"Ain’t It Kinda Funny"… from dream to rescue 🎵🐾
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Sophie and her husband, Furkan, have always loved dogs. Sophie says,
“We are both huge animal lovers. We would stop on the street and just talk to and pat any dogs that came our way,”
Both grew up around dogs but never had one of their own. Now settled in Melbourne, Sophie works from home while Furkan is a professional Muay Thai and MMA fighter. With more stable routines and a home environment that allowed time and care, they began thinking seriously about welcoming a dog into their family.
At first, they considered buying from a breeder. “We were shocked by the price, and the idea of paying so much for a dog was a little bit foreign to us,” Sophie says.
“We also didn’t feel like we needed a specific breed and just wanted a dog to give love to and that would suit our lifestyle.”
Having lived in China, Turkey and Thailand, their understanding of pets was shaped by what they saw along the way. “In Turkey and Thailand, we saw a lot of stray dogs that everyone kind of takes care of. It is very community-focused,” Sophie explains.
Sophie then began looking into adoption after a friend shared PetRescue with her. While Furkan was initially less familiar with the concept, after a bit of research, they decided that welcoming a rescue pet into their home was right for them.
Furkan had initially hoped for a younger dog, but Sophie began to reconsider what mattered most when choosing a pet.
“We realised there are so many dogs that need homes.”
“We are both really interested in human psychology and personal growth, so we felt we had the patience and maturity to help a (rescue) dog,” she says.
Like many first-time adopters, they had also heard concerns from others. “There are a lot of myths around rescue pets,” Sophie says.
At first, they considered adopting a larger dog from another rescue. He was sweet, but Sophie was a little unsure about managing a 35kg dog on her own, especially with Furkan often away for training and competitions.
Within a week, they met Myka (formally Niobe), a tiny, shy pup in care with DM Rescue. “Literally, we met her, everything felt really good, but she was a bit shy,” Sophie remembers,
“then she just ran under Furkan’s legs and we said ‘OK we’re taking her’, popped her in the car and just took her home.”
From the moment she arrived, Myka settled in nicely. “She bonded to us very quickly,” Sophie says, “she has endless love for her humans and just wants to be next to us all the time. She’s very sensitive and sweet.”
At the same time, she is full of energy and fun. “She snores louder than my husband,” Sophie laughs,
“Her playfulness is so cute. We play tag and hide and seek in the yard, and I already can’t keep up with her!”
Training began immediately. Sophie has been reading, practising patience, and learning to communicate with Myka, and soon they'll start puppy classes. “She’s extremely intelligent, it’s almost human level. She’s super easy to train and very easygoing,” she says.
Reflecting on the journey, Sophie says the experience changed how they thought about choosing a dog.
“Meeting a few dogs first helped us see that personality matters more than size or gender. “
“The people who work at the rescues are really great. You know, they're really passionate, they're really responsive. They give you so much information about the dog’s behaviour, training, and needs. That is not something you get when you buy from a breeder.”
“She’s our little bundle of joy. From the moment we met her, it felt like she was always meant to be ours.”
DM Rescue: Life-saving and life-changing
Lianna, from DM Rescue, shares what drives their work.
“We don’t just take the pretty or easy dogs. We take the ones that need us most. Every dog in our care gets health checks, behavioural support, and love until they find the right family. That is what keeps us going,” she says.
DM Rescue started as Doggy Moggy Rescue and evolved into its current name about five to seven years ago. Today, it remains a small, foster-based rescue built on the support of its community. Lianna explains,
“We’re a small, foster-based rescue. We take up to 50 dogs at a time, and we actually bring them into our own homes. It truly depends on the amazing community saying, ‘Yes, I will volunteer as a foster carer.’”
“We try to pick dogs that get along with other pets, only because we put them in family home environments. We really put a lot of effort into making sure they’re microchipped, vaccinated, and desexed if old enough. We also spend time training both dogs and carers, helping with anxiety, leash issues, or basic behaviour.”
Behind the scenes, it is all powered by volunteers balancing busy lives. “Everyone is a volunteer. On a good day, I’ll spend six or seven hours just getting up to date with paperwork and care,” Lianna explains.
PetRescue plays an important role in connecting pets with the right homes.
“It makes it easier to talk to potential adopters. Applications are structured, and it’s a really good way to see everything that’s going on, whether past or present,” she says.
“There’s this misconception that you can only get certain types of dogs from breeders, but that’s not true anymore. You can get any type of dog through a rescue - some just want love, some need guidance, some were just in the wrong home.” Lianna says.
Every adoption reflects the time, care, and dedication of the people behind the scenes. Myka, the one millionth PetRescue adoption, is one of those stories, showing what is possible when a community comes together for pets in need.
One Million Pets, One Million Loving Homes
One million pets have found loving homes through the PetRescue platform, each connection made possible by a simple idea: pets need to be seen, and the right person needs to find them at the right time. This milestone belongs to rescue organisations across Australia, the adopters, foster carers, volunteers, and donors who make it all happen.
Images provided by Sophie & Furkan, DM Rescue's pet listings on PetRescue: Arnie, Niko, Boss, Snag & Chorizo.
