by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris ~

Anyone involved in animal rescue knows how rough these waters can sometimes be, and what a challenge it is just to stay afloat, much less to sail steadily forward on the mission of helping needy critters year after year. For a relatively small animal welfare nonprofit organization to navigate the storms and achieve two decades of service is something of a miracle.

In my eyes that’s just one of many miraculous things about Dutch group Stichting Animal Association International (AAI), founded in 1994. Another miracle is that they’ve managed to put up with me. During a several-month period, while sending them a series of homeless dogs from Greece to the Netherlands for re-homing, and while battling illness and other crises, I might have easily driven them mad by repeatedly changing the dates of the animals’ flights. But the ladies of AAI were unfailingly calm and understanding, doing everything they could to make things easier for me.

Gracious interpersonal skills boost rescuers’ morale and effectiveness

As icing on the AAI cake, I received encouraging emails, completely out of the blue, from the group’s hardworking volunteers. “I want to say I really admire what you are doing there in Greece,” wrote Jose Westhoff in one example. “I think it is so wonderful! Keep up the good work!”

Gotta love an organization whose personnel take the time to boost the spirits of in-the-trenches rescuers, instead of succumbing to the stress of rescue work and lashing out in anger, as happens all too often.

Animal rescue efforts can be so draining when we’re at the front lines that it really helps to get that kind of caring support from the re-homing groups to whom we entrust our furry angels.

And if you ask me, AAI’s interpersonal skills—their carefully brewed formula of professionalism and TLC—go far beyond helping just the people involved. Their well-organized yet gentle way of operating ends up helping the animals most of all. Being positive and courteous toward rescuers, foster families, and adopters only heightens motivation and productivity, with the result of more animals getting rescued and re-homed. An effective formula indeed.

Whenever we take in rescues, we pray we’ll find them wonderful forever families, but don’t always know exactly how that will happen. With countless desperate animals needing homes, and not many available, the odds aren’t good. On several occasions in the past three years, AAI has answered our prayers. [Read more about three Spicy rescues who were re-homed by AAI: Jorja (now Granger), Ipomoni, and Penelope (now Raza).]

In tribute to this phenomenal bunch of folks, and to let Spicy readers know a little more about them, here’s our interview with Stichting AAI Chairman of the Board Anita Janssen.

SPICY INTERVIEW WITH ANITA JANSSEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, STICHTING AAI

Spicy Stories Save Lives: Why was AAI founded? What was the motivation or impetus for it?

Anita Janssen: In 1994, our founder Lydia Staschik was on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands in Spain, and found a dog on a chain, in the sun, without water. That was the moment she realized she wanted to help the strays and chained dogs and started to find homes in the Netherlands for the poor souls. In 1997 AAI became a foundation.

Spicy: About how many people are on the staff of your organization now?

Janssen: A board of 6 persons and a total staff of many dozens.

Spicy: About how many members total?

Janssen: A foundation has no “members,” only donors, at present about 1,200.

Spicy: About how many people do fostering for you?

Janssen: About 35 to 40.

Spicy: Do you rescue dogs and cats or only dogs?

Janssen: Dogs only.

Spicy: How many animals do you rescue/re-home per year?

Janssen: We re-home about 200 to 225 a year from abroad. Within the Netherlands we also find new homes for about 25 per year.

Spicy: Which countries are the animals from?

Janssen: Greece, Turkey, Romania, and India.

Spicy: Why do you rescue from those countries instead of from the Netherlands?

Janssen: In the Netherlands there are no stray dogs. Dogs without an owner are kept and cared for in a shelter.

Spicy: What is the most difficult or challenging part of your work for the animals?

Janssen: Difficult: to make choices which dogs can come to Holland; it could mean which will live or not. Challenging: to make people realize there’s a lot of animal suffering and there’s a lot that people can do about it.

Spicy: What is the most fulfilling or rewarding part?

Janssen: To know they will live happily ever after. They will be loved and cared for. The dogs are so grateful.

Spicy: Can you tell me about an especially difficult or challenging rescue of a particular animal that you’ve done? Is there one who you are extra proud of having saved?

