fight it... over time... here's the truth about what happens in animal rescue... The neglect changes you. The abuse hardens you. The suffering breaks you.

The ignorance angers you. The indifference disturbs you. The injustice destroys you.

On a daily basis... your faith will be tested. Your heart will be wounded. Your soul will be altered.

On a weekly basis... you'll question yourself. You'll question your strength. You'll question the world. On a monthly basis... you'll fall down. You'll get up. You'll go on...

On a yearly basis... you'll look back... You'll see faces... You couldn't save them all.

You'll learn to mourn. To grieve. To sob.

You'll learn to trust a little less. To do a little more. To fight a little harder.

You'll learn to try. To hope. To pray.

You'll learn to fail. To succeed. To accept.

You'll learn when to hold on. When to give up. When to let go.

You'll learn who you are. What you stand for. Why that matters.

Then... at times... you'll forget why you matter. You'll question what you're doing. You'll wonder if it's worth it.

But... here's the good news...

When you forget... When you question... When you wonder...

All you have to do... Is take a look around... And you'll see them. You'll see their faces. You'll see their smiles. You'll feel their love.

In their eyes, you'll see their journeys... You'll remember their beginnings... You'll know how far they've come...

You'll remember when they didn't know you... When they didn't trust you... When they'd given up.

You'll remember how you healed them... How you loved them... How they loved you, too.

And as you look back... You'll want to move forward... For them... and because of them.

In your darkest hours, you'll look around... To find the differences made... the hope given... and the lives saved... Because you existed.

In those moments, when you look into their eyes... every doubt will be erased. Every question will be answered. Every worry will subside.

Because in that instant... in each of your hearts... You both share the very same thought: "Every bit of pain was worth it... for this moment here with you." And honestly... no matter what else happens... Those moments hold all the strength you need... To keep going.

Rescue is pain. Rescue is joy. Rescue is worth it... because they are worth it.

Living with a blind cat

Charlie is the first blind pet with whom I have any experience. I must admit that bringing a kitten with no eyes into our lives was a bit intimidating at first and we were worried about the quality of life he'd have. Two years into the adventure of living with Charlie, I have learned that blindness is not disabling at all!

Extensive use of other senses Since he can't see, Charlie maximizes his use of sound. I don't know if he would be as 'chatty' if he had eyes but blind Charlie is highly vocal. He announces his presence as he walks into a room and every time he seeks company he meows in a very specific, imploring way. The easy and wonderfully effective response in this case is simply to say something to him. "Yes, Charlie, I'm right here" reassures him and he typically heads your way. Unless, of course, he simply wanted to locate you but had no intention to actually be near you. He is a cat, after all. Charlie's seeing kitty brother, Latte, responds to the imploring meows by promptly dropping whatever he is doing (even if it is playing with a favorite toy) and going over to check on Charlie. So, yes, a household with a blind cat is a fairly chatty one.

Charlie loves toys! The fact that he can't see them doesn't at all stop him from enjoying hours upon hours of play. In this case he also gravitates to toys that make a sound. A crinkly little ball to chase, a toy that has a tiny bell attached, or simply pressing a toy against the carpet as you drag it for him to chase, and Charlie is happy.

In addition to sound, Charlie makes greater use of scent than the average cat. In fact, he is a bit more like a puppy that way. When greeting Charlie, we talk to him and extend a hand for him to sniff. We do the same before petting him, especially if he has been resting and we approached him fairly quietly.

Stable environment Cats, naturally graceful and agile, are amazing at making their way up, over, under, and around furniture. Charlie does as well! He stretches out a paw to feel a surface and bravely jumps on it. What we have learned to do for Charlie is not move the major pieces of furniture much. He knows that toys and occasional objects will make their way across the floor. The predictability of the rest of his physical world is comforting. This allows him to confidently walk (and often run!) through his home without ever crashing into anything or needing to slow down so he can find his way.

A buddy to follow. Charlie was doing wonderfully as the only kitten in the home. However, getting him a seeing cat buddy opened up his world to new possibilities! Wherever seeing Latte goes, blind Charlie follows. Yes, it is a fact that Latte 'showed' Charlie new spots to conquer and new types of mischief to get into. Counters, backs of chairs, tops of large bookcases, nothing is off limits for Charles!

So if you are ever considering adopting a blind pet, I highly encourage you to go ahead and bring them into your life. The adjustments needed in order to make their life comfortable are truly minimal. And the joy of having given life, love, and comfort to a special needs pup or kitty is incomparable!

Indifference Kills

There are a lot of situations in life in which I abide by the rule that if you are not going to make it better, at least stay out of the way of those of us who are trying to make a difference. When it comes to animal rescue and welfare, I don't think staying out of the way is a good enough option.

Changing the reality for animals is going to take involvement from each and every one of us. Because when it comes to innocent beings, indifference kills. If you see a hungry dog or cat on the streets and give him nothing, you may have cost that animal his life. Food is so scarce, especially in the cold months, that one meal may actually provide a homeless soul the energy to go scavenging in a dumpster tomorrow and not die of hunger. If you see someone kick an animal, cuss at it, throw something at it and you say nothing, your inaction may be deadly. Perhaps this specific animal will walk away unharmed or minimally harmed. But the person will likely be violent toward a cat or a dog again and may injure, maim, or kill the next unlucky critter. And did you know it is a well established fact that those who are violent toward animals are also violent toward people? Yep, the person you ignored when he was kicking the puppy might choose to kick, rob, or murder your loved ones tomorrow.

Raising awareness for animal welfare is also the work of each and every one of us. You are reading this blog entry which you probably found on a rescue-related site. So it is a fairly safe assumption that you personally support rescue work and have some level of awareness regarding the dire need for more animal advocacy. But the fact is, the Western world makes it incredibly easy to remain blissfully unaware of this information. If you live in the US like I do, for example, as you walk out your door, there are no homeless animals on the streets. There are no public service announcements about the reality of animal homelessness. Occasionally you see an ad on TV by an SPCA of some sort and it's too sad so you mute it until your program is back on. So you can realistically, without putting forth any special effort, go through life not ever facing animal homelessness. Ever. Your reality has been conveniently sterilized of this 'unpleasantness'. So you don't educate your children about animal rescue. You don't donate to rescue groups. You don't foster animals in need. Not because you wish animals ill. But simply because you don't realize what the true numbers and need are.

Enter rescue advocates! I don't believe in using guilt, constant graphic images, or self-righteous speeches as the way to promote animal rescue. But I do think each one of us has multiple opportunities, every single day, to mention the topics of rescue, animal welfare, and responsible pet ownership. It is through these efforts, unobtrusive and mild, that minds are changed and people are educated. Because doing nothing is not good enough. Not doing anything equals not giving a life-saving meal, not providing needed shelter, not arresting animal abusers, not adopting innocent pups and kitties who are homeless through no fault of their own. And that is simply not an option!