Earthquake survivor attacked by stray dogs may lose her baby

İpek Kaya (30), who lives in the Mutlu neighborhood of Ankara's Mamak district, was attacked by stray dogs while waiting for a minibus to go to the hospital. It was learned that Kaya is pregnant and at risk of losing her baby. Kaya, who is 5 months pregnant, stated that her husband is a substance addict and left their home months ago. Explaining that she came to Ankara after the earthquake and lived in tents, Kaya noted that she could not find a house for a long time and was placed in a shanty house by neighbors while she was staying on the street.

"THEY SAY YOU MIGHT LOSE YOUR BABY"

Stating that she came to Ankara after the earthquake and that her husband abandoned her and their 3 children, Kaya said, "I had a hospital appointment. I was going to my appointment. As I was leaving here, there were 2 dogs sitting in front of me. I thought they would leave. They didn't; they stood in front of me. I thought I would get on the minibus and go to the hospital. Then 2 dogs started barking and coming at me, and then the other dogs came too. They cornered me against a wall. I protected myself with my skirt, otherwise, they would have knocked me down and torn me apart. My children were not with me; if they had been, one of them would have been killed or something would have happened. A man came and saved me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be alive. I went to the hospital. They told me I had a risk of miscarriage and that my mental health was affected. I will go to the doctor again on Monday because of the miscarriage risk. They tell me, 'You might lose your baby.' I explained these situations, and they said it could be because I was scared of the dogs. I am an earthquake survivor. I have no one. My husband was a substance addict; he left me. I live alone with my 3 children. I have no one. I have no one to look after me. I came to Ankara after the earthquake. I was staying in a tent. After the tent, I started looking for a house. I couldn't find a house for 2-3 months. My children and I were miserable. I experienced that pain; may God not let anyone experience it. What will happen when my children go to school? I still have trouble talking. They hide the dogs in the evening and let them out in the morning when no one is around. I can't even go to buy bread. I can't leave my child," she said.

"THE PREGNANT WOMAN HAS NO HOME BECAUSE SHE IS AN EARTHQUAKE SURVIVOR"

İbrahim Atay, who found a house for İpek Kaya and her 3 children, said, "Ever since our neighborhood was designated for urban transformation, stray animals have been coming constantly. Two days ago, they attacked a pregnant woman here. The pregnant woman has no home because she is an earthquake survivor. She gets attacked by dogs while going to the hospital here. A transit van came and saved her. The person who saved her is a person who does scrap metal work like me. A friend named Metin. Four days ago, the dogs also attacked a 13-14-year-old child. Ms. İpek's condition is fine. We, as her neighbors, rushed to help her," he stated.