WWW-Animal Cruelty Investigator

This Wednesday, I want to call attention to a warrior that created a project to protect and defend animals of all kinds. She knew there was a need in the community, and had the vision to make a difference. And she did. Our furry friends cannot advocate for themselves. They need us to protect and care for them just like our children. Therefore, it is extremely heartbreaking that there are instances when they are abused, or simply neglected. It literally hurts my heart, bringing tears to my eyes.

My Warrior Facebook friend, Monica Ailey (alias Mo), decided to take matters in her own hands and do something to help change this. Her connection to animals of all kinds began at a very young age. Her passion to help them naturally became a lifelong mission. Her dream became a reality !

Mo is President/Co-founder of Animal Investigation & Response This is a 501(c)(3) animal protection organization that assists law enforcement and communities with animal abuse related issues such as puppy mills, animal hoarding, blood sports and assists in disaster relief. Based in Texas, Animal Investigation and Response was formed by two certified animal cruelty investigators who saw a need to help connect individuals, law enforcement and animal control with strategies and resources to investigate as well as provide aid for situations that exceed the scope of a communities reach.

“Everyone loves to see our responders hard at work with the animals, but it takes a LOT of work to get us ready to deploy on a response. Our Responders are just as dedicated to being prepared as they are to the animals. Take a look at some of the hard work it takes to be sure we can safely serve those who need us in an emergency.” See video below.

Hope is not delusional. It isn’t complacent. It’s the difference between wanting things to change and taking action. The photos below depict some scenes in the life of Monica and her teams.

What does it take to be “ready”?

Training first:

Lessons learned will include initial scene size-up, how to establish search and rescue priorities and to begin operations following a natural disaster. Whether the disaster is caused by Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake, Tsunami or Flooding incident, the after affects are similar and so are the immediate actions required by first responders. 

Monica Ailey Interview:

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself, where you live, your family

I was born in San Antonio but grew up in the military life. l have lived in Fort Worth Texas since 1991. I remember as far back as being 4 years old and being drawn to all kinds of animals. From dogs to cats and cows to snakes. I have always felt a deep connection to them. It was no surprise to my family that I grew up to be one of the founders of an animal protection organization. I was fortunate to have had a husband that encouraged my love for animals and the start of my organization. He passed away after an accident in 2014. That could have derailed our plans for Animal Investigation & Response but AIR became a good and positive distraction from always being submerged in grief…. AIR helped to keep me moving forward and creating an organization that has saved thousands of lives. I now live with my boyfriend, Mike. AIR (and I) also took a second hit that could have changed the existence of AIR’s work……A year after AIR launched, Paige Anderson (co-founder and my best friend) was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She passed after a year long battle. The thing that fueled my fire to ensure that I pick myself up off the ground was something that Paige said when she knew she wasn’t going to make it to the other side of her battle….she said “Well, I had hoped that AIR was going to be my future but now I have realized that it will instead, be my Legacy” UGH! That’s the day I knew that I needed to stay #AIRfirece to make sure AIR not only survived but changed the world for animals! My personal pets: We are owned by a Schnauzer, a Chow/Shep mix and two Pit Bulls. They are all messes but they are our messes and we do whatever we have to do to keep them happy

2) What prompted you to start Animal Investigation and Response?

I was the regional Liaison for a national organization and realized that there was a big hole in organized resources for large scale animal issues (hoarding, puppy mills, cockfighting, dog fighting and natural disasters). Many of these situations were not being resolved and animals were left in the bad situations they were in because of the lack of resources. Paige Anderson (co-founder) and I decided we needed to fill that gap, for the sake of the animals. We started with $100 in the bank ($50 each) and a dream to give animals in large scale cruelty and natural disasters a fighting chance and brighter futures.

3) What does AIR do exactly? Describe a typical day.

AIR assists law enforcement and animal control with large scale animal cruelty cases and natural disaster response needs. We are a 100% mobile service…meaning that we do not have a brick and mortar building. We do however have two 40ft Response Units and supplies, man power and skills to handle large numbers of animals. When we get a call for assistance, we gather all the information we can and evaluate how we can be of service. Since each agency has different needs, we can be looking at assisting on a very low level or an agency will ask for our highest level of assistance. An example of a lower level of assistance request is if an agency can handle the extraction, daily care and placement of the animals but needs help with socializing and/or vet care. In cases like this, we are typically working out of the requesting agency’s shelter/facility. A high level of assistance is if an agency can not accommodate the large number of animals being impounded(seized) at their facility and they need to set up an emergency temporary shelter at an off site location. In this case, the agency would likely need help with the extraction of the animals from the property, evidence documentation, expert testimony, daily care of animals, veterinary support and placement. There is no situation that is the same…they are all very unique. Our team is experienced at handling all types of situations, all types of animals and are some of the most adaptable people I have ever met. They amaze me every time!

4) After reading some tragic stories, I’m sure there is one in particular that stands out from the rest? Share with us.

