THE SOULS OF THE STREETS

I am cold in every season. I have no home, no roof beneath which I can take shelter when it rains. I cannot speak; I cannot ask for help. What is more, every second I spend on the streets, I witness such cruel acts that I cannot feel safe. Even while sleeping peacefully and harmlessly, I live with the possibility of being subjected to violence at any moment. I have no family, and I am truly afraid. On top of all this, I struggle simply to find enough food to fill my stomach. Being unable to speak, unable to explain what I need, makes me even more helpless.

Finding something to eat becomes even harder in winter. At times, I am left hungry and thirsty. I see how difficult life can be for me—almost as difficult as simply staying alive. And yet, all I ever wanted was shelter and food.

Could these be the feelings that stray animals are unable to put into words? What did you feel as you read them? Surely, the voice of such helplessness should have made the ears of compassion tremble. They are entrusted to you, to me, to all of us. They cannot speak; they cannot make themselves understood. But we can understand that they need our help. Animals are not merely an issue concerning a few individuals; they are a matter of society, a matter of humanity.

Above all, a collective awareness must be developed among local communities and the relevant authorities, reminding them of the responsibilities they must fulfil. This is not to say that nothing is being done for the animals living on the streets of Siirt. Volunteer groups are working to provide food and to help sick and injured animals recover. Yet it is worth asking: is this enough?

Even if our efforts are guided by the desire to create collective awareness, each individual must carry sensitivity toward stray animals within themselves. Clean food that animals can eat can be placed in containers outside our homes. Likewise, a bowl of water and a bowl of food can be left in parks and other places where animals are frequently found. We must understand that “they are more afraid of us than we are of them,” and approach them with compassion and kindness.

I believe that no moral philosophy or religious denomination could possibly hold a belief that condemns helping stray animals. It is an undeniable truth that the people of Siirt will come to understand this.

Everyone, without exception, should be able to help the living creatures in their streets. Beyond this, people must become aware of the need to contact the relevant authorities when injured stray animals are encountered along roadsides and motorways, so that they can receive the treatment they need. Of course, we cannot stop there.

We must also remember that visiting shelters is an opportunity not only to donate food, but also to welcome into our lives a companion in need of love. At the shelters, nearly thirty puppies are currently waiting for their forever homes after receiving their vaccinations and being spayed or neutered. They are waiting for someone to give them the love and care they so desperately need.

They are voiceless beings. Every act of kindness we offer them is not merely an act of volunteerism; it is a necessary responsibility.

Animals may remain silent. They may be unable to defend their rights. But let us never forget: they need us deeply.