Lady of the Belgrad Forest: A Rescue Dog’s Springtime Walks [Part 2, May]

When we brought Lady from Silivri to Bahçeköy last month, it felt like we were giving her a second chance at life. She had narrowly escaped a tragic fate after a neighbor reported her to the municipality. For a gentle stray like her, that could have meant the end. Instead, on April 12, she began a new chapter – safe, cared for, and surrounded by the trees and birds of Istanbul’s Belgrad Forest.

Settling Into Sanctuary Life

The first days after her rescue, Lady was cautious. She explored slowly, sniffing around the sanctuary, watching the other dogs with her calm, soulful eyes. But it didn’t take long for her to understand that here, she was safe. No one would harm her. No one would chase her away.

By May, her transformation was unmistakable. She had already picked her favorite shady spot under a cluster of oak trees, where she often stretches out after her walks. Her tail wags more freely now, her eyes are brighter, and she’s started showing the playful curiosity of a dog who knows she’s loved.

Özgür Nevres with a dog - Bahçeköy, İstanbul

If you’d like to support my mission to feed, spay/neuter, treat, and protect İstanbul’s stray cats and dogs, you can join me on Patreon. I also have a Buy Me A Coffee account. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in the lives of our furry friends. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!

https://www.patreon.com/ozgurnevres
https://buymeacoffee.com/ozgurnevres

Hiking with Lady the Rescue Dog in the Belgrad Forest

The forest itself feels different in May compared to April. The trees are greener, thicker, and the air is sweeter. Wildflowers are blooming along the paths, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves makes everything glow. Lady loves these walks – trotting quietly, pausing to sniff the breeze, and sometimes stopping just to sit and watch the world.

For a dog who once spent her days roaming the streets, constantly uncertain of her fate, this peace is priceless. Every step she takes in the forest feels like a quiet victory – a reminder that strays, too, deserve dignity, safety, and love.

Lady the rescue dog is smiling at the camera
May the 1st. Lady’s smile says it all.
Lady the rescue dog in Belgrade Forest, Istanbul.
May 1st in the Belgrad Forest. Surrounded by vibrant green leaves and the gentle hush of the trees, she pauses to take in the world.

Sometimes, we’re not alone on these walks. A few of our cats have decided that the Belgrad Forest (also known as the Belgrade Forest) is worth exploring, too. Most surprising of all is Süreyya, our famously grumpy cat. He struts along the path with his tail held high, pretending not to care, yet never straying too far from us. It’s as if he’s guarding the group, tolerating the company of the others while keeping his own mysterious dignity intact. Seeing a cat march through the forest alongside a dog is a sight that never fails to make passersby smile.

And recently, our little hiking family has grown again. A new rescue puppy, Ece, has joined us. She’s still small, a bundle of energy and curiosity, bounding ahead with clumsy enthusiasm before circling back to check on everyone. For Lady, once alone and vulnerable, having a puppy companion feels like another gentle gift of fate. Together, with the cats trailing behind and the forest embracing us, each walk becomes more than just a stroll – it feels like a celebration of survival, resilience, and the bonds that animals and humans can share when given a chance.

Hiking with Ece, the rescue puppy, Lady, the rescue dog, and Süreyya, the rescue cat, in the Belgrad forest.

