ABOUT
I’m Chrisi Saje, but you’ll see me listed as “Chrisi Sage” because when I started this project in the winter of 2005, I was newly married to the name “Saje” and thought it would be easier if I used the spelling as it sounded. It stuck. Don’t get confused. I’m good with both.
So, in 2005 I had been volunteering at the East Valley Shelter in Los Angeles as a professional dog trainer (I’d received my certification in 2001). While I enjoyed helping people looking to rescue dogs from the city shelter, I could only help the handful of people who came through the door on the dates I was assigned. A fellow trainer and I started offering low cost group obedience classes at the shelter as another way to service our community. But I felt like my reach was limited. (We still teach this class, by the way! CLICK HERE)
If you remember the early 2000’s, we still had bookstores everywhere. One day I was struck by the wall of dog calendars all labeled “For the Love Of…” “For the Love of Yellow Labs,” “For the Love of Pugs,” “For the Love of Poodles,” etc., etc. All of these calendars showed perfect purebreds at their peak. But they didn’t represent the dogs I knew. The dogs from the shelter, the dogs from class, the dogs at the park, my own dogs… These purebreds were the Supermodels of the dog world. They didn’t represent normal dogs in regular life.
So I got a loan, Photoshop and Indesign, and a digital camera (phone cameras were still in their infancy) and set off to create a calendar of the rescue dogs of Los Angeles. Through a Craigslist Ad, I connected with owners of rescue dogs all over Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Dragging my new husband, Jeremy, along, through the wettest winter L.A. had seen in a decade, we snapped photos of over fifty dogs. Then, with Jeremy’s computer graphics skills, set out to create the 2006 “For the Love of Rescues” calendar.
My concept was to highlight all rescue dogs. Seniors, ones missing an eye or a leg, “what mutt??” breeds and yes, even purebreds, because we know even purebreds end up in rescue. Too often working at the shelter I heard, “I can’t go in there, it makes me sad.” I didn’t want people to see images of dogs that made them turn away from horror and guilt. My goal was to showcase rescue dogs living in the “Happy Ending” part of their lives. To show the world what it means to a dog to win that rescue lottery and be in a loving family.
Every dog has their own personality, so I made sure to include the dog’s name along side their photo. I included their happy ending stories because people not only are touched by these tales of overcoming odds, but also as a reminder that with the patience and dedication of a loving person, a dog who has had a horrible start to life can blossom into a best friend. And I wanted to include the name of the rescue group where the dog was originally saved so the work of those groups could be shown in a bright spotlight. I added in tons of dog and rescue recognized holidays. I used my dog training background to put in “Trainer Tips” and added dog trivia I called “Furry Facts.” Oh, you might be buying a calendar to help raise money for a rescue group, but you’re going to get a darn good calendar in the process!
Now how do I get rescue groups involved? I hopped on Petfinder, only a few years old itself but already a great tool for rescues, and started emailing everyone. I knew I wanted to be a free service to groups. I was focusing on smaller groups, the ones run by one person out of their living room who spent their days at a full time job, came home to take care of their families, all while hustling for the needs of their foster animals. Every fund they had went to vet bills, food, medication, and lodging as they burned the midnight oil trying to find the perfect home for the animals they’d already come to love. These groups didn’t have marketing departments or fundraising teams. But they did need more funds. Not knowing me from anything more than an introductory email, around 100 groups joined my fledgling project.
We did really well that first calendar. Through the magic of the internet, I got to know rescuers all over the United States and built friendships. I offered the calendars for $15 each (plus shipping) and gave $10 of each purchase to the groups. I just kept cost so I would have funds to print the calendar for the next year. I was not in this to make money. This is what I’d decided was my volunteer time and dedication to help rescue animals in need. And that has been my business model ever since.
For the second calendar, 2007, I opened up photo submissions from the rescue groups and their adopters, as well as anyone with a rescue dog to share. I’d say early on were our best years. Selling out and reordering was commonplace back then. My reach was bringing on new rescue groups and I was proud of my project. But times do change, don’t they?
As technology has advanced, my little project has suffered. Once upon a time, people used paper wall calendars all the time. One for home, one for work, one in the kid’s room… but then computers and smartphones made calendars easier and more convenient. No more writing birthdays, kid’s sporting events, family gatherings, work meetings in a square on a paper calendar. Now our computers could do it and add a bunch of bells and whistles along with it. So the paper calendar industry has shrunk. Perhaps there is one wall calendar in your life now? My upward battle is to make that calendar THIS calendar. And then came Amazon. Free shipping is expected by the whole of the country. Calendar choices are limitless and cheap. Ouch.
But here I am on the brink of our 16th calendar. Adjustments have been made, but that’s true of all of our lives. My core value is still there. I am still “Featuring Rescue Dogs to Benefit Rescue Dogs.” I still laugh and cry as I build the calendar. I still am warmed by the gratitude I receive and the personal satisfaction I get from providing funds to all of these rescue groups. And I hope to continue for years to come. It’s just me. One person. Chrisi Sage (Saje) wanting to contribute to the good on this planet. Feel free to contact me. I still use my original Yahoo account: ForTheLoveOfRescues@yahoo.com
