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Istanbul, Turkey is a beautiful city. The city is actually where the European and Asia continents meet and is divided by the
Bosphorus Strait. A fishing town, you would expect to see cats. But there were
feral cats everywhere. In all the outside spaces and many of the indoor also. The street dogs, though I did not get to take many pictures because mostly I was being whizzed by in the Taxis that go way to fast, seemed to be of Shepard, working dog, type bodies, with brown and black short fur. “One estimate is that in Istanbul, a city of 11.3 million people, there are at least 150,000 free-roaming dogs. Rabies is endemic in Turkish dogs and every year there are a small number of people who die from the bites of rabid dogs. The Turkish federal government passed a law a few years ago requiring cities to control the roaming dogs. But as in America, few cities have all the resources they need to effectively control the loose animals.”
(Managing-street-dogs-cats-turkey)
I was really glad to see stray dogs with ear tags. It made me realize that the city may have a “trap and release” program to spay/neuter/vaccinate strays. I checked and it does and I think that is a great step in the right direction, especially after reading about some of the shelter tragedies in Turkey. Unlike Americans, the Turkish people appear to tolerant the free-roaming animals. I assume that has a cultural basis due to religious heritage and current beliefs. Until this trip, and I travel a lot, I never really thought about another countries challenges with animal control, this is a huge problem worldwide. In Istanbul there appeared to be a calm coexistence (I did not see even one cat/dog fight). Lessons from the street animals of Istanbul.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, Bosphorus, Cat, cats, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, feral cats, Istanbul, Pet, pets, postaday, shelter dog, street dogs, Turkey
It is funny when you are a traveler. I am always the one leaving my other humans and my animals behind. I get to see different sites, sounds, and smells, while they stay in their same world day to day, with mostly one thing different: I am not there. I think it is harder for those that are left behind. Thier world continues but there is a hole in the routine once filled by the missing person. People understand travelers, though they may be physically lonely and miss you, they know in their heads that you will be returning. They can talk with you on the phone, text in words, or even Skype with you over internet video. But, to the animals, the hole is just there. They know that another being, in this case me. the feeder and the giver of walks and hugs, is not immediately present. They do not understand that I went on a business trip to Turkey (13 hours away in a metal container with wings). They do not know that I thought about them everyday because, unlike my humans, I can not tell them virtually that I love them. Animals can only receive what is present, immediate, and there. You can not hug your dog with virtual arms.
Another interesting thing is how each animal responds to my returns. Louise goes crazy with jumping and nuzzling (she tries to get inside my flesh she wants to be so close to me). Muffin ignores me for about 24 hours and then, when he is ready, acknowledges my lowly existence. Sofie whines to be in my presence and won’t let me out of her sight for a really long time (and this return showed a new behavior, she actually nibbled on my arms to make sure I was really there, like she preens the cats). I even woke up this morning with Noel, the alpha cat, who rarely will grace my bedroom with her presence, staring at me (probably wondering why I have not been in my office upstairs all week, where she primarily lives, and not happy that she had to come and find me).
The animals (and humans) appear to be relaxed this morning and smiling a lot. For all of us things are back in balance.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: animals, dog, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday, travel, Turkey
Louise here. Mommy left me in charge of the blog but she didn’t leave me very good instructions, so I really don’t know how to fill up the days with out her direction. In dog daz it feels like she has been gone for a million years, I really need her to come home NOW! The other humans in the house take me to daycare when Mommy is not home or put me in the yard to play with Sofie, but no one walks me. I like to walk. Only Mommy takes me for a walk. Hurry home already Mommy because I need a walk!
I admit that I am not the best walker. I like to pull and show Mommy all the really good spots to sniff which are usually, for some strange reason, further than my leash allows Sofie doesn’t have to wear a leash. She has this box thing on her neck and she wonders around behind Mommy. Me, I like to be out front (unless of course something scary comes my way and then I hide behind Mommy and yell at it as loud as I can). Well, I overheard the other humans saying that Mommy should be home soon. Please hurry!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Mommy, Pet, postaday
(This was one of Mommy’s first blog posts. Wow she used to ramble.)