Photos of Lady the Rescue Dog and Her Cat Friends in Istanbul’s Belgrad Forest

A brown-brindle rescue dog named Lady lies on the grass facing Süreyya, a calico rescue cat, as they meet for the first time at a sanctuary near Belgrad Forest, Istanbul.
On May 2, Lady and Süreyya, the grumpy calico, met for the first time at our rescue sanctuary near Belgrad Forest. I rescued Süreyya in 2023 from a busy street when she was just a tiny kitten. During this first meeting, they sat calmly in the grass, quietly getting to know each other.
A calico rescue cat named Süreyya sits on green grass in the Belgrad Forest sanctuary, eyes squinting and mouth open mid-meow as she demands wet food.
This is the face Süreyya makes when she meows to demand wet food.
A calico rescue cat named Süreyya sits on the grass in the Belgrad Forest sanctuary, looking slightly grumpy with an alert, focused expression.
Süreyya sits in the grass with her usual grumpiness
A person wearing blue gloves gently holds a small, frightened mouse on a forest trail after rescuing it from a cat.
While hiking with Lady in the forest, I rescued this tiny mouse from a cat’s mouth. I know it’s part of nature, but not while I’m watching – I can’t let it happen right in front of me. The little one wasn’t injured, just terrified. I carried him to a safe spot far away and released him back into the wild. Let him live one more day.
Lady, a brown-brindle rescue dog, stands on a forest path in Bahçeköy, looking into the dense green trees of the Belgrad Forest on a calm May afternoon.
Lady pauses on a soft, leafy path deep in the Belgrad Forest, gazing into the quiet greenery that now surrounds her daily life.
A brown brindle rescue dog named Lady resting on lush green grass in the sanctuary, surrounded by tall plants and spring greenery.
Lady settles into the soft grass of the sanctuary meadow, enjoying a quiet moment surrounded by spring greenery.
A close-up selfie of a man [Özgür Nevres] gently holding Lady, a brown brindle rescue dog, as she leans against him in a grassy sanctuary area, looking upward with calm eyes.
A selfie of Lady and me
A close-up selfie of a man [Özgür Nevres] holding Lady the rescue dog, her expressive eyes looking toward the camera as they sit together on the grass with trees in the background.
Another selfie of Lady and me. She has beautiful brown eyes.
Lady, a brindle rescue dog, lies calmly on a forest path in the Belgrad Forest [Belgrade Forest], surrounded by dense green vegetation and trees.
Lady takes a quiet break during one of our Belgrad Forest hikes, resting on the soft earth beneath the trees.
A man [Özgür Nevres] taking a close, warm selfie with Lady, his rescued dog, in the Belgrad Forest on May 9. He wears a red hoodie and glasses, gently holding Lady as they sit among lush green trees.
On May 9, 2025, my 51st birthday, I paused our hike in the Belgrad Forest to take this selfie with Lady.
Calico cat Süreyya walks behind Lady, a brown-brindle rescue dog, on a narrow dirt trail surrounded by dense green forest in Belgrad Forest.
Süreyya, our famously grumpy calico, follows Lady along a quiet Belgrad Forest path during one of our hikes. Her tail is raised, her steps determined, and she stays close behind.
A brindle rescue dog, Lady, walks along a forest path beside Süreyya, a calico cat, as both explore the Belgrad Forest greenery together.
Lady and Süreyya walk side by side
Calico cat Süreyya sitting on a forest path, mouth slightly open as if meowing, with bright green eyes and autumn leaves scattered on the ground.
Süreyya, our famously grumpy calico, pauses on the forest path with her unmistakable expression: half-meow, half-complaint.
Lady, a brown brindle rescue dog, stands on a narrow dirt path surrounded by tall green grass and dense forest vegetation in Belgrad Forest.
Lady is exploring the forest, surrounded by tall spring grass and lush greenery
A grumpy-looking calico cat with striking white, orange, and black markings sits upright on a stone ledge in the Belgrad Forest, staring directly at the camera with an unimpressed expression.
Süreyya, our famously grumpy calico, sits perched on a stone ledge in the Belgrad Forest, glaring with her trademark unimpressed expression. A true forest queen with attitude.
A brindle rescue dog, Lady, sniffs the ground while a calico cat, Süreyya, sits in the grass nearby during a quiet moment in the Belgrad Forest.
Lady pauses to investigate a scent while Süreyya watches
Lady, a brown brindle rescue dog, stands at the edge of a forest path in the Belgrad Forest, sniffing the grass beside dense green foliage under tall trees.
Lady pauses along a quiet Belgrad Forest trail

Looking Ahead

Lady’s journey is still unfolding, but May has already shown us how much healing is possible in such a short time. Her story is a testament to resilience and the difference compassion can make.

If you’d like to help me continue rescuing and protecting dogs like Lady, please consider supporting me on Patreon. I also have a Buy me a coffee account. Every donation goes toward food, medical care, and creating a safe haven for Istanbul’s stray cats and dogs.

Özgür Nevres
Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer and a science enthusiast. I graduated from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) with a degree in Computer Engineering. I write about the city of Istanbul on this website. I have lived in Istanbul since 1992. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. The income from this website goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon [by clicking here] or on Buy Me A Coffee (Of course, you won't buy me a coffee, you will buy food for stray animals!), so I can help more animals!

Articles: 100

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.