In this city of 18 million there are still some patches of woods left and tucked away cosily in the upper grounds of the BU campus lies BUpaws, a Dog Sanctuary. BUpaws is a place for street dogs to shelter and feel loved. It's a place where 70 (plus the campus dogs, totalling 112) street dogs can eat, sleep, play and run free several hours everyday.
"It’s so much more than a dog sanctuary. It’s an amazing model that I think should be followed in shelters around the world. I’ve never seen anything like it. It also serves as a kind of education facility, facilitating respect and trust between dogs and people." Suzanna Woods, a BUpaws volunteer.
All the dogs get along with people but they don't all get along with each other so a system has been devised. The fenced off dogs are let out everyday according to territories and who they get along with. Others are walked on leads and some are allowed to roam freely. Some even go out and come back independently. The system is very precise and controlled by the coordinator Defne Arsoy, a Bosphorus University alumni and volunteer, Ahmet, a Moldovian gentleman who comes from a family of shepherds.
The original idea of making a dog sanctuary came from a group of professors and other University workers back in 2002 in reaction to the municipality killings of street animals by poison and shootings. They formed an NGO and a shelter but over the years interest waned, and it was left in a neglected state.
Defne Arsoy, started volunteering in 2010 and eventually in 2015, she took the endeavor into her own hands with much dedication and a dream to convert BUpaws into an educational center for animal welfare. Together with Ahmet, other volunteers and donations they have kept the boat afloat for many years. The dogs are all vaccinated, registered and microchipped and Arsoy has arranged 2 heated rooms for the elder and sickly dogs in the winter and a sort of pool for the summer. There's even a Foster Care Program for dog lovers who can't keep them at home. By donating only 300 tl. per month you can have a dog of your choice without taking it home and without the responsibility. You can visit, walk, brush and feed him/her anytime. This is also a good testing ground for people trying to see if they want a dog in the future and are ready for the long term commitment.
"Basically, it’s a really special place and there are plans to develop it into a proper (official) educational/interaction centre – it will be the first of its kind in Turkey, educating people on animal rights and treatment while also providing sanctuary to dogs in need."