Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located?

The dogs that we rescue are located in Turkey and do not fly over to the US until they have been adopted. Therefore we are unable to facilitate meet and greets with the dogs prior to adoption.

We are a team of volunteers spread out across the US and Canada and we work with our rescue partners in Turkey to save dogs, prepare them for adoption and find them loving homes in the US and Canada. We do not have a “brick and mortar” location in the US. 

Where are the dogs rescued from?

Dogs are commonly rescued from municipal shelters, as well as the streets, forests and landfills. They are then taken to the Garden where they are safe from harm. 

What is the Garden?

The safe place where all of the rescued dogs are taken to in Turkey after rescue. Here they are provided with shelter, food and medical care. 

Where is the Garden?

The Garden is located in Bursa, Turkey and it is maintained by Emre Demir and a handful of helpers.

What states and countries do we adopt to? 

We allow adoptions in the continental US and select parts of Canada when the border allows unrestricted travel.  We cannot currently approve adoptions in Hawaii, Alaska or other countries. Emre also works with rescues in Germany and England and we encourage you to connect with them to pursue adopting a Garden dog if you reside in Germany or England.

Can I adopt if I do not have a yard or live in an apartment?

Yes. We consider all aspects of each applicant's situation when approving to adopt and then as well when matching you with a dog. We must consider the type of environment that will be best suited for each dog specifically while keeping safety a priority.

What is the adoption process?

If you are interested in adopting, please submit an application on our website. One of our volunteers will then contact you to set up a phone call where they will go over many important details to consider when adopting through us, as well as answer any questions you might have. 

If you decide to proceed after this initial phone conversation, you will then be assigned to an adoptions coordinator who will schedule an interview call and virtual home visit. Once approved, we will work with you to match you with a dog. Once matched, you will sign an adoption contract and the team will start working on finding a flight from Turkey to the US for the dog. 

How much does it cost?

We work with a suggested rescue contribution (SRC) donation. This donation helps to offset a small portion of the costs that the rescue has already incurred to save the dog's life. These costs can sometimes fluctuate and may impact the SRC that we are currently suggesting. Therefore, we do not post these amounts publicly, but will confirm the current SRC during the Q&A call after you submit an application. 

In determining the SRC, we take into consideration the age and health of our dogs.

How long does it take to receive an adopted dog?

This varies greatly due to COVID restrictions and constant changes within the airlines that we utilize. We rely on flight volunteers and flights are primarily Turkish Airlines direct flights to their ports of entry which are as follows:

Boston	New York	DC	Miami
Atlanta	Chicago	Houston	San Francisco
LA

Within the US we utilize Alaska Airlines cargo and a variety of transport groups however it is important for the adopter to participate in the arrival when possible.  There are far too many variables to pinpoint an exact timeframe and the wait can be weeks or months.  We also process USDA applications and use a custom broker for each flight.

Do the dogs do well with cats and children?

Although we do allow adoptions to families with cats and children, we cannot guarantee a dog’s behavior around them or with other dogs or animals. We provide resources and advice to help you prepare for proper introductions that consider everyone’s safety. 

Do you have puppies available?

We rarely take in dogs younger than one or two years old. Dogs are not able to fly until at least 6 months of age.

Can I foster?

We are not typically able to utilize foster homes in the same way some rescues do, as we cannot afford to fly dogs to the US until they have been adopted. However, we do often need help with airport pick up and overnighting dogs. This includes picking up a dog from the airport when they first arrive in the US, providing them with a place to stay for the night and checking them in for their domestic flight to their forever family the next day. If you are interested in helping out in this way, please submit a foster application. 

In some cases, we require longer term medical fosters when a dog needs specialized care in the US that they are unable to receive in Turkey. 

How many dogs are in the Garden and are they all adoptable?

The number fluctuates between 500 to 700 dogs. We catalog small groups of dogs and post them on our website as adoptable once they are ready for a home. Emre also looks for homes in Turkey for some of these dogs. There are also a handful of other rescues involved in trying to find homes for his dogs.

What is cataloging?

This is the process of preparing a dog for adoption. The dog is photographed from various angles, including its teeth. We measure, weigh and groom each dog, determine their breed (estimation) and document the dog’s personality, gender and whether they have been spayed or neutered. We also do a visual and physical screening for TVT (Transmissible venereal tumors) and skin issues. The dog is tested for Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Leishmaniasis and a hemogram/CBC is run to determine if the dog is struggling with any other health issues and infections.  If the dog is healthy enough, it begins the immunization process. 

Once all of this has been completed, the dog is then made available for adoption. 

What are the dogs immunized for?

We administer a rabies vaccine and two DHLPP.  We also provide internal and external parasite treatments when possible.

Can we guarantee the ages and breeds of the dogs?

We are unable to guarantee their breeds or ages because these are abandoned dogs left to the streets, shelters, forests and landfills.  

Why are there so many dogs abandoned in Turkey?

Turkey does not yet have the animal rights laws as we do and they refrain from euthanasia. There is less tolerance in regards to dogs living in homes. They can quickly turn into unwanted dogs turned out to the streets, countryside or shelters. Many of these shelters are in deplorable conditions and often they are filled with ill and dying dogs. The cities do practice catch/spay/neuter/ release occasionally as an attempt to help control the population however there are just too many. 

Unfortunately, Turkey has substantially less rescue groups in comparison to the US. There are many Turkish people that are trying desperately to save the ones they can. With very limited resources they will ask for help finding a home in the US for a dog that does not stand a chance in Turkey. This allows them to continue saving others from very deplorable conditions. If you decide to follow our rescue you will soon see for yourself why we rescue outside of our own borders. Know that the rescuers in Turkey are just as passionate as rescuers here at home. The extremes measure that they go to just to save one life are very commendable. We consider it a great honor to have earned their friendship and trust.

How can I support your rescue efforts?

Monetary donations are immensely valuable and allow us to continue to rescue dogs. You can donate through Venmo (tattered-paws), Paypal (tpghrescue@gmail.com), Zelle (tpghrescue@gmail.com), Facebook (Donate Button) ,or by check (can be found under contacts.

For more ideas on how to help: https://tatteredpaws.com/involved.php?p=ways

How do I set up Amazon Smile?

(We are a designated Amazon Smile charity. Amazon will donate to the rescue for each purchase you make using Amazon Smile)

Through the website:

• Start at www.smile.amazon.com
• Sign in with your amazon account credentials
• Search for Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue and designate as your Amazon Smile charity. 
• Shop Amazon as normal (you must be shopping through the link www.smile.amazon.com each time) 

Through the app: 

• Make sure you're signed up for AmazonSmile (use your web browser to visit www.smile.amazon.com)
• Download or update to the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app for iOS or Android
• Open the app and find “Settings” in the main menu (☰)
• Tap on “AmazonSmile” and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile in the app.

Do you have an Amazon wish list?

Yes, you can find that here: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/39GK6F9LJ773S

Are you a registered charity?

Yes, Tattered Paws and Golden Hearts Rescue is a registered Non Profit 501(c)(3) based out of Washington state. 

Can I receive a receipt for my donation?

Yes, please contact us to request this as we do not have the ability to issue receipts automatically.