Mert Akkok carries a straw bale for his blind horse and donkey at his farmhouse near Istanbul. Mr Akkok lives with 18 dogs, three cats, a blind horse, a donkey and 46 seagulls at his animal shelter. EPA
Mert Akkok carries a straw bale for his blind horse and donkey at his farmhouse near Istanbul. Mr Akkok lives with 18 dogs, three cats, a blind horse, a donkey and 46 seagulls at his animal shelter. EPA
Mr Akkok with his blind horse and a crippled seagull at his farmhouse. The 48-year-old entrepreneur takes in injured or sick animals in his garden. EPA
Mr Akkok with his blind horse and a crippled seagull at his farmhouse. The 48-year-old entrepreneur takes in injured or sick animals in his garden. EPA
Mr Akkok took in only dogs initially, but then the number of animals he helped began to increase steadily. EPA
Mr Akkok took in only dogs initially, but then the number of animals he helped began to increase steadily. EPA
Mr Akkok's growing venture meant he moved from his apartment in downtown Istanbul to a farmhouse in a village near the city. EPA
Mr Akkok's growing venture meant he moved from his apartment in downtown Istanbul to a farmhouse in a village near the city. EPA
Mr Akkok checks on crippled seagulls at his farmhouse. EPA
Mr Akkok checks on crippled seagulls at his farmhouse. EPA
Mert Akkok feeds abandoned dogs in the countryside of the city during the dog feeding event he organized with a call to his followers on his Instagram account in Istanbul, Turkey, 06 February 2022 (issued 17 May 2022). Mert Akkok lives with 18 dogs, three cats, a blind horse, a donkey and 46 seagulls. The 48-year-old entrepreneur takes in injured or sick animals in his garden in Istanbul. At first it was just the dogs, Mert said, "but now I don't know the actual numbers of them. " Sometimes he brought an injured or sick stray dog home when he lived in an apartment in downtown Istanbul. After a while, as the number of animals increased and he moved to a farm house in a village close to the city. EPA / ERDEM SAHIN
Mert Akkok feeds abandoned dogs in the countryside of the city during the dog feeding event he organized with a call to his followers on his Instagram account in Istanbul, Turkey, 06 February 2022 (issued 17 May 2022). Mert Akkok lives with 18 dogs, three cats, a blind horse, a donkey and 46 seagulls. The 48-year-old entrepreneur takes in injured or sick animals in his garden in Istanbul. At first it was just the dogs, Mert said, "but now I don't know the actual numbers of them. " Sometimes he brought an injured or sick stray dog home when he lived in an apartment in downtown Istanbul. After a while, as the number of animals increased and he moved to a farm house in a village close to the city. EPA / ERDEM SAHIN
Mr Akkok entertains his canine friends by playing the saxophone. EPA
Mr Akkok entertains his canine friends by playing the saxophone. EPA
The kind-hearted entrepreneur says the animals he takes in are like his children. EPA
The kind-hearted entrepreneur says the animals he takes in are like his children. EPA

MENA

Turkish entrepreneur turns home into shelter for animals

Mert Akkok takes in injured or sick animals in his Istanbul farmhouse

The National

May 22, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic
Updated: May 22, 2022, 3:07 PM`
PhotographyTurkeyAnimals