Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
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 ❤
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 ❤
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 ❤
