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February 15, 2015

Dr. Osman of Turkey - A Man of Compassion

By Suzana Megles

I am glad that I took the time today to view the segments Harmony Fund posted re their work for animals. I was deeply impressed by their account of veterinarian Dr. Osman of Turkey- truly a man of compassion.

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There was a time when I liked nothing better than enjoying a box of chocolates. Of course, that was before my pre-vegan days though. Since then I have moved on and there are things which bring me even more pleasure than a box of chocolates.

And today -- Valentine's Day as well as the feast of our Slavic patrons- Ss. Cyril and Methodius has started with the account of one very caring vet from Turkey. Reading about him was even better than getting a box of vegan chocolates- if there is such a treat.

Harmony Fund carries the accounts of the good work which is being doing overseas by various fledgling animal groups in Romania, Serbia and others. There I came across their post re a "Veterinarian With a Heart as Big as the Moon." Intrigued, I read on. I soon realized that the writer for Harmony Fund describes him so well in two sentences that I copied them:

"If we didn't know better, we'd swear that Dr. Osman has supernatural powers. He seems to float from one place to the next, instantly appearing by the side of animals who are very ill."

This Turkish vet can be found in his clinic checking the temperature of a street cat with a bacterial infection, and then an hour later he will be found on his knees by the side of the road trying to gently coax a homeless dog who has been hit by a car to come out from under the car where he has taken refuge.

Though he has some paying clients- most of his patients are homeless animals and, of course, he treats them for free.

Harmony Fund has been sponsoring the care of street animals in Avsallar, Turkey where Dr. Osman has his clinic. And then, it wasn't long before they began to notice his work for the animals. They learned that he uses a spare room as a foster care center for street cats awaiting international adoption. They found out that he uses his own car when he is told that there is an animal who needs help on the street.

Sadly this wonderful, caring doctor is not appreciated by all. Some of the nearby residents confront him angrily for his concern for animals. They not only do not care if they are killed on the streets --they even care less if they are suffering. How sad that these cruel people don't even begin to know the meaning of the word compassion.

Finally though- through Harmony Fund -Dr. Osman will get some compensation for work that he has largely been doing for free. They recently sent him a donation to spay/neuter another 100 stray cats. By doing so, they want him to know that they and those who support

Harmony Fund stand beside him. And they note, that even though the group and its supporters may be separated by thousands of miles -we all stand together.

Today on Valentine's Day - reading about this incomparably kind and compassionate vet is much better than even getting a box of vegan chocolates on Valentines Day.

Authors Bio:
I have been concerned about animal suffering ever since

I received my first puppy Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for the past 30 years and I thank God every day that I am. I am most disturbed at how little the Catholic Church and Christian churches generally give to concern re animal suffering in their ministry. I wrote to 350 bishops in 2001 and only 10-13 responded. I feel that the very least they can do is to instruct that the priests give one sermon a year on compassion to animals. I am still waiting for that sermon. I also belong to Catholic Concern for Animals - founded in England in 1929. (They are on the internet) I recently sent a sample copy of their bi-monthly publication called the ARK to the 8 Catholic bishops of Ohio. Only ONE kindly responded. Somehow we have to reach the Christian teaching magisterium. There is next to nothing re animal concerns and compassion for them. They basically believe that animals are the lesser of God's creation and that gives us the right to do anything we want to them. Way wrong. We need to change their mindsets. The animals are God's first and He expects us to treat them compassionately.

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