Janssen: Of course every rescue is special and we are proud of every dog we have saved but if I am only allowed to mention one case I immediately think of Asha, the Indian airport dog.

This poor older dog was living all alone at the airport of New Delhi and was injured very badly. Her ear was gone. Instead, there was a gaping hole in her head. But in a way, this big wound saved her life, because one day Annelies, a KLM flight attendant, noticed her and decided to save her. Asha needed help very badly. This wound could get infected and get her killed.

When Annelies got home to Holland she contacted Stichting AAI. We agreed to help. Annelies flew back to Delhi a few days later. There, she caught Asha, together with Dr. Choudary, a vet who specializes in helping stray dogs. Dr. Choudary took her to his clinic and took care of her wound.

Asha turned out to be a very calm and friendly dog. She was kept under the care of Dr. Choudary, who gave Asha the vaccinations she needed for traveling to Holland.

In the meantime Stichting AAI looked for a good foster home for Asha, a place where she would be treated with great care. On the 24th of March 2014 Asha was flown to Amsterdam where she was welcomed by Annelies and some AAI volunteers. She was brought to her foster family where she stayed for a few months. Then two nice women saw her and adopted her. [see photos below]

Asha is having a good life now with the two women and never has to be afraid, lonely or hungry ever again!

Spicy: That’s a beautiful story. Thanks for helping Asha. Can you tell us what it means to you personally to be doing this work for animals?

Janssen: It means very much to me if a dog comes to Holland still feeling scared of what he/she has been through, and then watch him/her change and become a real personality. A dog who can finally be him/herself. Finally getting the love and respect that every living creature deserves. That is wonderful and very fulfilling!

Spicy: Some people say that rescuing animals is pointless because there are so many who need help, and we “can’t save them all,” etc. Also some say that the time and money spent on rescuing/re-homing would be better spent on spay/neuter programs, education, getting better animal welfare laws passed, etc. How would you respond to those comments?

Janssen: I’d say both ways of helping animals are important. We have to save as many animals (dogs in our case) as we can (meaning giving a good example to the local people), and also stimulate spaying and neutering street dogs in order to solve the stray dog problem in the end. Stichting AAI is active in both categories.

Spicy: Can you list five things that everyone can do to improve the lives of animals?

Janssen: Treat them with respect and love them. Feed them well. Spay them. Don’t leave them alone for too long. Make sure they feel safe.

Spicy: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Janssen: Stop breeding dogs and take care of the millions of homeless dogs in the world, by neutering them and feeding them and treating them well. And then, one day, the stray dog problem will cease to exist. That will be the day our dream comes true: a world where people and animals will live in peace and with respect for each other.

Spicy: Anita, dank je wel for your time and for all you do for animals!

Janssen: You’re welcome and thank you for writing “Unchain My Heart,” such a nice story about a chained dog in Greece. For him everything ends well, but I know for many chained dogs it doesn’t. They live a miserable life. It is terrible and very cruel!! It should be stopped.

Spicy: Thanks for your kind words about the story, and yes I couldn’t agree more about the miseries caused by chaining. Fortunately there are wonderful groups like yours working against it.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PROFITS from Spicy’s latest romantic fiction story, “Unchain My Heart” go to Stichting AAI and five other groups. Buy a copy for just $2 to enjoy a fun read, spice up your life, and help AAI and other groups continue their excellent work for animals!

Spicy adds a special thank-you to our friend Anneloes Wagenaar Hummelinck, who introduced us to AAI back in 2013, a thoughtful gesture that has led to beautiful new lives for several Greek sweeties.

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Spicy Stories Save Lives proudly sponsors needy animals in the U.S. and around the world.

For example we help Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs) provide free spay/neuter for hundreds of animals per year, which is one of the best ways to prevent the abandonment and misery of puppies like Noah and Kyla. Please give to KATs via PayPal or bank transfer. Spay/neuter and education are the animals’ best hope for a better future.

Also please consider Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), another group on the Greek island of Kefalonia who run a shelter and work miracles with terribly few resources.

Spicy Stories Save Lives and the author of this article have no affiliation with the rescue groups mentioned above, other than as a friend, volunteer, and donor.

Seen our book? Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need, by Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris, available through Amazon.com.