Oglum

Kangal, Resilient Survivor

Oğlum came to us just two weeks after the 2023 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. We went to Antakya’s Defne shelter to drop off transport cages, but the conditions were dire. Like most government shelters, it was a place of neglect and desperation. We agreed to take a couple of dogs out, and Oğlum was one of them.

The other dog didn’t make it past the second day — killed by untreated ehrlichiosis, something a simple tablet could have prevented. Oğlum carried his own scars. He had once belonged to someone — his cropped ears, cut crudely with scissors, showed the brutal rural practice meant to “protect” guard dogs. On top of that, he’d been hit by a car and left untreated, both hind legs broken. Somehow, he survived.

When he first came, he couldn’t walk properly. No vet wanted to operate given his condition and history, so we focused on care: vitamin B, glucosamine, bone marrow, bone broth. Slowly, unbelievably, he recovered. Today, Oğlum not only runs — he swims, plays, and even chases wild boars around the farm. For me, he’s nothing short of a miracle.

At first, we thought he’d never integrate. He howled at the mosque calls, so he was kept in a separate area. We assumed he’d never get along with the others. We were wrong. Oğlum is one of the most loving, gentle dogs here. Despite his size and past, he’s caring with every dog and cat — even though he’s unneutered, he gets along with our other intact male, Tombik. Don’t let his size fool you: baby talk and a little love are enough to win him over completely.

He’s protective of the farm, the first place where he’s truly felt safe. He enjoys long walks, sometimes disappearing for hours before coming back, and he loves water. He’s older now — we think at least 7 — and Mersin’s heat is hard on him. He’d be happiest in a cooler climate, in the mountains, where he can relax without the strain of summer heat.

Oğlum has endured pain most dogs wouldn’t survive, and yet he never gave up on people. He has a special place in my heart — a gentle old soul, resilient beyond belief, who still believes in love after everything.

(Oh, in case you are wondering, his name means ‘my son’ in Turkish.)