When A Record Snowstorm Crippled Istanbul, People Went Above And Beyond For The City’s Stray Animals 

Once I was walking home here in Istanbul, and it was like 4am, and a man started to stalk me. Then 6 dogs I know in the neighborhood somehow sensed that I was quite stressed and scared, and guess what? They all led me home walking in the front, and made sure I went home safe haha. Definitely love my friends in the neighborhood. They take care of us and we’ll take care of them! :)

I lived in Izmir for three months and I will tell you this, they had the healthiest looking stray animal population I HAVE EVER seen! The dogs and cats weren’t treated poorly nor did they behave poorly. It was a sweet understanding. There were dogs and cats living in the ruins of Ephesus...peacefully. It was quite beautiful to witness.💜

Once in antalya i read on a street panel: All street animals are under gouverments protection. So much respect and love goes to turkey

Turkey’s love and humanity towards animals goes back centuries. Other countries could learn so much from the kindness Turks show to street animals. God bless Turkey. 🇹🇷

These aren’t stray cats, istanbul is their home.

The whole world could learn from this, a little compassion goes a long way.

Turkish people just won my heart. Wish people from other countries learn something from them. What a noble deed it was.

I am literally in love with turkey and its people after my 1st visit their. Long live turkey and its people!!!!

The Turkish are awesome. Much respect to u all!

"An individual who's not capable of loving an animal, can't be expected to love a human." Turkish saying

This is a sign of an advanced culture.

I love Turkish people for your kindness to stray animals!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

God bless you and your country

I did a study abroad in Istanbul and noticed restaurant staff feeding strays leftovers in side streets/alleys. It was really sweet to see. The strays of Istanbul are so gentle and sweet

You have warmed this person's heart Instanbul , blessings from California

Turk are 💕..even take care of refugees in syiria..and helping so many countries .we love u..your love for human and other species make my humanity revive again..thank u..

Love Turkish people for helping poor homeless dogs,and cats !!!My biggest respect from Poland :)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

The Turkish Nation is merciful, respectful to all living things.

Congratulations to turkish people for their respect and love to stray animals!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏i hope THIS ACT OF KINDNESS BE AN EXEMPLE TO MANY COUNTRIES SPECIALLY CHINA AND VIETNAM!!!THANK YOU,ANIMAL LOVER FELLOWS, I LOVE YOU💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖😍😍😍🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

Love to turkish people from Greece

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are being treated. To seek to reduce the suffering of those who are completely under one's domination, and unable to fight back, is truly a mark of a civilized society. Thank you from Singapore. I’ve been to Istanbul many times when I was a flight steward with Singapore airlines. Awesome city and beautiful friendly people. I hope to visit Istanbul again soon when this pandemic is under control. God bless every one in Istanbul..🙏

Turkish people are wonderful. Full of Love for animals and people in need. I love Turkey❤🇹🇷

Thank you so much Turkish people

I love instanbul and its people 😘💗💗💗💗💗💗 I long to come back. Love and thanks for your kindness, from Italy 🇮🇹

Shout out to all my Turkish friends! You've done well guys!♥

Thats what makes Turkey a great nation. May Allah bless the people of Turkey

Thank you Turkish, May Allah Bless You All. Greeting from Indonesia

God bless the Turkish people, I love how they treat the animals and the weaker people in society. So so kind.

So much in love with this country since I been there twice in 2019. I can tell that all the people there have so much love respect to all stray dogs and cats. Blessed all of them to help all the homeless animals. Much love from Malaysia😍

I respect the Turkish people for their kindness shown to strays. ❤Dogs are such sweet, loving creatures-those who are unkind to them are evil.

What a beautiful story from Istanbul what fantastic people

I was an exchange student in Istanbul 2016-2017. I'm also very allergic to cats. I spent the whole year sneezing because I couldn't resist letting one curl up on me during that harsh winter for warmth. Having to leave them behind at the cafe or the pier broke my heart a little each time. Reflected in each of these cats and dogs is the wonderful kindness and generosity of the people of Istanbul. They're loving and trusting of humans in a way that is only possible in Turkey. My home university in England asked how I'd attempted to fit into Istanbul life, and my first thought was that I always had cat food in my house and on my doorstep, which was always gone by morning. That and the sensation of irritated lips from constantly eating ay çekirdeği.

It would be so wonderful if everyone treated animals like humans. The Istanbul people are correct.....the animals have just as much right to be here. They should also be treated with kindness, caring, & love!

Turkey is my dream country. Love and respect from Bangladesh 💕

This is called humanity,Wonderful and great work Istanbul ,god bless u

Aww bless this country and it’s people 🇹🇷🙏🏽

Thank you people of Istanbul for your compassion.

"Yer yüzündekilere merhamet ediniz ki,göktekilerde size merhamet etsinler"Hz.Muhammed (S.A.V.)

What an amazing society who care about our sentient, innocent, Dogs and Cats. Truly an inspired nation and culture. 🙏😍🌟

I love Turk for their merciful nature. Allah shower blessings for the kind people.

I just love love love this story !! I just hope millions of Americans see this and do the same for our homeless little lovely creatures next winter coming!! Lucky pups and wonderful humans for taking action

Love and Thanks for Your Kindness. From a Native American, PeaCe&ReSPeCt, ShelleBelle 🇺🇸

The most beautiful people in the world with the biggest heart ❤️❤️❤️ no wonder why your country is soooo blessed...

