Ayak

Location:

Milas, Turkey

Occupation:

Retired Social Worker

Name:

Linda

Your dogs name/s:

Poppy, Sammy, Megan, Blondie

Breeds owned:

Mixed Breed/rescued dogs

Other Breeds owned or previously owned:

Previously had various mixed breed/rescue dogs, Yorkshire Terriers, Jack Russells

Has owned dogs for:

More than 20 years!

Dogs Owned:

4

Number of dogs owned over the years.:

15 - 25

I have trained dogs to:

A Basic Level (up to 4 commands)

Believe in using positive training methods?:

Yes - but I will raise my voice if I have to

Have you ever shown any of your dogs?:

No I do not show

Have you ever bred your dog?:

no

Other Animals I own:

• No

Marital Status:

Married

Children / Grandchildren:

• 1 Son
• 1 Daughter
• 2 Grandchildren

Drives:

None

My Story:

I was a social worker in the UK until 1998, when I took early retirement to move to Turkey. My husband is Turkish. I have two adult children, a boy and girl who are both married and living in the UK, and 2 grandsons born in April 2009 and April 2011. I have always had dogs...all my life (and some cats too). I've rescued quite a few, particularly in Turkey, and have managed to re-home them. Although with so many strays on the streets this is becoming increasingly impossible.

I have lived in different areas of Turkey, and I love it here, but the one fly in the ointment is the lack of interest or care of dogs and cats. The Turks just don't have the same feelings about them as most other countries. In fact they find it very unusual that we keep dogs INSIDE the house! My husband and I try to encourage the local children to have more respect for animals..and hope that by educating them in his way that things will change.

My dog Beki, who I rescued when she was 2 weeks old, died in June 2012, from PYO (undiagnosed at the time), and I miss her dreadfully.

After rescuing Poppy, I also rescued a brother and sister (puppies) Milly and Monty, kept them for a couple of months to build them up, then re=homed them. They now live happily on a farm with other similar dogs.

More recently I have taken in three strays, Sammy, Megan and Blondie, and will now try to stick to 4 dogs...although if more keep turning up at my gate...who knows!