Joy
Sedef was living in Istanbul at the time, preparing for a big life change: a move to Lisbon. Her life did not feel perfectly stable enough to adopt a dog, even though the wish had always been somewhere in her heart. She had thought about it many times, but never quite found the courage.
Then one day, a friend sent her Joy’s photo.
The moment Sedef saw her eyes, something clicked. It was one of those quiet but certain moments: “This is the one.” She immediately contacted Sarp, the wonderful rescuer who, like so many dogs before her, had also saved Joy.
Joy had been found in a village near Ayvalık, in very difficult condition. From what could be understood, she had likely been used as a hunting dog and had never really known a home before. Thanks to Sarp’s care, she slowly recovered and became ready for adoption.
Without overthinking it, Sedef got in the car with her sister and drove nearly five hours from Istanbul to Ayvalık to adopt her.
When Joy first arrived, everything was new to her. She had probably never lived in a city, never been inside an apartment, never experienced the rhythm of a real home. During the first days, she was confused and overwhelmed, as if she could not quite understand where she was or what was happening.
Joy’s first day in her forever home.
Sedef and Joy
Portuguese Joy.
But in a couple of days, she began to trust.
Not long after, Joy and Sedef moved to Lisbon together. And there, Joy adapted to her new life with surprising ease. Today, she lives a beautiful Lisbon life: happy and active outside, wonderfully lazy and comfort-loving at home. She has fully embraced the rhythm of the city: slow mornings, long walks, cozy afternoons, and a deep commitment to never leaving the sofa unless absolutely necessary.
Her name could not be more fitting. Sedef named her Joy because she truly is joy. Everyone who meets her says the same thing: she is one of the sweetest, most loving, most joyful dogs they have ever known.
Today, Joy is not only Sedef’s dog. She is family. She has her own relationships with Sedef’s friends, her own little routines, her favorite corners of the house, and a whole world around her in Lisbon. Their home has become, in every sense, a House of Joy.
From a frightened dog with an unknown past to a deeply loved companion with a whole family around her, Joy’s life has completely transformed. And in the process, she transformed Sedef’s life too.
For Sedef, adopting Joy was not only about giving a dog a home. It was about finding a companion, a family member, and one of the most important loves of her life.
Happy happy Joy!
Sedef and Joy
Joy is Sedef’s companion, her family, one of the most important loves in her life.