There was a group of 89 animals that were seized from a property in a small town east of Denton TX. I have had the opportunity to travel throughout the country to do this exact type of work for national organizations, I have seen some of the worst conditions animals are made to endure. The following conditions were like nothing most people have experienced. In May of 2019, we were called to assist a local Sheriffs Dept with the extraction and care of 89 animals that were living in unimaginable conditions. When I entered the home I was hit with an intense smell of ammonia. Geared up in a hazmat suit from head to toe, I stepped into the kitchen where the entrance floor had a thin layer of feces and urine that made standing on it very slippery. I looked around through my face shield and breathing through my respirator to take it all in……the rest of the floor area on the lower level of the house was covered in 6-8 inches of feces. It looked as if there was fire damage throughout the house because everything looked dark and charred but this was just everything covered in filth and feces. As we made our way down the hall to the master bedroom, I noticed large holes in the walls where dogs were hiding and using to get out of all the filth. When we made it to the master bedroom, I saw a dog (we later named him Max) laying motionless on top of a 5ft pile of trash, I didn’t move, he didn’t open his eyes….I thought he was dead. I put my hand on his head and he opened his eyes. He looked so tired and weak. I put a leash around his neck and he tried to get up but he couldn’t stand up. I picked him up, carried him out of the house and handed him to our intake team. Our next hurdle was the master bedroom where the cats were kept. The ammonia level in there was so bad, our eyes were watering so much that our tears were making our eyelashes stick together. Our eyes burned like fire. We had to switch people out of the room about every 5 minutes because that is the maximum time we could handle. I do not know how anything survived in that room. It was a long, hot day. When we made it back to the temporary emergency shelter to unload but we still had several hours left to get everyone settled in and by this time it was about 10pm. When everyone was settled in for the night, I did my rounds to look for Max. I found him sleeping soundly in his clean cage with a clean bowl of food and water. My heart was happy. Link to video: https://youtu.be/Cu5u_EC-KCk

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5) Describe a day where your work made you feel wonderful and fulfilled.

Some of my favorite moments are when my team looks at me like I’m crazy. This means I am likely starting my sentence with “I know we haven’t ever done this before but I have faith in you”. One of those times was when I told Kim Meloncon, AIR’s Director of Emergency Services that I wanted to try to find placement for 58 cock fighting roosters from a case we had just assisted with. Through the long silence over the phone, I could see her jaw drop but she managed to say “ok.”. (Typically when cockfighting roosters are seized, they are euthanized.) I told Kim that I had read an article several years ago where the shelter had successfully placed cockfighting roosters up for adoption, In the article, it mentioned that cockfighting roosters made great pets and that there was a responsible demand to adopt them into homes that needed roosters for their hens. Kim’s response was “ooooookkkkk”. I told her that I was going to start looking into responsible placement resources for the group of roosters we had in our care, they became known as The Freedom Flock. Ultimately, after making some calls and reaching out to some national contacts…..we found placement for all 58 roosters in North Carolina at a bird sanctuary called Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. The next feat was to raise the funds to get the testing done they needed to be accepted and then drive them there. We had to think outside of the box and figure out a way to gain the publics interest in caring about a bunch of cockfighting roosters. We found out that the public was on board in doing what needed to be done to give these birds a chance at a happy life, free from pain. I love when my team exceeds all of their expectations and proves to themselves that they can move mountains. Link to video: https://youtu.be/savjww2nVy4

6) Can you please explain a little about the Hero program? What it is ?

The HERO program really is the backbone of our financial stability. This is were people that believe in our mission, commit to donating a minimum of $30 on a monthly basis. This allows us to have a stable foundation to know if we have the financial capability to answer the call for help when the call comes in. Our Emergency Responses can cost us anywhere from $8K-$50K+. Those are hefty bills to commit to but we know that the animals that have endured so much suffering are beyond grateful. We believe they are worth every penny. So we never want to have to turn any call for assistance down…..the animals count on us to have the financial means to say yes. Monthly giving also helps us plan for our future. I will tell you…….we have BIG plans…….BIG! This organization is, and will continue to be like no other. We are changing the way agencies handle large scale animal issues in this state and we are changing the futures these animals have access to. After all, they have endured an existence worse than any of us can imagine. In our minds, they are more than deserving of an organization that specializes in their unique situations. Through our HERO program, you join a special group of people reaching out each month to provide new lives and new beginnings to animals across Texas. To join our HERO program https://donorbox.org/hero-monthly-donor-program?default_interval=m

7) How do people get involved in helping with this wonderful mission?

We have many avenues to get involved with AIR. Many people want to do the hands on work with the animals. We have our AIR Responder program that involves an AIR Responder Orientation for people that want to work with animals from our cases. We have various degrees of Responders; from people that do administrative work pertaining to our Responses, to just doing laundry, to socializing and daily care of the animals to veterinary services. We also have operational roles that help us in the day to day operations of the organization like organizing spreadsheets, events, fundraising and many many other roles. All available opportunities can be found on our website www.animalinvestigationandresponse.org under the Volunteer tab

8) Please provide links to volunteer and/or donate to this wonderful cause.

To volunteer as a Responder: http://www.animalinvestigationandresponse.org/responder-application

To volunteer as a Veterinarian or Vet Tech: http://www.animalinvestigationandresponse.org/vet-vettech-application

To lend a hand in our day to day operations: http://www.animalinvestigationandresponse.org/operations-application

To send a one time donation: http://www.animalinvestigationandresponse.org/donate

You can join a special group of HEROES https://donorbox.org/hero-monthly-donor-program?default_interval=m

Monica Ailey Animal Investigation & Response President – Animal Cruelty Investigator air@animalinvestigationandresponse.org

Monica and her team remain committed to aid law enforcement and rescue animals in need for a Long Long Time. Her and her volunteers experience the pride of doing something that fills their heart and leaves behind a legacy. Isn’t that why we are here in the first place ? I believe we are all here for a purpose to contribute something that leaves the world a better place. Don’t you agree ??

If you feel this is something you would like to take part in or donate, please reach out to the websites and contact information above. Thank you !