I rescued a human today

The author of this piece is unknown but the sentiment is beautiful and worth sharing. 

 

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY!

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she
wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today. XOXOXO

Distemper and 5 babies fighting for their lives

These two babies are part of a litter of 5 little souls rescued from the streets of Bulgaria. Like many thousands of other pups, they were born amidst cold, scarce food, no reliable shelter, speeding cars, and cruel humans. As if this were not enough, the babies also contracted one of the most commonly deadly diseases in dogs - distemper.

Distemper is a virus which affects the respiratory, gastro-intestinal, and nervous system of dogs - practically all major systems needed for survival! Treatment is long, expensive, and not always successful. The ASPCA offers a thorough overview of the distemper diagnosis here.

Animal Aid International believes in giving all little souls a chance at survival and hope for a healthy life of no suffering. The 5 distemper siblings are fighting for their lives with all the might in their tiny bodies. We need your help in funding the extensive veterinary treatment that makes this fight possible. Please consider making a donation of any size today. Each pup needs $299 more for treatment as of the time of writing of this entry. All donations are tax-deductible and will help us save these innocent lives! Click here to contribute to their fund. Thank you so much in advance!

Of those to whom much is given...

One of my favorite quotes is President Kennedy's statement that "Of those to whom much is given, much is expected". I consider myself one of those to whom much is given. If you look at me through a Western consumerist lens, you will likely disagree. I'm an immigrant and have gone through numerous challenges associated with this experience. I am bi-cultural which means I will never quite fully fit in to one culture or another. I rent an apartment which is so small that I can literally vacuum all carpeted areas without unplugging the vacuum cleaner from the original outlet. I am educated but by choosing to work in the nonprofit world, I basically cap the income I can have. And don't even get me started on the personal and relationship stuff I have faced.

But I am healthy, safe, and loved. My home is warm, there is always food on my table, and I don't have to worry about clean water, clothes to wear to work, or transportation. And this itself is much, much more than what the vast majority of people in this world have. I have seen poverty and chosen not to look away. The parent who literally counts pennies to make sure there is money for rice - the most filling of meals that he can provide his children. The elderly woman rummaging through a dumpster for something that she may be able to sell at a recycling station. The countless people and animals who die of hunger every single minute of every single day.

It is through the roll of the dice that I happened to be born as one of the people to whom much is given (ok, there were effort and choices along the way that shaped my life as well). And I consider it my duty toward the universe as a whole to try and alleviate the suffering of others. I know I will not single-handedly change the world. But I will surely make a dent in the despair and transform some of the pain into hope and love.

If you are reading this blog post, you have electricity, access to a computer and the Internet, and are literate. You ARE one of the ones to whom much is given. Please consider giving back: donate, volunteer, advocate. WE are the ones who can and will make the world a better place!

Social media, here we come!

It's been a rough few weeks for Animal Aid International. Donations have been very slow, while in the meantime the stream of animals in need of support hasn't slowed down at all. Facebook, our primary source of donations, has been making changes to its algorithms which are causing posts by organizations like AAI to show up in the newsfeeds of fewer people. And exposure is so, so important.

So our small but dedicated team of volunteer supporters got together and brainstormed solutions! We decided to expand our presence to additional social media sites! AAI is now on:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAidIntl
• Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/1/114975860033182001869/posts
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnimalAidIntl
• LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Animal-Aid-International-6654597
• Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/animalaidintl/
• This lovely blog - http://aaifounder.blogspot.com/
• And of course our website - http://animalaidinternational.org/

We would love, love, love your help in spreading the word about our organization! Every person whom we reach is a potential animal rescue advocate and donor. Each heart we touch and every dollar we raise will result in lives saved.