Why Doing Good Sometimes Hurts – Our Fight for Stray Dogs in Türkiye

Earlier today, a message came through in our Hand & Poot group chat. My sister sent it, shaken. She’s there – on our father’s property – alone, caring for forty dogs. And still, today she was met with misunderstanding.

Two people had passed by the property. The dogs barked – as dogs do when people walk by. And then came the remark:

"When are you moving across the road? I want to walk here safely." What they meant was: when will you move to another property, further from the village homes, so they no longer have to “put up with” barking dogs?

What touches us – because we’re five sisters, each with our own approach but all with 100% dedication – is that this work comes from love. From the need to stand up for everything that’s vulnerable. For lives that can’t speak up for themselves and depend on humans.

And it hurts when you feel people would rather look away than try to understand.

Our foundation rescues stray dogs in Türkiye. We give them safety, medical care and – hopefully – a future with a loving family. We do this without major funds, without government support. Just commitment, donations, and love for these forgotten souls.

Resistance and Misunderstanding

What touches us is the lack of understanding. As if people think this is just “a fun little project.” As if they don’t see what it means to care for dozens of dogs, with limited resources, in a place where animals are often seen as a nuisance instead of living beings with feelings.

What frustrates us is how quickly people value their own comfort over the suffering of others. Double standards are everywhere. If a local’s dog roams freely and barks – even though it hasn’t been neutered or spayed – that’s fine. But if one of our dogs barks – safely behind a fence – it’s suddenly a problem.

And yes, we already do so much:

• We limit noise disturbances

• We provide medical care and vaccinations

• We’re building a dog-friendly shelter with insulation and calm spaces

• We talk with locals

• We go out and feed hungry street dogs

• We inject female dogs to prevent unwanted pregnancies

But sometimes, it feels like nothing is ever enough.

Dogs Are Not Wild Animals

What people often forget: dogs are not wild animals. They’ve been made dependent on humans. They’re not predators. They have no real strategy to survive on the streets. They end up there because humans fail to take responsibility.

"I want a dog for my child." "He was too much work, we couldn’t keep him." "He’ll be fine on his own."

We hear these kinds of statements far too often. And the consequences? Left behind on the streets. Unneutered animals, puppies in the cold rain, hunger, disease, fear.

And when we try to help, we are treated as the nuisance.

Selfishness Hurts

Perhaps the hardest part: human selfishness.Everything must fit within the frame of convenience. A dog – but only if it’s cute and quiet. A pet – but only if it behaves exactly how people want. A street without barking – but without any responsibility.

And when it becomes inconvenient? Then the dog must go.

We stand in the middle of all this. We take in what others have abandoned. And it’s heavy. Emotionally, mentally, financially. Sometimes it feels like no one sees how much this demands from us. That we give everything, yet are blamed for the discomfort caused by people themselves.

And we stand by this: it’s not just about animals. The way people treat animals says a lot about how they treat anything that’s vulnerable. If it doesn’t fit the mold – whether human or animal – it’s cast aside.

Why We Keep Going

Still, we won’t stop. Because for every voice that complains, there are also voices that help. Donors. Volunteers. People who understand what it means to save a life.

We keep building toward a better future – literally, with a new shelter away from village homes – and figuratively, with a growing network of people who care. Who know that love, care, and protection are not a given, but absolutely necessary.

This blog isn’t meant to complain. It’s to show how it feels to try to do good in a world that doesn’t always appreciate it. And maybe – if you’re reading this – next time you’ll look differently at a barking dog. Or at the people behind it.

💬 Denk je met ons mee? Of wil je iets bijdragen aan ons werk? Neem contact met ons op via info@handenpoot.nl of bezoek www.handenpoot.nl.Samen maken we het verschil. 🐾