THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE - THE STORY OF MATI

In March 2022, we rescued some dogs from a horrific shelter and one of them was Mati. For the next 2 years, she was always overlooked by people who wanted to adopt a small dog so she waited patiently in the several different boarding houses. We were about to loose hope for her that a couple from Germany decided to adopt her. Mari flew to her new life in December 2024. Here is a heartwarming letter from her mom Melis:)

"Ever since I was a small child, I’ve felt a deep connection with all kinds of animals. I was lucky to grow up surrounded by them. When I lost my dog of 13 years to cancer in 2019, it was one of the most heartbreaking and devastating times of my life. Not long after, we adopted our cat, Dumi. However, she quickly chose my mom as her primary “owner.” So when I moved from Turkey to Germany, we decided it was only fair for Dumi to stay with my mom.

Being around animals has always been a priority for me, so I started pet-sitting alongside my job. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was time for us to adopt a dog of our own. Around this time, the cruel and ruthless bill allowing the killing of stray animals in Turkey was passed, and my husband and I decided not to wait any longer—we wanted to rescue a dog immediately.

That’s how we came across Pets in Turkey. But if there’s one thing we’re even more thankful for than finding them, it’s that we found our dear girl, Mati (also known as Mat-Mat, Matiş, Matike, Milky tummy, and many more)!

We met with Sibel online, who told us all about the adoption process, the dogs in their care, their personalities, and the kinds of homes they were looking for. We honestly didn’t have any specific criteria. Having grown up with pets and cared for others through pet-sitting, I knew how both challenging and rewarding caring for animals could be. And of course, this wasn’t a one-person journey—my husband loves animals just as much as I do. Even though he has never had his own pet, he is a natural dog dad!

Sibel told us about Mati, a Jack Russell mix (she was 5 years old at the time) who had been waiting for a home for a very very long time. That was all we needed to hear—we decided to adopt her right away. Mati officially joined our family on December 21, thanks to my friend Aslı’s (also Pets in Turkey volunteers) parents, who brought her to us in Munich.

It was love at first sight. Sibel had mentioned that Mati might be a little shy at first or take some time to adjust, especially at home, but I’m so happy to say it was love at first sight for her too! 😊 At that time, I was caring for an Alaskan Malamute in our home, so after meeting her humans, the first dog Mati met was him. Now they are best friends!

The moment Mati walked into our home, it was as if she had lived there for years. She jumped onto our bed immediately, picked up my childhood stuffed toys, and started playing with them. It was such a wonderful feeling to see her so happy and feel that she belonged.

Just three days after her arrival, we took her to the vet, and she officially became an EU citizen! The vet couldn’t believe she was a rescue—she was so calm and friendly. 😊 Six months later, she had a dental operation and was a total star throughout the entire process.

Of course, there have been challenges, and we still face the occasional struggle—which is completely normal. Dogs, like humans, have their own personalities, preferences, and quirks. For instance, Mati doesn’t like it when someone she’s never met enters our home. So we found a solution: introducing her to guests outside first. Once she meets them that way, she happily welcomes them inside. 😊 She’s not the biggest fan of young kids or older men, but we’ve learned to read her body language and help her feel calm. Sometimes she gets stubborn and refuses to go on long walks—and since she has an incredible sense of direction, there’s no tricking her! 😄 We just accept it and call it a day. Princess wouldn’t eat just dry food, so we quickly adapted to her need and desires and started mixing her dry food with wet food. From time to time we try to trick her with just dry food and guess the result! 😄 You really do have to find little ways to make them comfortable—just like you would with a baby.

Over time, it’s been wonderful to see her personality blossom and her trust in us grow. She sleeps completely relaxed, tolerates endless kisses and cuddles (and makes the funniest noises when she’s had enough), and gets beyond excited when we come home after being away. She loves going on walks, she loves sleeping under blankets, she loves visits from her grandma, and she loves spending time with our friends.

Since Mati joined our family, we’ve taken many trips across Germany. We love hiking, and it turns out Mati is a nature lover too—she’s even fitter than we are! We’ve been on countless trails, had a trial dip in a beautiful lake, and even visited the Disney-like Neuschwanstein Castle together. If only she could fly with us in the cabin—maybe one day! 😊

Note to Mati: You used to pee in our garden, which was super convenient since you don’t like going out when it’s dark—but for some reason, you stopped! Maybe you think, “Why pee in my garden where I also hang out?” 😄 Still, it would be great if you could start again!

We’re so grateful to Pets in Turkey for everything they do—rescuing animals, providing them with the best care, and preparing all the paperwork for adoption across Europe. And we’re endlessly thankful for Mati, who has brought extra love, joy, and laughter into our lives (and into the lives of our families and friends who’ve met her). She has truly transformed our world.

Please follow Pets in Turkey—words alone can’t do justice to their incredible work. Even if you can’t adopt, you can always foster or make monthly contributions to support their ongoing efforts."

We have so many dogs waiting for so long for a loving home... FINDIK / ROKA / SUMMER / YUKI / DRACO / MILA / CHIARA / REX just to name a few. Please see them, give them a chance, you may foster or adopt ONE and be their second chance...