... To Keep the Kangal Dog the Way it Has Been For Centuries ...

Rescue efforts helped rehome over 600 dogs up to date! Successful adoptions come with a lot of expenses including: vet bills, housing, food, transportation, and more.

The European market seems to be saturated with Kangal Puppies. Some are born in poor conditions. Some are bread simply for the owner's financial gain. If lucky, the puppies get sold to good homes, but too often this is not the case. There is times when those adopting a cute-Kangal-puppy soon learn that the dog grows up way too quickly, becoming  strong-willed,  independent, and causing challenges for inexperienced owners, who then end up giving the dog away. There is also the type of owners, who simply neglect the dogs, keep them chained, or locked in basements, in horrific conditions. There were  times when the dogs were found abandoned in forests, or by a road side. To say the least, the situations the dogs were rescued from were often disturbing.

But maybe the most disturbing abuse of the Kangal Dog Breed is the organized dog fighting. Due to the dogs' obvious strength and extra-large size, they are an easy target to those who see dog fighting as a "sport" and lucrative business. Cross breeding for size  became a real threat to the Kangal Dog breed,  an occurrence strictly tied to the dog fighting phenomenon in hopes to produce a bigger, heavier and more aggressive animal.  In their book: "The Kangal Dog of Turkey" Margaret Mellor and Lesley Tahtakilic write: 'Kangal Dogs are by nature defensive rather than aggressive and it takes human intervention to turn them into the kind of animal that will perform on the fight circuit. Besides cross-breeding for size and temperament, body-building steroids and other drugs are used; dogs are confined, goaded and teased to make them react more fiercely when threatened. One ploy used to produce a fierce response in a Kangal forced to take part in an organized fight was to place a child from its family in the ring near the dogs as they squared up to each other; this of course brought out the Kangal's strongest instinct, that of defending its own".

These are just some of the reasons why we felt that our involvement was needed. Having said that, we realize that to  be able to intervene in a meaningful way, and succeed in our efforts, we need the support of others. This is why we count on YOUR support. You can help rescue, rehome and ultimately preserve the Kangal Dog breed, so that these magnificent creatures may experience the life they so deserve. A life as exceptional livestock guardians to their flock and families, alert and protective, but also: gentle giants, sensitive, loyal, loving,  affectionate,  characterized by a steady temperament, predictable behavior, calm and controlled nature.

Whether it is by purchasing an item from our store, a small donation to KDI (Kangal Dog International),  making room for a Kangal Dog in your home , or just helping us spread the word.... your help will be greatly appreciated, and it will mean the world to all the people whose lives evolve around helping these extraordinary dogs, and protecting their well-being and safety.

What we most wish for, is that these magnificent creatures, will continue to thrive in Turkey and around the world as:  "Turkey's beloved national breed (...)  native to the region in east-central Turkey known as Sivas-Kangal, where they have been in use for centuries as guardians of sheep and goats, and of the families who care for them. There is probably no place else in the world where a native breed exists in such numbers, with such remarkable uniformity, and truly a historical and cultural treasure." (Quoted from Sue Kocher's website).

If you are able to adopt a Kangal Dog feel free to contact us, or you may enquire at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .