This Rescue Shelter Is Helping to Bring Stray Golden Retrievers From Turkey to the United States

Thanks to the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies, many dogs from Turkey are finding forever homes here in the United State.

Golden retrievers might be the third most popular dog breed, yet in Turkey they can frequently be found roaming the cold streets. In the past, the dogs were seen as a symbol of wealth, however their status has decreased over the years.

“They end up throwing them away, or giving them to shelters,” Yasemin Baban, a rescue center volunteer, told CBS News.

Many of the owners buy the dogs when they are at a young age and get rid of them when they get bigger and more active. However, the lack of shelters in Istanbul leaves many of the dogs on the streets. As a result, they become very vulnerable.

“With few animal shelters in Turkey, many of the good-natured dogs starve,” Kevin Shipley, director of GRRR, said to KMGH-TV. “Or become prey to feral dog packs that roam the city and surrounding forest.”

Luckily, the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies is helping to find homes for these dogs in America. In 2016 alone, about 600 dogs were rescued off the streets of Turkey and brought to the United States.

“Usually, we try to bring a couple of special needs dogs, as well, for a variety of reasons,” Shipley said to KMGH-TV.

Consequently, Shipley has a special nickname for the dogs that come from Turkey.

“Operation Turkey Dog Colorado,” Shipley said to CBS News. “They say I’ve got a Turkey dog and other neighbors look at them sideways.”

While the initiative to bring dogs from Turkey to America has picked up, it is not a cheap trip to fund. Before leaving Turkey, “all of the dogs receive medical exams and health certificates,” shared Golden Rescue. Consequently, the airfare for the dogs can also cost up to $2,250.

The GRRR has set up a GoFundMe page hoping to help fund the trips for the dogs in need. As a result, the program has become pretty popular.

“There’s always a waiting list,” Shipley said to KMGH-TV. “The dogs are very popular.”

Check out more about the GRRR here and learn more on their GoFundMe page here.