The unlucky fate of dogs born in Turkey
Some of the dogs being cared for by Turkish rescuers
For years, my friends Emel and Siyami in Turkey have taken in dogs in need. They care for about 220 dogs and 48 cats on their property at a time, and also feed street dogs several times a week. It’s incredibly hard work, and very expensive. Because there aren’t many options for animals in their own country, they work with rescue groups in the United States to re-home them.
Their work got much more difficult last year when the Turkish government decided to eliminate the millions of dogs that live on the streets. These homeless souls are loved and watched out for by the communities in which they live. Many are even overweight because they are so well fed, mainly with scraps of bread.
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. Inflation reached 75% last year (citizens say the Turkish government is underreporting the inflation rate), and though it’s eased some, it’s made it difficult for people to buy even the essentials they need to survive. Because of this, many can no longer afford to keep their dogs. Emel reported that the cost of dog food has risen by 1,000% (that is not a typo). Many people who had dogs, or helped street dogs, no longer have the financial ability to care for them.
Dogs relax in the safety of Emel’s property.
When the weather is bad, the dogs on Emel’s property go indoors for safety.
Last year, the Turkish president made it a priority to eliminate street dogs. Emel described friendly, lovable dogs being picked up off the street and killed. If you’d like to see short video footage, you can view clips here, here, and here. Warning – though eye-opening, the videos are hard to watch.
This dire situation is attracting worldwide attention, including articles by the BBC and The Guardian.
For millions of dogs, their fate is tied to where they were born. These same dogs that are being cruelly killed in Turkey would be clamored after in many parts of America. Many of the dogs being slaughtered are Golden Retrievers, a popular breed for which people often pay thousands of dollars to purchase.
If these same dogs had been born in a different part of the world, their lives would be much different. They would be living comfortably as strays, cared for by the community, or placed for adoption through a shelter or rescue, where they would get loving homes.
“Despite being treated in horrible ways by our government and people, they are still in pursuit of love, a home, and an owner to trust. Our dogs are wonderful creatures,” Emel says.
There is some hope. Turkish citizens have been protesting the dog genocide, and many citizens are doing all they can to help the dogs. Those who care about animals are bravely taking action. Rescue groups around the world are reaching out to help. Though it’s difficult to transport these dogs to the United States, it is possible, and many have flown over.
A relatively new nonprofit called Turkey Dog Rescue raises funds to give to respected Turkish rescuers, helping them with their expenses. Though each of these things might seem like a drop in the bucket, it means everything to the dogs who are saved.