Should I get a dog from a pet shop?
No, because...
1) Pet shops are businesses that see dogs as commercial products and keep them in unfavorable conditions as a result.
2) Every dog that is not sold at a pet shops is likely to end up on the streets. Those dogs that have not experienced anything other than their tight kennel conditions in the first few months of their lives would struggle on the streets with cars, broken glasses, poisonous stuff, rotten food items and mean people. Partly because of the pet shop industry that institutionalizes pet abandonment, streets and shelters are heavily populated by stray dogs.
3) Dogs that are "purchased" from pet shops cost you hundred if not thousands of lira. It is not sensible to "buy" a dog from a pet shop, especially in a country like Turkey whose streets and shelters have tens of thousands of dogs looking for a home to go free of charge.
1) Pet shops are businesses that see dogs as commercial products and keep them in unfavorable conditions as a result.
2) Every dog that is not sold at a pet shops is likely to end up on the streets. Those dogs that have not experienced anything other than their tight kennel conditions in the first few months of their lives would struggle on the streets with cars, broken glasses, poisonous stuff, rotten food items and mean people. Partly because of the pet shop industry that institutionalizes pet abandonment, streets and shelters are heavily populated by stray dogs.
3) Dogs that are "purchased" from pet shops cost you hundred if not thousands of lira. It is not sensible to "buy" a dog from a pet shop, especially in a country like Turkey whose streets and shelters have tens of thousands of dogs looking for a home to go free of charge.
I want a pure bred dog. What should I do?
You should change your mindset. A "pure bred" dog has no additional features than a mutt. If there is any superiority, it is mutts that have it. A mutt that is saved by a person from poor life conditions would be much more likely to be loyal and affectionate to his owner than a pet shop dog, and would protect his house much more courageously. Insistence on pure bred dogs is an outcome of the propensity to get dog to show off. Dogs are not objects of vanity, they are living souls that need to be brought in for their unconditional love, loyalty, friendship and protective instincts. In societies with a longer tradition of dog ownership, people take pride in having mutts.
Where can I find dogs that need homes?
Here is a list of classifieds that provide information about dogs for free adoption (in Turkish).
If you would prefer to rescue a dog from a shelter, you can get in touch with Mine Hanim from Golbasi Shelter at [email protected] (If you have any language issues, feel free to forward your communication to us at [email protected]. We will gladly help you out)
Another option for you would be to simply adopt a dog from streets. Streets in Turkey are home to many newborn puppies and good-natured dogs who approach strangers for affection.
If you would prefer to rescue a dog from a shelter, you can get in touch with Mine Hanim from Golbasi Shelter at [email protected] (If you have any language issues, feel free to forward your communication to us at [email protected]. We will gladly help you out)
Another option for you would be to simply adopt a dog from streets. Streets in Turkey are home to many newborn puppies and good-natured dogs who approach strangers for affection.
I know a street puppy that cries all the time. How can I help him?
The best thing you can do it to adopt him. If you are not capable of having a dog in your home, you can do this by making a small place for him on the street. If you make that place away from car traffic and feed him there every day, he would live around there.
Another option is to talk to a nearby restaurant for them to take some leftover foods and water to the dog. If you take the puppy to the restaurant when you talk to them, and try to stimulate their compassion in your conversation, you can easily find a restaurant to do this (we have found several places like this, and continue to do so).
Your last option would be to call your local municipality (belediye in Turkish) or the nearest shelter listed here, and ask them to pick up the puppy. However, please be informed that this can be the beginning of conditions that are even worse than the streets.
Another option is to talk to a nearby restaurant for them to take some leftover foods and water to the dog. If you take the puppy to the restaurant when you talk to them, and try to stimulate their compassion in your conversation, you can easily find a restaurant to do this (we have found several places like this, and continue to do so).
Your last option would be to call your local municipality (belediye in Turkish) or the nearest shelter listed here, and ask them to pick up the puppy. However, please be informed that this can be the beginning of conditions that are even worse than the streets.