15/04/2023
In conversation with HANDS’ Jenny Connor (by beliz miller)
When you wish to be involved in animal welfare in Turkiye you will come across a good number of people at organizations being passionate about helping animals. Turkiye’s 2022 official figures indicate that there are about 10 million street animals and according to veterinary authorities the real number is a lot higher. Animal aid organizations and charities in Turkiye have been providing food, shelter, foster homes, permanent homes and medical care to street animals for decades.
A little bit over a year a small charity in Mugla’s Fethiye town also made a significant difference in reducing the local stray population by focusing strictly on ‘spay and neuter’.
The charity is run by Jenny Connor, who was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about her charity and what it takes to keep a population of two and four legged ones cooperating in peace and harmony.
Beliz: Where are you from and what are you doing in the lovely town of Fethiye?
Jenny: I am from Leicestershire, Britain and came to Fethiye area to retire.
Beliz: What is your favorite animal? Do you get along better with humans or animals?
Jenny: I don't have a favourite animal, but I am alergic to Horse hair and cat hair so tend to avaoid too much contact with them. I understand dogs more than any other animal.
I get on with most people but I DO love the company of dogs.
Beliz: I have been a supporter of HANDS since the beginning and have watched you grow from a few friends to almost 2.000 members in your Facebook group within a year. Can you give us a bit of history on the charity’s procedure?
Jenny: If you feed any street animals and you wish to have them neutered, we ask that you join our group and post a photo of the animal and state that it is a street animal. You will then be given a phone number to ring, this is also confirmation that you have been given permission to have the animal neutered by HANDS. The number is Evrim's, the vet doctor of our local veterinary clinic, she will ask a few health questions and if all OK she will organise collection of the animal.
The animals will be picked up and taken to the veterinary doctor who will give a health check before neuter. The animals then spend 2 nights at the vets and if all OK they will be delivered back where we ask that you will give post opererative care for a few more nights.
Beliz: What sort of activities do you wish to include within the scope of HANDS?
Jenny: The activities we hold at the moment are Coffee Mornings and music and dance events.
Beliz: As everything on your page is in English, who would you say your main supporters are? Do you think a fair number of locals also keep up with your charity activities?
Jenny: Important information is translated into Turkish so every member can understand. I have found that during the first year of becoming a charity more and more Turkish people are using HANDS and also donate to us too.
As our events are mainly music and dance related not many Turkish people attend these events so I would have to say mostly Ex- Patriates come to our events.
I am open to any suggestions that would help us cater for the Turkish locals so they can be included in our fund raisers.
Beliz: As you are managing the daily activities and events with a small group of friends what would you say the biggest challenge is?
Jenny: The biggest challenge for me is trying to raise funds while getting the name HANDS recognised, so many people here have never heard of us.
Beliz: Do you have any interaction with your fellow members? Any interesting stories or experiences?
Jenny: I have made quite a few friends that support HANDS and trust that I will do the right thing for all the animals we neuter. Every event we have is interesting and fun, even when not very well attended.
Beliz: I think it’s safe to say that running such a charity makes you a bit of an expert on Fethiye town. Do you have any recommendations for places that are kind to animals?
Jenny: Running the charity with the rest of my committee is very time consuming and I really do not get much time to go into Fethiye town, I am normally in and around Calis area of Fethiye town.
Lots of places are kind to the street animals but I would never recommend any one place, I would say when you are at any venue, look arround and see if you can spot food and water bowls, with fresh water in them. Take notice how any animals approach the venue.
You can see for yourself who is animal friendly for real.
Beliz: What else can or should be done for Fethiye’s street animals besides spay and neuter?
Jenny: Veterinary care could be improved. A mobile vet care bus is needed to go out every day and call at different locations for the feeders to take the animals for vaccinations and proper vet check ups also to treat minor ailments that if left neglected can become a problem for the animals
Beliz: What’s next? Do you plan on expanding?
Jenny: We registered as a national charity rather than a local charity, looking to the future it would be great if we could have a branch in every district. But for now I would love to make enough funds to be able to include neutering owned animals and vacinating them too.
Beliz: Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Any final thoughts or words of wisdom?
Jenny: Be kind to the street animals and help where ever you can, they did not ask to be left to the streets and as humans we should care more.
Full charity details for donation - please provide info UK and TR
TR
Fethiye Sokak Hayvanlarini Kisirlastirma Dernegi
UK
QNB Finansbank iban TR49 0011 1000 0000 0103 6689 58
Paypal [email protected]
