Paws of Hope Building a Lifeline for Ankara's Dogs

Over the past three months, life at the sanctuary project has continued to change, bringing progress for some dogs, new challenges for others and, sadly, a loss that has been particularly difficult for us.

Princess, Yaman, Stella and Bidik are now approaching the point where they will be ready for adoption. This is a significant step for dogs whose journeys have been very different, but who have each needed time, stability and individual support before we could begin thinking about what comes next. Sanctuary project care is not about moving dogs through a system as quickly as possible. It is about giving them the time they need and making decisions based on the dog in front of us.

Izzy has recently come under our care and is suffering from advanced leishmaniasis. Her condition means that her future will look very different. She will remain within the Sanctuary Project long term, where we can closely monitor her health, manage her condition and adapt her care as her needs change. For dogs like Izzy, sanctuary care is not a stepping stone towards somewhere else. It is home.

We have also welcomed Chip, who had been abandoned to the street despite living with fused bones and shortened muscles. He is now receiving treatment and we are learning more about his condition and what we can do to make him as comfortable and mobile as possible.

Sandy arrived after being abandoned on a highway. She was underweight and completely terrified by what she had experienced. She is beginning to come around, but we are allowing her to do that at her own pace. For a frightened dog, progress can be quiet. Feeling safe enough to relax, eat normally, approach people or simply stop expecting something bad to happen can be enormous steps forward.

Meanwhile, Sedef, Bidik's surviving puppy, is rapidly approaching her teenage stage and has become quite a handful. She is an extremely confident young dog with plenty of ideas of her own. Fortunately, senior girl Sari has taken on some of the responsibility for teaching her manners. Watching those relationships develop is one of the advantages of the kennel free sanctuary environment and gives us an opportunity to understand the dogs not just individually, but as members of a social group.

Sadly, this reporting period also brought the loss of Milo. We always knew that Milo was unlikely to make old bones, but knowing that does not make losing him any easier. His death was devastating for us. Nothing really prepares you for saying goodbye to a dog you have cared for and loved, however realistic you have tried to be about their prognosis. What matters is that Milo was cared for, he was safe and he was loved for the time that he was with us.

The past few months have also reinforced something important about how we want the Sanctuary Project to develop. Maintaining smaller, manageable numbers allows us to monitor the dogs far more effectively. We know their routines, personalities, relationships and normal behaviour, which means small changes are much easier to recognise. A dog eating differently, becoming quieter, moving differently, withdrawing from the group or behaving unusually can tell us something long before a problem becomes obvious.

This close observation is becoming an increasingly important part of the project. Welfare cannot be measured simply by whether an animal has food, water and somewhere to sleep. We want to know how the dogs are actually doing. Are they comfortable? Are they coping? Are they forming relationships? Has their behaviour changed? Are there early indications of pain or illness? And, importantly, are they ready for adoption.

For some, like Princess, Yaman, Stella and Bidik, the answer may eventually be that they are ready to leave us and begin successful life in a home. For others, including Izzy, the sanctuary project will provide the long term care they need. Our responsibility is not to make every dog's journey look the same, but to understand what each dog needs and respond accordingly.

Thank you to everyone who supports the Sanctuary Project through GlobalGiving. Your support allows us to provide not only safety, food and medical care, but something equally important: the time and attention needed to really know the animals in our care and make decisions based on their individual welfare.