A few days ago we paid a visit to the Turkish headquarters of Continental Tyres. It was a business visit, animals, for once,were not in the agenda.
As we were getting out of the car in a scorching summer day, we were approached by a smiling and friendly face. A pure breed turkish stray dog.
With tremendous confidence, Conti, as we later found out her name, approached us and, wagging her tail accompanied us right up to the front door.
It was the nicest reception we could have been given, and it spoke volumes not only about the company but about the people working in it.
Have you ever paid a visit to a turkish company?
In a country where hundreds of thousands of animals struggle to survive on the streets, most turkish companies do their very best to make sure no animal finds refuge in their premises. Over the years we have received hundreds of calls asking us to somehow remove a couple of strays found living in the garden, in many cases we have had to take some sort of action in order to protect them from a threatening security team. Our worst experience took place at the Istanbul Stock Exchange where, we literally had to negotiate directly with the Chairman in order to secure the safety of the animals.
It is a company civic duty to return some of what it takes to society, to engage in social responsibility causes, to try to better the environment where it operates. Unfortunately most companies have become to inhuman that they won’t do anything unless it generates some sort of profit, being in the form of positive cashflow or in advertising/marketing terms.
… and this is why Conti is so special… because offering a warm place, shelter, food and water to her offers absolutely no commercial justification.
It simply is, the right thing to do.
We left the company with a very positive impression, the team is charming and open to new ideas. Good people, they know what they do and they do it well.
But you know what? Our decision to get a set of Continental tyres will not only be based on factors like handling or grip, the deciding factor for us and just about every animal lover that reads this story, will be knowing that Conti, the stray dog “works” there.
May she be there for long…
Can you imagine how great it would be if every turkish company took care on ONE animal? Leave a note for Conti here… 🙂
OHHH WELL…AT LEAST SOME KIND OF GOOD NEWS…BUT I WISH TO SEE MORE OF THIS GOOD NEWS… :))) SHE LOOK SWEET…BUT NEED THEY GIVE HER SOME MORE FOOD SHE LOOK TO SLIM FOR HER SIZE THOU…. I LOVE HER!:))))))))
She is lean and fit… she eats raw… 🙂
Yes all companies adopt just one stray (or more). Such warm greetings everyday and all for a bit of lunch and a bowl of water…oh and a sheltered place to sleep too!!!
Well done Continental Tyres for doing the right thing. … Conti looks fit and healthy for a stray, a credit to her carers.
This story made me cry.
Driving around, I always look at the gardens, and sigh.
Next time I’ll buy Continental tyres, promise!
It is so wonderful that a company finally understood all is not publicity! Conti looks so proud, as every animal saved from the streets and given shelter. They gave him love instead of kicks and shouts. Congrats Continental.
p.s: Great wordplay on the dog s name 🙂
This is good news, but I wish more companies would take their example. It is sad to see that in a country where there are so many animals in need of care only one company steps forward and does the right thing. Hopefully they will inspire more people to do the right thing.
Ä° wonder if there is a Continental tire place in Bodrum and if they have a dog? Ä°’ll have to search! Bravo to them for their compassion and responsibility to the animals!
GOOD ON YOU CONTINENTAL TYRES KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SEE IT IS TRUE WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND AND IN YOUR CASE A GOOD WAY MAY YOUR PROFITS INCREASE IN LINE WITH YOUR KINDNESS :0)
God Bless that company ! I’m happy for good news for a change.
Conti is a wonderful ambassador for the company. In the U.S. some offices allow employees to bring their pets into the office, but just think how humanizing it would be if every company did that.
What a great story!
I admire Continental Tyres for being a progressive leader in Turkish commerce.
Bravo!
finally some good news!Well done Continental Tyres,hope they become role model to many!