GREAT NEWS! Sweet and beautiful Bonji went to her fur-ever home last night. Lisa Hunter and her 2 children Noah and Tess of Crystal Lake, Ill have greatly anticipated their new fur-baby for weeks. Thank you Lisa – (who is also related to the Hunter family who recently adopted the adorable Kaplan)…thank you Hunter family.
My name is Bonji, an Anatolian Shepherd mix, short for Bonjuk, which means “BEAD” because my eyes look like little beads specially when I look at you.
Istanbul is a big city. We dogs are the minority and live on the streets as a symbol of that concreted giant blob of an enormous country. I was a street dog since birth. I can still remember my mom as she lay beside me when someone picked me up, I whimpered by her side. I never realized why that was necessary. I was happy enough to be next to her. Later, I realized she never responded to the man who picked me up, as she was just lying there. The man’s arm was huge and his hand was big enough to carry me, as I was tiny. The buildings were moving around me, standing people passing by, I was startled and scared, shivering from the unknown, the cold, or both. He walked for some time carrying me, and then suddenly he dropped me in a very crowded neighborhood where people were walking, cats scattered everywhere, and kids playing soccer. I felt some heat and warmth, probably from the heavy mists of heat generated from local shops and restaurants. I crawled around the corner hungry and thirsty, and, scared very scared.
The night had fallen as the cold went through my thin and delicate skin. I fell asleep, but suddenly I heard a growling sound noise and unexpectedly, I found myself flying out of fear to escape the terror from another street dog that felt I took away his territory. This is a city of very crowded of unpredictable humans, cars, mean dogs and cats. The next morning when the sun rose, I had to walk alone on many roads and streets looking for food and water while also looking for a safe place and peace. But the last place was one that would be an absolute miraculous dream for a street dog like me.
I crawled around an area, hid behind a garbage container, and fell asleep again. Soon after, I felt a very hard hit on my head. Startled, I ran away within an inch of my life while many little humans were chasing me and throwing rocks. It wasn’t until I sprinted between human legs standing right in my way, where I knocked my head against his legs and laid there frozen and in fear. He chased the kids away yelling at them to leave me alone. He began to talk to me in a very nice voice that I never heard before. He was kind and gentle, picked me up and took me to his place where he has a butcher shop giving me some food and water while he comforted me. I stayed in front of his shop for some time, in dog time it was many hours; in human time, it was many days. He was very nice to me, chased the mean dogs and cats away and did not let humans hurt me anymore. I was very pleased with him as my new master. I even began to wag my tail until one day, a very nice woman came by and asked him what he was doing with me and he told her about my story. It was at that moment when he told her I was roaming around the neighborhood for days and kids were chasing and abusing me. This was the time when I first met my hero mom, Yildiz.
She was very vocal and loud, not liking the situation that I was in, so she grabbed and hugged me and she said, “hey little one! You are coming home with me.” I had a wound on my head and a distinct case of mange, which was making me scratch in pain and misery.
“Yildiz Anne”, Yildiz is her name, which means, Star. Anne in Turkish is the word for mother that is what the whole gang called her, “Star Mom.” Indeed, she is a star for taking me in to her little dog town and raising me.
Yildiz Anne lives in a large house with 30 or more dogs whom she rescued and who became my brothers and sisters.
My body was very weak, and I was so tired that I spent many days just sleeping. Yildiz Anne took good care of my wounds and cured me from mange. I grew up in that house to be a kind, loving and appreciative dog, loving her even more for rescuing me from a life of being just another lost street dog.
Yildiz Anne, is a magnificent woman who lives alone with 30 + dogs on the outskirts of Istanbul. She does not believe in putting animals to sleep. She ensures no dog is suffering and provides them with all the care they need. Some of the dogs that reside in her rescue home are legless, crippled, and even completely disabled. One dog is so incapacitated, that you only see its head moving. The dog was shot several times and was found half dead on the street. Yildiz Anne saved her life. She takes very good care of her and she seems a happy dog just being there, safe and loved. Some dogs come and visit with the crippled dog and lay down by her side to seek comfort; she seems to love having the dog visitors pay her a visit. The energy in that house is beyond fabulous.
There are very few like Yildiz Anne in Istanbul. She, like other dog rescuers, has devoted her life to theirs to care for the animals. The animal situation in Turkey, in general, is pitiful. People in Turkey believe that only pet shop dogs can live indoors. While some buy dogs while they are cute little pups, they often dump them on the streets or forests after they grow to be rambunctious indoor dogs.
Bonji is an Anatolian Shepherd mix with long white socks, which adds to her K9 elegance. She is a wonderful, energetic and loving dog. Bonji is especially great with both people and other dogs. How she reacts to cats is unclear. Lounging on chairs and couches is one of her favorite hangouts, where she can watch other dogs in action. She loves toys and she sleeps with them. She enjoys outdoors and likes to run around, this special dog is ready to go to her forever home. She will be arriving into Chicago from Turkey on January 25, 2017.
She is a 2-year-old, 45 lb healthy young dog. She is great on a leash and is house broken. All her shots are up to date, she is spayed, and microchipped. She is also crate trained and potty trained. If you are looking for a loyal, loving, beautiful, and low maintenance dog and you have a lot of love to give….than Bonji may be perfect for you!
If you are interested in adopting this sweet girl please contact Dawn Trimmel at info@istreetdog.com You can find our adoption application here.