It’s great to hear about a place that cares for animals, like a dog sanctuary. They take in stray dogs and give them a safe home for the rest of their lives, where they’re cared for and protected.
The World Health Organization estimates there are nearly 200 million stray dogs globally.
These dogs face daily struggles to find food, water, and shelter, lacking medical care and companionship.
Many die young, especially puppies. Despite being seen as nuisances by some, stray animals suffer due to inadequate human care, often experiencing untreated illnesses, injuries, and even deliberate abuse.
Additionally, they pose risks to humans and other animals.
Buket Özgünlü has been dedicated to rescuing and caring for stray dogs through her nonprofit, Paws Holding on to Life Association for four years.
She looks after 560 dogs in her dog sanctuary in Turkey, many with disabilities.
“They were all saved,” Buket shared with The Dodo. “Most of them can’t move their bodies. Some have been hurt by being shot, beaten, or left behind. All of them have a story.”
Despite their hardships, Buket gives them hope for the future, especially focusing on dogs with disabilities, as she understands their needs firsthand.
“Since my dad has a disability, I focus more on dogs with disabilities,” she explained. “They need us more. I try my best to look after them.”
At Paws Holding on to Life Association’s dog sanctuary, the dogs enjoy a peaceful and joyful life with ample space to play and move around, even in their wheelchairs.
Recently, Buket developed a creative idea to further enrich their lives by introducing them to new sights and sounds.
She built a “dog train” by arranging wheels to barrels in a line.
“I’d actually been thinking about doing such a project for a long time,” Buket said, stating that she was very happy that she did it.
The dogs’ happy faces show how much they enjoy it when they ride through town on their special dog train.
It’s not just the dogs who love these little adventures outside the dog sanctuary. Wherever they go, Buket and her pups get smiles and waves from people.
“Many people like it, and it makes me even happier,” Buket said.
The dogs, once forgotten, now shine bright with joy.
Caring for them might seem like a tough job sometimes, but seeing their happiness is reward enough.
“I know how much they need it,” Buket said.
Taking care of stray animals, like dogs and cats, is crucial because they can spread diseases like rabies and toxoplasmosis.
Plus, they might damage property or pollute the environment. When they feel scared, they might act aggressively, which could hurt people or other animals.
Also, if they’re near roads, they could cause accidents.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands has become a dog sanctuary for being the first country where all dogs have loving homes.
The Netherlands has achieved something remarkable – they no longer have any stray dogs! This wasn’t always the case, though.
People realized that stray dogs were a problem that needed solving without resorting to mass euthanasia, Dogster noted.
It all started with spaying and neutering every dog, which the government made mandatory and funded.
Dogs also received vet care when needed. Since money wasn’t an issue for owners, this plan worked well.
Laws were passed to protect animals, with harsh penalties for neglect and abuse. Taxes on dogs bought from breeders or stores were raised to encourage adoption instead.
Awareness programs promoting adoption led to 90% of the population adopting a stray dog.
Now, all 1.95 million dogs in the Netherlands have loving homes thanks to the efforts of the people.
Meanwhile, look how happy Buket’s pets from her dog sanctuary as they ride their dog train:
View this post on Instagram
Discover more from My Positive Outlooks
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.