I have a cousin who has all but made it her mission in life to help and care for animals in need. She was known to befriend stray cats as a child and by the time she was a teenager, she had already took it upon herself to ensure that the foundlings she came across found good homes.
And while I certainly admire this spirit and dedication within her, it's been even more heartening to hear just how many people there are like her out there. Whether they're in a far off war zone or close to our own backyards, they will stop at nothing to ensure that life gets better for the struggling animals they come across.
And when we hear their stories, the only thing that astonishes us more than they impact they have on the animals they rescue is the sheer number that they're often able to save.
That's particularly true for one Turkish man who has gone to some incredible lengths to spare an impressive menagerie of animals from perilous situations.