Pika

Pika is a delicate, gentle puppy whose life began in heartbreak. Weighing just 4 kg, she will always remain a petite girl.

We first met Pika in one of the most distressing shelters we’ve seen, huddled in a corner, trying to disappear among much larger dogs. She was too afraid to approach even the small amount of food available, doing her best to stay invisible. It was clear she didn’t belong there — and she wouldn’t survive much longer if she stayed.

We brought her to Istanbul, away from the chaos, to give her the safety and care she had never known. Pika is still frightened, still learning to feel safe, but she is now under medical treatment and as her health improves, slowly she begins to cheer up. She responds best to gentle women and other kind dogs, and reveals her loving nature when she feels a sense of calm.

She is a true lap dog — the kind who melts into your arms, rests her tiny head on your shoulder, and makes your heart ache with tenderness. Pika doesn’t ask for much, just love and safety. But something in her stirs your deepest instincts: you will want to protect her, to give her the joy she never had.