C doesn’t feel well and wants to stay home from school. She caught the cold from V, who was in bed all day yesterday, who caught it from K8 when she was home from college over the T-day holiday. But Grammie thinks they caught it all from her. How is it that even though I stay in bed and pretend to still be sleeping, the cats, who are right there so they know I am faking, and the dogs, who are across the room in their blanketed kennels, all know that I am awake and start to whine? Don’t you crazies know that humans are suppose to get more sleep? You sleep whenever you want. Cats, I read, sleep 18 hours a day. Me, I have a specific time when I can get a few zzzzs. Oh well, up and at it. Don’t think you are getting feed until at least 6:30 (or you will want dinner to early). Do they feel your energy subconsciously when you are trying to fake sleep? Does it hang in the air? Maybe I am moving my feet and they hear the rubbing of the sheets? I haven’t been able to sleep more than 2 hrs at a clip in about 20 years. I just figure that is my normal. The animals on the other hand see it as an opportunity to get in some late night snacks and conversation. Just another regular DogDaz morning. ❤
Lean on me
Why do dogs like shoes and slippers so much? Is it because they smell like us?
Tags: dog, DogDaz, Dogs, postaday
Look close in the hole of the nesting box.
Yesterday’s post about the Big Tree made me start to think about spring, which appears to be about a month early here in the Mid-Atlantic. I am happy because walking the dogs is easier, and all my feathered friends start to come back in the yard in full color. We sit for hours watching them come to the feeders and the watering spots. I am amazed that, except when the dogs first come racing out of the house to catch squirrels, the birds just stay where they are and do not mind them. We have some wonderful creatures that bless us every day, We get humming birds, and humming bees, butterflies, moths, and skippers.
Can’t wait until the real spring comes. Thanks to K8 once again for the great pics from last year. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: birds, DogDaz, Dogs, postaday
Mommy is on her way to Istanbul, Turkey today for work and won’t be back for a whole week. She is not taking us and we are very sad that she will be gone but she said 13 hours on an airplane is no place for dogs. (What’s an airplane?) She told us to behavior ourselves and look after the humans, the cats, the blog, and each other. We are not happy about having all this work to do while she is gone and have decided that we will post some of her more interesting blogs instead of trying to paw new ones. We think Mommy travels to much and should just stay home with us. We miss her already. Maybe she will bring us some exotic bones from wherever she is. I wonder if they have dogs in Turkey and what they look like.
“Take pictures Mommy so we can see Turkish pets. We are going to sleep in your office and not move until you return.” Love, your adorable sweet doggies – Lulu Belle and Sofie Bear
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, Animal welfare, animals, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Istanbul, Pet, pets, postaday, Turkey
Reblogged from For the Love of the Dog Facebook page.
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, pit bull, postaday
It has been really hot these days. Mommy says that the spring was the hottest on record. I am not sure what that totally means but I know that we are walking earlier and earlier in the morning because it is cooler. I like to sit in the sun. Hotter the better for me, for a little while, because Mommy makes me come in. She worries that I will overheat. I drink a lot of water I think, so I am not sure why she worries. But Mom’s do, I guess. Sofie likes to lie in the shade. She pants a lot and prefers to go inside the house in the air conditioning. She is a wimp. Heat me up sunshine!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, dog, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday
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Sofie and Nine are so cute together. Sofie preens him like he is her little baby and she is keeping him clean. I have always had cats and dogs that had special bonds. Nikki dog loved Alice cat. Alice used to do this little dance in front of Nikki and nudge her on the nose. Miss Constance Kitty really loved Squash E Bear. She would hang on his tail like it was another kitten and he would wag and wag to make her move up and down playfully. But this relationship between Sofie and Nine is interesting to me. I have never seen a dog nibble on the cat before, and I have never seen them snuggle for long periods of time like these 2 do. Now, don’t be mistaken here, Sofie still chases Nine down the hall when she feels like it and say ‘I’m the dog so you better run!,” but I think their relationship is special. Does your dog and cat snuggle? Louise will tolerate the cats but she doesn’t want them to near for to long, which to me seems the more ‘normal’ cat/dog relationship. I just love what Sofie and Nine have.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Cat, cats, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday
