by locals and sometimes I would go for a walk there to witness the wonderful sunsets . At the other end of the beach , beside the harbour , there is a restaurant where we could eat delicious fresh fish dishes in front of huge windows from where we could see the wonderful Aegean Sea .
“ Come Mac , let ' s go ,” said Mustafa . “ Come with me .”
Without having any idea where we were going , I got into the SUV . He took the inland road towards Izmir , passing through the beautiful village of Kozbeyli , which is forty-five minutes away from Çakmakli , and as we were driving , I started to smell a strange aroma inside the truck . I tried to identify it but couldn ' t . It smelt like food but not of a kind that you would imagine , not something delicious , no , nothing like that . Rather unpleasant .
I said nothing until we turned down a road between the sunflower fields . We came across Kadir , from the village of Tuzçullu who was driving his tractor . We paused momentarily to say hello and chat .
Mustafa turned off the truck and got out . He went to the back door , opened it and at that very moment I saw five dogs appear from within the fields and saw Mustafa serving them food in flat containers .
As the dogs arrived , he greeted each one by name and they gave him that " welcome " that only dogs do , wagging their tails , heads , and mouths as if they were talking . I was amazed .
As Mustafa got back into the SUV , I looked at him .
“ It ' s fifteen stops , Mac ,” he smiled as he looked back at me . “ It ' s going to take two hours to get to my house . I feed fifty-seven stray dogs every day on my way home from the factory .” I was speechless , I sat mouth agape . “ Every day Mustafa ?”, I asked incredulously . “ Yes , every day , Mac .” I kept quiet , thinking about this wonderful man who gives two hours of his life , every day , to feed the stray dogs that he knows each by name . Not only for that , but because he has created a dog shelter with veterinarians who cure them of diseases and includes an adoption program .
In the shelter there are more than one hundred and seventy dogs that receive the care that all dogs in the world deserve , and all thanks to the " The Dogs Angel ", my friend Mustafa .
GM
Mac is a travelling artist who uses his motorcycle and talents to pursue good . His works can be found on Instagram at @ mactraveler55
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