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!