Turkish municipalities boost stray‑animal shelters in Elazığ and Gölcük

The Elazığ Municipality continues operating a temporary animal shelter and rehabilitation centre that treats stray cats and dogs with modern veterinary care. To date the centre has treated 15,358 stray animals, neutered 7,979 dogs and administered the same number of rabies vaccinations, and has arranged the adoption of 2,369 animals. The facility employs two veterinarians, a technician and support staff, and includes quarantine, surgery, laboratory and post‑operative units.

In Gölcük, a district of Kocaeli Province with about 179 000 residents, municipal veterinary services cover cats, dogs, cage birds and rodents. Operated by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality’s Veterinary Services Branch, the programme provides protective medicine, clinical examinations and surgical procedures such as neutering, dental work and soft‑tissue surgery. A mobile neutering unit has been active since 2014. Services follow Turkey’s Animal Protection Law No. 5199, which was substantially revised in 2021 to tighten ownership responsibilities.