We were guests of Mrs Ahu Tanrıkulu on TV24 “Gece Moderatörü” program with our volunteer Tolga Öztorun on the occasion of Animal Action Week at October 10.

Firstly, ‘Ezber’ short film was presented and afterwards we discussed about shelter and our works. We took 2 kittens that were abandoned to our shelter on that day and mascot çiço with us to studio. Kittens were so sweet and we said that we were looking for a home for them, instantly gave names for them with Ahu; night for the tabby cat and moderator for the other cat. Çico was a little bit restless, but luckily there were no accidents during live performance. Of course, he toured around the studio, climbed over the cameramen and as soon as the program ended, he poopped on. These are sweet memories.

I hope we could send our message to many people on that important week (I hope we can make insensitive people look differently to animals). Don’t forget! The world does not only belong to humans. You can see naughty night on the lap of the cameraman, during live broadcast!!

Stars of Yedikule
Fatih Municipality Yedikule Animal Shelter and Society of Travelers are organizing a photography contest together. In this contest, homeless animals will be photographed. The aim of this event is to draw attention to adoption of animals from shelter.

Don’t think it’s only an animal shelter, there are so many beauties waiting you to discover them in Fatih Municipality Yedikule Animal Shelter. Now, they seem to join to celebrity society too. There will be a photography contest in shelter. People who grab a camera run to shelter. This time, neither Siamese cats with black ribbons nor colorful terriers are looking at the objectives. This time, homeless animals that live in the shelter will be on the sweet frames. Moreover, it is the last two days to join the contest. If you like to join, please go to the shelter today immediately. You can take beautiful pictures and also maybe pat some homeless animals’ heads. The aim of the contest co-organized by Fatih Municipality Yedikule Animal Shelter and Society of Travelers is to draw attention to adoption of 2000 dogs which are pedigreed and living in the shelter. The president of Society of Travelers, Professor Orhan Kural points out the importance of these types of events. “Few days ago, kids raped a dog and burned her on an old construction building in Basaksehir. These kinds of events are happening so frequently that, we have to work very hard to prevent these. We think that every living creature has the right of life. We want people to adopt animals from shelter. That’s why this contest is being organized.”

THERE ARE DOGS FROM EVERY PEDIGREES
Professor Orhan Kural mentions that he gave advices to youth about animal shelters in all conference he attended. ‘I say to youth, ‘Go to shelters instead of watching football matches’. I explain that these kinds of activities will glorify them. Schools have to organize tours to animal shelters. Every kind of support is important for the shelters. Animal importing should be forbidden. We are trying for this. Animals are being tortured on tiny cages in petshops. It is possible to find pedigree dogs in shelter if it is a must for people, because, lots of them are abandoned into streets. They can also take care of an animal. In other words, they can be responsible for all pecuniary costs and walk dogs around on weekends.” Volunteer manager of Yedikule Animal Shelter, Architect Meral Olcay says that there are approximately 2000 homeless dogs in shelter and 80% of these dogs are pedigreed: “We organized a photography contest for drawing attention to adoption of these pedigreed dogs by cooperating Professor Orhan Kural. Purpose of shelters are hosting the homeless animals and rehabilitation for them. However, irresponsible people buy pedigreed animals from pet shops and leave them to streets after some time as a broken toy and consequently, shelters became full of these pedigreed animals. We want to show this situation and encourage people who want to own a dog to get them from shelters.” Deadline for attending this contest for amateur and professional photographers is September 1, Monday at 17:00. Results will be reported at November 14, 2008. First price is 1500 YTL; second prize is 750 YTL and third prize 750 YTL. Prizes will be bestowed by Fatih Municipality and Society of Travelers will present a special plaquet. Also, works chosen by jury will be displayed on Yedikule Animal Shelter. There are celebrities in the jury including Erol Büyükburç, İzzet Keribar, Gültekin Çizgen, Nasuh Mahruki, and Leman Sam.

For information phone : (0212) 633 58 57

Yedikule Animal Shelter and its volunteers rescue homeless animals or other animals that were abandoned because they are old.

Yedikule Animal Shelter gives life to two thousand dogs that were abandoned after a period of care including wolf dog, kangal, poodle, terrier, Dalmatian, Doberman types. Even dogs that were adapted to indoor life at homes for long years now live in the shelter and waking up all alone. Teams of Fatih Municipality find these dogs from Fatih and nearby places and these dogs are generally old, injured or tortured animals.

THEY CAN’T ACCEPT BEING ABANDONED

Meral Olcay who takes care of dogs voluntarily for 6 years says, “Dogs are sold for two thousand dollars in pet shops. Buying animal love is a very wrong attitude. They think that taking care of an animal is an easy thing. The only reason why there are so many dogs in here is the owners couldn’t take care of them”. Citizens who want to own an animal can find what they look for in these centers and commitment is needed in addition to desire.”

BROKEN HEARTS ARE LOOKING FOR COMPANION

Olcay says that shelter is flooded with people who want to own a dog, but they only give the dogs to people if they are assured that the dog won’t be abandoned again. “For adoption and care of a dog, a sack of dry dog food is enough” says Olcay and states that health and nutritional needs of thousands of dogs are met by animal lovers. Olcay mentions that daily need of food in shelter is 8 tons and adds “We collect left over foods from hospitals, factories and other workplaces. It does not cover 8 tons but, deficit is met by volunteers.”

Neslihan KURAN

Source: http://www.bugun.com.tr