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.

Silver the Beautiful

 

Kitty Silver was one of many hundreds of thousands: homeless and scared on the streets of Eastern Europe. Only Silver knows the horrors he faced during the 5 short months he had been on this earth - hunger, cold, cruel people, large starving dogs, and countless diseases. While Silver managed to survive them all, his luck ran out one day when he was likely hit by a car and ended up with a badly broken leg. The rescuers took the sweet boy to the vet and X-rays showed the terrible damage clearly.

 

It was time to activate the network of supporters! Animal Aid International came to the rescue and we raised funds for sweet Silver's treatment. Our organization is so blessed to have donors from around the world who know the amazing difference which the $10 or $20 one person donates can make. Little Silver received proper treatment and healed fully!

 

Today, Silver is grown, happy, and very loved in a forever home. And we are once again inspired to help more innocent souls like this little boy!

 

If you would like to help animals like Silver, please head on over to our website and make a donation of any size today: http://animalaidinternational.org/ 

Charlie, the survivor

This is the story of a very special doggie rescued from the streets of Bulgaria and helped by Animal Aid International.

 

Charlie is no more than 2 years old and was somehow surviving on the streets of Bulgaria. Unfortunately, like so many other poor souls, he became victim of a cruel individual: Charlie was shot in the back! While the pallet didn't manage to kill Charlie, it lodged itself in his spine and caused  him to be unable to use the back half of his body. Which is how he was found - helpless and hopeless, scared and hungry. 

 

Charlie was taken to the best orthopedic specialists in town and, thanks to funds raised by Animal Aid International, he had surgery and rehabilitation. The road to recovery was very long and for quite some time we were not sure if he will be able to walk again. Charlie's first steps were weak and tentative. And yet in the midst of it all he kept trying and kept trusting the humans who surrounded him with love. That love was probably the first non-violent experience he had had with humans all his life. 

 

Today Charlie is able to walk again and has been adopted in a loving home! He has toys, and food, and safety, and all the love every single critter deserves!

 

Thanks to the loving support of people from around the world, Charlie has a new lease on life. And thanks to resilient, amazing beings like Charlie we are continually inspired to do the work that we do! 

The best demonstration of love

Tomorrow is my birthday and on Friday it is Valentine's Day. This time of year is typically filled with heartfelt wishes, cards, and sweet gifts. I am very thankful for all the people in my life who love me and who all year long find ways to show me how much I mean to them.

Since becoming involved in rescue and running my own organization, I have dramatically shifted my perspective of what constitutes a celebration and the kinds of gifts I would appreciate. So here are some tips on ways to make me and other rescuers very, very happy:

• Don't buy me gifts. I already have more stuff than I know what to do with (or want to clean or pack when I move). Instead, make a donation to a rescue cause in my honor. It doesn't matter if you were planning to spend $10 or $1,000 (wow!). Any amount will be helpful in saving a life. I would be proud and deeply touched to be celebrate a special occasion through charity rather than through consumerism. Conveniently so, AAI is currently raising funds for the spay of 100 homeless cats (hint, hint) and the fund link is here
• You really can't do Valentine's without some chocolates? By all means, feel free to get me some Rescue Chocolate
• Looking for a venue for a special night out? That's easy enough as well! Find a local no-kill rescue group and look up their fundraising gala/ dinner/ wine tasting or similar event. I'll get to dress up, we'll enjoy a fun event, and the entire time my heart will be happy knowing that the proceeds go to an important cause
• And in the end if it doesn't feel like a holiday without an actual gift being given, pick a vendor that promotes rescue. Places like The Animal Rescue Site have tons of items that both promote rescue and directly contribute to animals in need

What is an even more amazing Valentine's gesture (but should certainly be taken seriously and with a complete awareness of the responsibility and commitment it entails), is opening up your home to an animal in need. There is no better way to celebrate love than by giving love to a cat or dog who needs a home. Adopt or foster! You will be saving a life. You will be earning love more pure and enduring than you can imagine.