Is “no-kill” always the kindest option? I don’t know.

Rasta was always good for a laugh.

Consider taking a chance on a dog that comes with challenges. It just might be the best thing you ever do.

Breeders often market their businesses as farms, giving the idea that the dogs run free, play all day, and are doted on by the breeders. The reality is far different.

I was beginning to learn just how mighty Vida was. She’d make two steps of forward progress, and then end up a step back. But she persisted in everything she aimed to do.

In puppy mills, dogs are identified by a number, not a name. They’re just a business commodity, and only have value if they produce more than they cost.

Volunteers specially trained to work with fearful dogs spent time with her each day, some even picking up extra shifts to help her. Though her odds of euthanasia were high, no one wanted to give up on her. There was just something about her that touched your soul.

The terrified dog paused, and with every ounce of courage she had, took a single step forward. It was her way of saying “Please, don’t give up on me.” 

Our dog Rasta had a great sense of humor and a passion for mischief. She got a kick out of breaking rules. We could always tell when she was about to get a little reckless, because she’d get a gleam in her eye.

The suicide rate of those working and volunteering in animal welfare is five times higher than the general population and reportedly higher than any profession in the United States.

When you work in rescue, there are animals you never forget, even when years have passed. Some have heartbreaking endings; others are adopted. But you rarely get to see them again or hear how they are doing. You just wonder.

Like most places in the world, there is an overpopulation of dogs in Turkey, with more dogs than people who have the interest and ability to adopt them.

Adding to the challenge is the cost of caring for a dog in Turkey, where inflation reached 75% last year, and the government’s new priority to eliminate street dogs.

You could say that Rasta was a handful or that she was a character – and she was – but she was so much more. She was friendly, fun, energetic, and loveable. Sparks of joy seemed to radiate from her body. In our universe, she was the sun.

I gave Mama and Hija space when I visited, not wanting to scare them. But they quickly became my favorite dogs at the shelter. I could sense how special both dogs were. Despite what they’d been through, they were gentle souls.

Have you ever heard someone proudly tell you their purebred dog “came with papers”? Sadly, they’ve been duped.

 Frankie looked up and seemingly said “Oh there you are!” It was like two long-lost friends reuniting. Frankie, who had been abused by a man, had no fear. He ran up to Bryan and melted into his arms. It was better than a scene from a movie. It was two souls in real life who were meant to be together.

While sometimes it might seem like walking your dog is a chore, look at it a different way: Walking with your dog is a privilege, a gift. It’s an opportunity to spend time with your best friend, to enjoy nature together, to meet new friends, and to slow down your life and relax together.

She was thirteen years old and had the longest toenails I’d ever seen. They made it difficult for her to walk. She had a big red “E” on her cage card.

If you’re not sure how to go about adopting a rescue dog, and feel intimidated trying to figure it all out, I’ve got you covered.

When she walked out of the kennels and saw us, we could see she understood: she was going home.