2004
From beginning to end, 2003 turned out to be just another very exciting success and interesting year
for Academic Animals.
Starting in January with the opening of our new offices in Prague and the moving of truckloads of
animals and equipment across Europe in below zero temperatures and deep snow whilst at the same time
chasing builders to finish our work program in Belgium and continuing business as normal for all our
regular clients, "exhausted" is an understatement!
We supplied bears, crocodiles, storks, cows, goats, sheep, frogs, snakes, crows, reindeer, and many
cats and dogs traveling to every country in Europe (except Ireland) at least once.
In May we learned we had not won 1st Prize at the Cannes festival. Well it was becoming a bit of a
habit. We were beginning to take it for granted so now we have something to aim at this year.
Our saddest moment was in August when one of our very new dogs was knocked down by a hit and run
driver. The dog survived. It was later discovered he had slight brain damage. The drunk driver was
caught but let off on a technicality!
In July it we were perfectly parked up in our Winnibago next to the set enjoying the beautiful
sunshine when suddenly we heard a crash outside. On investigation we found an invalid had toppled
over out of his mechanically operated wheelchair and hurt himself. We rushed to help and called an
ambulance. He was taken to hospital. As a matter of course the police arrived and made their
enquiries. They were content with the situation and left. The invalid made no complaints. Quite the
opposite, his wife arrived and complained to him of how he was always having accidents. Five months
later we receive a letter from a lawyer accusing us of causing his injuries. That's the thanks we
get for helping an invalid!
The biggest setback was a tv series we were working on for a long period of time in Istanbul
suddenly stopped filming due to lack of funds and - yes you guessed it we never saw our money.
That's life! We believe it had a lot to do with the bombings there so I suppose we are the lucky
ones.
Terrorist attacks then added to our problems in Turkey because we could not get our trainers or
animals back. The trainers were quite shaken by the blasts. They had to wait in their apartment
frightened to go out for many days until flights out could be arranged. It seemed everyone wanted
to get out of the country.
The year was just another routine year of flying and driving, many times through the night to the
next location.
Now we look forward to 2004 starting with Penguins in Prague, Chimpanzees in Copenhagen and a monkey
in Rome. We'll let you know how it all went next newsletter. Bye for now.
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