Happy Tails
Pets in Turkey : July 2026
Welcome to the July 2026 edition of our Pets in Turkey newsletter!
Today, we have a special story to share. The Story of Mona and Emma - a story of survival, hope, and the lives that can be saved when help arrives in time.
Back in January, we contacted a shelter volunteer in Konya after seeing a post about a small terrier desperately needing help. We immediately arranged transport to bring him to safety, but sadly, we were too late. By the time our transport arrived, he was already gone.
His loss was heartbreaking, but it led us to two other souls who were still waiting for a chance.
The volunteer told us about a tiny little girl who had virtually no chance of surviving in the shelter. We named her Emma. She also told us about a young medium-sized dog who cried endlessly behind the bars, begging to get out of that terrible place. We named her Mona.
We brought both girls to İzmir.
Emma arrived with kennel cough but recovered quickly. Mona’s fight was far more difficult. She tested positive for distemper, one of the deadliest diseases a shelter dog can face. For two weeks, she battled for her life. Every day was uncertain. Every day we feared we might lose her.
But Mona refused to give up.
With intensive veterinary care, medication, and endless dedication from our team, she slowly began to improve. Eventually, she beat the virus and was finally able to leave the clinic and move to our boarding facility.
Today, Emma is living a wonderful life in Berlin with a family who loves her dearly. Mona has transformed into a beautiful, affectionate young dog who greets everyone with a wagging tail and a hopeful heart. She is still waiting for her forever family, but she is alive, safe, and loved.
Their story has a happy ending.
But for every Mona and Emma, there are thousands of dogs still trapped in overcrowded shelters across Turkey. Dogs who are sick, frightened, abandoned, and waiting for someone to notice them. Waiting for someone to give them a chance.
Right now, we are heartbroken because we cannot help them.
The mounting debts from our veterinary clinic have forced us to stop rescuing. Every day we receive desperate calls and messages about dogs who need saving, and every day we are forced to say no. Not because we don’t care. Not because we don’t want to help. But because we simply cannot afford to take on more animals while struggling to pay the bills for those already in our care.
This is why our upcoming GlobalGiving matching campaign on July 15th is so important.
It is more than a fundraiser.
It is our chance to clear our clinic debts, restart our rescue work, and say “yes” again to dogs like Mona and Emma.
For 24 hours only, every gift you give will be doubled
Save the date: Wednesday, July 15 · GlobalGiving July Bonus Day
Please help us make the most of this opportunity.
Every donation, every share, and every act of support brings us one step closer to rescuing again. Together, we can turn more stories of suffering into stories of survival.
Mona and Emma were given a second chance because help arrived in time.
With your support, many more can have that same chance.
Thank you for standing with us and for believing that every life matters.
With love,
The Pets in Turkey Team 🐶🐱
