A young child with curly hair sitting on a concrete surface, playing with a black and white puppy. The child is smiling and reaching out to pet the puppy, who is lying on its back.
A happy, curly-haired black and white dog with open mouth standing on a paved surface outside near a black metal fence, being petted by a person.

Zeytin, found in Bodrum, 2020

Zeytin

He was just a 5-month-old puppy when our friend Ceren found him wandering aimlessly near a busy highway in Bodrum, his hip broken. It didn’t take long to uncover his backstory: he had been bought from a pet store as a gift for a family’s young children. But he wasn’t a toy—he was a fragile little infant who needed dedicated care. Unable to meet his needs, the family chose to abandon him to the streets.

When our Amsterdam-based friends Ali and Ezgi saw Zeytin’s adoption post, they didn’t hesitate to step up and apply. From that moment on—until they could finally come pick him up during the strange, uncertain times of the pandemic—every step of the journey was made possible through the kind efforts and collaboration of many wonderful people.

Ali’s mother traveled to Bodrum to kickstart Zeytin’s vaccination and paperwork process. Then, a close friend of the couple, Güray, drove eight hours to bring the little guy to his amazing foster family—Zeynep, Kaan, their wonderful dogs Çamur and Tip, and the queen of the house, Thelma the cat. Zeytin stayed with them for four months, until all his transfer documents were ready and he was set for his new life.

During his time there, he picked up a few charming obsessions—chocolate Labrador friends, swimming in every body of water he could find, and a deep love for tırnak pide—all thanks to the influence of Çamur and Tip.

Four dogs and one cat in a home entryway. The dogs are sitting on a dark rug, and the cat is sitting on a white ottoman near the door. The background includes a tiled floor, a patterned rug, and pet bowls.
Three dogs lying on a green couch with pillows.

Whole gang together, Zeytin with Tip, Thelma and Çamur, İstanbul 2020

Never a fan of personal space

A man with glasses and a beard holding a black and white fluffy dog outside with trees and sky in the background.
A woman walking a small black and white dog on a leash in a city street lined with parked cars and apartment buildings.
A small black and white dog wearing protective goggles is in a veterinary examination room, with a veterinarian in a white coat and face mask kneeling behind it, on a blue examination table.

Zeytin, on the way to Istanbul with Güray, 2020

Zeytin and Ezgi, first day together Istanbul, 2020

Zeytin, looking cool in a vet visit, Amsterdam

In May 2020—almost five months after Zeytin was rescued—Ali and Ezgi were finally able to travel to Istanbul, despite the pandemic restrictions, to bring him home to Amsterdam. Since then, Zeytin has been living his best life—a truly happy pup who adores everyone: humans, dogs, cats, you name it. He loves long walks in the park and beach visits where he can swim, dig, and be his wonderfully silly self. He and his older brother İki, the reigning cat king of the household, now bask in endless love from their humans. Both Ezgi and Ali say that adopting Zeytin is the best decision ever!

A man with tattoos and a black t-shirt lying on a pink bed, cuddling with a black puppy.

Zeytin and Ali

A black dog and an orange tabby cat lying on a bed with white sheets.

Zeytin and İki

A black and white dog with wet, curly fur and sandy nose sitting on a sandy beach.

Happy beach buddy