Lucky Yamuk’s Story…

In life, some times what makes us happy is not the result itself but rather the journey of getting there. As the following pictures present, some sort of a Crooked (or with her full name Lucky Yamuk) comes into our lives that make every thing else seem unimportant.

During the summer of 2004 around the Kastamonu State Hospital I came across with a ghastly sight of a creature which at the time I was hesitant to identify as a dog. This thing was staggering to stay up on its front legs and the remaining portion of its body was dragging on the ground to catch up with the front half. As I could gather at the time that she had some thing wrong with her back. With the amazement of on lookers around the hospital grounds, I took this thing into my car and brought to safety. I tried to feed her with cookies and milk. However, she was so much out of pep that she could not even get up or be able to clean herself up. I called in a Veterinarian to tend her needs and found out that, as a result of an accident, she had a damaged back. As the blow from the car struck the poor thing from its back her spine was sifted forward and up; therefore pinching a great deal of the spinal cord. According to the Vet, B6 and B12 shots were in order for the dog. Upon getting the first shot, she rose up however after two hours she was back to be the same. I called it Yamuk, means ‘crooked’ in Turkish, because of its crooked back; and friends later added the name Lucky. So she became Crooked Lucky and I continue to call it Yamuk in Turkish or Crooked in English.

What amazed me the most was, Crooked’s will to survive. She had been dragging herself to find food and not being successful enough had lost what little weight she had. She was going back and forth between life and death. But she had the will to survive and wanting to continue. As long as this little thing was willing to live, I was willing to take care of her. Then another Vet, who happened to be my neighbor, willingly took Crooked under her care. She told me that if I were to bring Crooked to her 15 days in a row then she would do her shots free of charge. And so I took Crooked in my arms to the vet’s office for two weeks. Poor thing, as the time went on, got around and became a pretty thing. Crooked’s other ailments like the skin disease, worms in her stomach, and infections in her ears and urinary tracks too passed away by time. She became a beautiful dog with spunk in her attitude.

Later, an architect friend of mine built a home for her from telephone poles. The place where I work is a traditional two story, eight room wooden house which reflects the historical taste of the town. In addition it has a sizable garden with a pool and a flower garden. It also has high walls around it. So, Crooked now lives in that garden and from my office window I can see her all the time. She is very happy being the watch dog there and plus she is with me about all the time and that makes me happy too. Again, I have never seen a creature in such a bad shape that was still wanting to live and wanting to love. She turned out to be a very sweet joy in my life and a very loving Crooked.

Such as life as it is, I wish you all to come across with a Crooked as mine.

Osman