Snout & Soul in Turkey: An Eye Opener for Animal Cruelty

In February 2025, we travelled with our Snout & Soul team to eastern Turkey, a place where the animal suffering deeply affected us. The conditions there are heartbreaking and harrowing, and it was a journey that would shape us not only physically, but especially emotionally. We went to Turkey not only to hear the stories, but to see for ourselves how dogs and cats there have to survive in the extreme cold, without the protection they so desperately need. What we saw was so harrowing that we could not ignore it. We had to do something, and we had to do it now.

The situation

The situation in Turkey is dire. Dogs and cats live on the streets, often in extreme weather conditions such as snow and ice, with temperatures ranging from -15 to even -30 degrees. Where we are used to seeing our dogs in a warm house, where they are safe and protected, for many animals in Turkey this becomes a daily task of survival. These dogs, around 400 in total, live on a garbage dump in the cold, where they try to find a little food every day and survive from the diseases and the cold. But even then their lives are far from safe. They are dumped by people who no longer want them, and are often rejected by the packs they try to integrate into.

The cold is a blessing in some ways, as it slows the spread of disease, but in the summer the conditions become dramatic. The mild weather allows disease to spread rapidly. As a result, many dogs and cats die in the summer months from diseases they cannot survive.

Our journey

When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the reality of what we saw. The dogs in the dump, struggling to survive, their eyes filled with fear and despair. Some of them were so weak that they would not survive the night. We saw dogs that were afraid of us, not because they were naturally aggressive, but because they had been hurt and abused so many times, both physically and emotionally. It was heartbreaking to see how their trust in humans had completely disappeared. Yet, some of the dogs were still full of hope. They ran after us, not giving up. It was a raw, emotional experience that will stay with us forever.

The cats were also in broken conditions. Broken spines, broken legs, facial diseases, and so much more. It was unbelievable to see the pain and suffering these animals have to endure on a daily basis. Despite all of this, there were a number of volunteers who put their heart and soul into caring for these animals. Every week they went to the dump to bring food and give the dogs attention and love. It was their way of fighting against the inhumane situation these animals were in. And despite everything, they did this without any expectation of anything in return.

The volunteers we met gave their all for these animals, often with their own money, time and energy. They took cats to the vet, gave them the medicine they needed, and cared for their recovery. It was heartwarming to see the love and care that was given, but at the same time it felt like a drop in the ocean. The problem was so big, and the resources so small. But these volunteers did not give up, and that inspired us to do our part.

The animals in shelters in Turkey are often not much better off. Although you would think that an animal shelter is a safe haven for these animals, that is often not the case. Animals in Turkish shelters are often abused and ignored. Animal rights do not exist, and the shelters offer no protection. This does not make the situation for animals that end up in shelters any less bad, but often even more cruel.

What we saw in Turkey not only affected us emotionally, but also motivated us to help. We were able to rescue two dogs during our trip. One older dog, who had been dumped on the side of the road because he was sick and weak, and a puppy who would eventually be adopted by a loving family. It was a small victory in an otherwise hopeless situation, but it showed us that change is possible, no matter how small the steps.

What we do now is simple: we help.

Every dog ​​we save, every cat we can give a better life, is a victory. At Snout & Soul we believe that we should not only spoil the dogs and cats in our own lives, but that we also have a responsibility to the animals who are less fortunate. That is why we donate 30% of the profit of every product you buy to animal aid in Turkey. This money goes directly to the volunteers who work every day to save animals, care for them and give them a new life. You can help us by buying a product, but also by donating directly via our website. 100% of these donations go to the organizations and volunteers who work on the ground.

The trip to Turkey has touched us deeply and encouraged us to continue our mission. We do not want this situation to be forgotten. Our mission is to raise awareness about the animal suffering in Turkey, but also to bring positive change through adoption, donations and support for local volunteers.

You can make a difference.

With your support, we can offer these animals a future they would never have otherwise. Step by step, together we can create a better world for the dogs and cats in Turkey. Let's not look away, let's act. Because every step, no matter how small, counts.

Let's make the world a better place for these animals together, one step at a time.