Thank you Turkey💙

Turkish people are kind, good and kind to innocent animals. I really wish to visit Turkey one day.

Most places : Close the buildings! Leave them outside! They'll manage! Istanbul : Let them in! Let them in!!!!

Who in the world would thumbs down stuff like this???

Animals are very smart. I want to Thank the people in Istanbul for all they do to care for the stray animals! Every country should take note to start doing the same. We are all gods creations.

God bless Turkish ❤️❤️❤️ how they protect animals god will always help and protect them 🙏❤️❤️❤️

God Bless the Turkish people!

Here in America, we not only leave to strays out in the cold, we leave people out too.

I love that country and their citizen , God Bless

Such beautiful people with such kind hearts.Other countries have alot to learn from this kindness.

Thanks everyone about there kind words about Turkey and Turkish people.You are the best

you turkish people are amazing!! I'm a cat lover myself and i always feed stray cats whenever i see them. but unfortunately, my action is sometimes ridiculed by non-animal lovers around me. they think i'm silly for doing that :( it's totally remarkable to see people do this thing as a community, i really hope the people in my country have the same awareness as well...

As turkish people we continue culture of being merciful for all animals-cats,dogs.It is our mission taught by our great GREAT parents.

Bless them. All people should see this and learn from it.

May Allah bless people of Istanbul. May d world learn to be compassionate towards animals.

Beautiful people with beautiful heart

God bless good clean people like this still needs to be more of them that we are all gods creatures

Every life matters. Blessings and gratitude from America. May your kindness warm many hearts.

My respect and love for Istanbul. Love you so much. Great example.

Wish we could do this in NY...save the animals and the people

THANK YOU, LOVELY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

Thank you all for helping our furry brothers 🙏🙏🙏🙏

They are beautiful good hearted people and their love for animals specially cats is very inspiring.

God Bless all the GOOD people around the world! ✌️

That was truly a horrific blizzard. A thin white cat moved into our building. Several of us were feeding her, and I put a box next to my door with a towel wrapped around it for her. The old landlord saw this and went ballistic, screaming abuse in Turkish, as the cat wisely vanished. Three days later I found her hiding in the frigid filthy basement. Lured with food, she came out and I got her to a vet and into my apartment. She's still here, very fat and very, very contented. Our Zoe.

Usa can learn from these great Turkey people who have love and compassion for strays animals ✌ 💘 Turks

I just love these kind of stories. They really do warm up my heart and re-affirm my faith in humanity in these times when there is so much evil that gets flaunted in the world. Greetings from Washington State.

One act of kindness can mean so much

World should learn from your country, you people's are very kind hearted hats off to you in Indian people when they love street animals ,heartless people living here in India no strict law ,

That is so awesome that the public actually considers the Stray animals in times of need! I pray that they will be richly rewarded, I know that I already am rewarded just by watching this video this really warms my heart!

This is beautiful and I would pray we can all treat animals with love and respect. I like Turkey and now want to visit for sure.

Allah pak bless turkey 🇹🇷 always ❤️🤲👍🏼 love from Pakistan 🇵🇰

That y I love Estambul and I there people because they love care and respect God's divine creation ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨🕊️

What a lovely gesture from the local businesses.

I'm tearing up🥺🥺🥺🥺this is beautiful

I've been wanting to visit turkey to see the cats and dogs among other things. I especially would like to meet gli the cat of hagia sophia. Unfortunately she passed away. Love turkey from indonesia 🇮🇩

Wow this surprised me , such kindness on this scale, animals are sentiant creatures just like humans Big respect to the people of this country and to any beliefs they have which instill such generousity and kindness in them

May blessings pour upon those who opened their doors and hearts

I really surprised while I came here 7 years ago, stray animals looks healthy and live peacefully. Feels like heaven. Alhamdulillah, Maa Shaa Allah. Jazaakumullaahu khairan katsiran thanks to people who love them.

May ALLAH Protect and Bless ISTANBUL - everyone should visit Istanbul ; once in their lifetime ; you will be amazed by the beauty and it friendly people. i am from Singapore and i always promote turkey as a tourist destination

Good bless you and will help you always, like how you helped this good innocent souls. Continue this great deal !

i wish philippines is like istanbul too..

Compassion, love ... understanding... the world can learn from this small act of kindness!

I wish there is more people like this !Street animals have special place in my heart !Thanks to all great people for all care and kindness for those unwonted beautiful souls !

Masyaallah...so happy to know there are still many good, kind hearted people in the world.

Lmao that one dog's sleeping position

Alright, who disliked this video!? Be prepared to square up! Now in all seriousness this is the kindest and sweetest thing ever.👍👍😍🐶

No wonder Turkey is progressive because of the kind heart of the people to God's creatures great and small.

The folks in Turkey are saints and angels in disguise.

May God bless them all. The people of Istanbul.

While the Turks look warriors from the outside, they are actually full of love from their insides.

The Turkish are generally very kind to stray animals.

When i leave library at midnight, i sometimes get scared and dogs walk me to dorm 😍

Thank you Turkey .. God bless 🥰🤗🙏🏻

Turkey people's great you ❤️ stray animals feed thankyou all

Love Turkes for the their passion for animals ❤❤❤❤

Cats,Dogs,Birds,Refugees.. Does not matter for us, it isnt difficult for us. Because Yunus Emre has shown us the right way; we love the all creatures, because we love Allah the creator.