Tropic Sprockets / Stray

By Ian Brockway

Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.—Diogenes

So begins the short but thorough visual essay by Elizabeth Lo on stray dogs in Turkey, entitled “Stray.” This excellent portrait of dogs is thoughtful affecting, and apprehensive in equal parts.

We meet Zeytin, a Labrador who lives on the streets. Some greet him with surprise, some warmly, and others with disgust. Zeytin holds no personal affront and keeps moving. She is on the hunt for food. Along the way, she picks up snatches of conversation: a woman talks about what is wrong with her marriage. A boy complains jealously to his girlfriend. Zeytin walks on.

An older man roars that touching a dog is against an Islamic law. A group of homeless teens take her in. Zeytin is a hero. The kids are forced out by adults. Again the dog walks.

Since 1901, stray dogs have been forbidden in Turkey. Many have been put to death. Only very recently, has that law been challenged. Now Turkey has a no capture/no kill policy if dogs are homeless.

In addition to Zeytin, there is Kartal, an adorable black and white puppy with a curl of brilliant blue in one eye, the crescent of a moon. He becomes a good luck charm to the teens, his eyes innocent, his tail sweeping the street for welcoming human legs and crumbs.

No matter what a dog’s name is he or she is forced to roam the streets for whatever is to be had, be it a pet, some scraps or a fight. Dogs are second class citizens here, at times caressed, at others treated with unease or bottomless disdain.

In one segment, a young woman reacts in shock seeing a dog defecate in the grass: “That’s disgusting! The dog doesn’t even know what it’s doing! Motherfucker, stupid dog!” Her lack of empathy is horrifying, and illustrates our worst potential.

The dogs here are ultimately mirrors of Turkish society. The four legged sentinels of acceptance absorb all petty conflicts and reflect back only equanimity, licks and an occasional yelp. As if to illustrate this point, a dog howls along with the Muslim call to prayer. One wonders if the dog is howling in brotherhood or rather in support for a canine revolution?

The film is punctuated by pointed quotes by Diogenes, who felt a kindred connection to dogs.

In watching “Stray” one has the sense that dogs have the upper hand, moving through the crowd with stealth, under shadows and corridors, unseen by mortal eyes and hidden from police vision.

Under the guise of the unknown, these dogs are free to be wild and rueful, roaming in packs, looking for bloody bones, or turning away from the pathetic hatred of an ignorant young woman, immaculately dressed in the Spring of pastels.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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