Inspired by her disabled father, Buket Özgünlü, a passionate animal lover and volunteer, has ingeniously crafted a makeshift train using plastic barrels to offer daily rides to dogs with disabilities at a shelter near Turkey's capital, Ankara. 
As the chairperson of the Association of Paws Holding onto Life (Yaşa Pati), Özgünlü has attached these improvised dog wagons to an all-terrain vehicle, ensuring that the dogs get to experience a change of scenery regularly. Drawing from her own experiences with her father, who is paralyzed, Özgünlü believes in the importance of providing mobility and enrichment to animals with disabilities.
This heartfelt initiative has gained widespread attention, with several Turkish media outlets sharing the heartwarming story of Özgünlü's makeshift train and its impact on the lives of these special dogs. The shelter, established in 2020 by Özgünlü's association, continues to provide a loving home for these animals in need, with initiatives like the train rides offering moments of joy and connection. On the occasion of World Stray Animal Day on April 4th, paralyzed dogs were treated to a special train ride near their shelter, further highlighting the compassion and dedication of Özgünlü and her team.
As the chairperson of the Association of Paws Holding onto Life (Yaşa Pati), Özgünlü has attached these improvised dog wagons to an all-terrain vehicle, ensuring that the dogs get to experience a change of scenery regularly. Drawing from her own experiences with her father, who is paralyzed, Özgünlü believes in the importance of providing mobility and enrichment to animals with disabilities.
This heartfelt initiative has gained widespread attention, with several Turkish media outlets sharing the heartwarming story of Özgünlü's makeshift train and its impact on the lives of these special dogs. The shelter, established in 2020 by Özgünlü's association, continues to provide a loving home for these animals in need, with initiatives like the train rides offering moments of joy and connection. On the occasion of World Stray Animal Day on April 4th, paralyzed dogs were treated to a special train ride near their shelter, further highlighting the compassion and dedication of Özgünlü and her team.