# Turkey stray-animal municipal initiatives and protests > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-stray-animal-shelter-projects > Updated: 2026-08-15T08:25:00.000Z. Sources: 46. Developments: 16. Municipal stray‑animal programmes continued to expand through summer 2026. In late May, İzmir’s Metropolitan Municipality began building the 24,000 m² Dikili campus, slated for 2,500 animals. Early June saw the launch of a 57‑hectare natural‑habitat shelter in Trabzon and the opening of a 13,000 m² rehabilitation centre in Bursa. By mid‑June, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi reported 83 % of stray animals nationwide were placed in shelters or natural habitats. In August, Manavgat began a 75‑hectare natural‑habitat project in Taşağıl, integrating shelters, feeding stations, and health services. Gümüşhane Municipality also opened a 141,763‑square‑metre natural habitat designed to improve animal health and reduce disease transmission. However, the intensification of collection efforts following legislative changes has sparked significant backlash. On 2 August, the İzmir Yaşam Hakkı Savunucuları organized a protest against a law they label the “katliam yasası” (massacre law), which they claim legitimizes the killing of street animals. Similar ‘Life Watch’ demonstrations have emerged in Foça, where activists protest nighttime collection operations. In Diyarbakır, HAYTAP representatives reported that collection efforts have accelerated following ministry inspections. Advocates claim that elderly, disabled, and young animals are being collected to meet reported daily quotas. Concerns regarding shelter capacity have also intensified; in Diyarbakır, a facility with a 500‑animal capacity is estimated to be holding approximately 1,500 dogs, leading to severe overcrowding. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-15: Turkey street animal collections spark protests and welfare concerns Protests and concerns over animal welfare are rising in Turkey as municipalities accelerate street animal collections following new legislation, leading to overcrowding in local shelters. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-street-animal-collections-spark-protests-and-welfare-concerns ### 2026-08-07: Manavgat Municipality Begins 75‑Hectare Street‑Animal Natural Habitat Project Manavgat Municipality is creating a 75‑hectare natural habitat for stray animals in Taşağıl, with shelters, feeding and health services, overseen by Deputy Mayor Mehmet Çiçek. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manavgat-municipality-begins-75hectare-streetanimal-natural-habitat-project ### 2026-07-31: Turkey street animal welfare sees protest and new natural habitat Turkey sees a protest in İzmir against a street‑animal law and the opening of a large natural habitat for stray animals in Gümüşhane on 2 August 2026. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-street-animal-welfare-sees-protest-and-new-natural-habitat ### 2026-07-17: Turkey achieves 92% placement of stray animals in shelters and natural habitats Turkey reports 92.35 % of stray animals now in shelters or natural habitats, with a goal to collect all by year‑end; Kocaeli shelters 6 500 animals and Trabzon prepares a 56‑decare facility. 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-municipalities-open-new-animal-habitats-and-release-rehabilitated-birds ### 2026-07-12: Kemer Municipality backs residents and street‑animal welfare Kemer Municipality held a street‑animal adoption concert and repaired a fire‑damaged home, showcasing local government support for residents and animal welfare. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kemer-municipality-backs-residents-and-streetanimal-welfare ### 2026-07-12: Kayseri Kocasinan launches Turkey's first licensed municipal animal shelter Kayseri's Kocasinan opened Turkey's first licensed municipal animal shelter; İzmir starts a 2,500‑capacity facility in Dikili, and Germencik expands its street‑animal rehab center. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kocasinan-municipality-launches-turkeys-first-cityrun-animal-shelter-and-rehabilitation-centre-in-ka ### 2026-07-09: Turkish cities launch major street‑animal rehabilitation centers in Afyonkarahisar and Istanbul Afyonkarahisar and Istanbul's Ataşehir district opened large municipal street‑animal rehab centers, each featuring veterinary hospitals, labs, and dedicated living spaces. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-cities-launch-major-streetanimal-rehabilitation-centers-in-afyonkarahisar-and-istanbul ### 2026-06-25: Turkey's Veterinarians Union Calls for More Staff and Better Conditions Turkey’s veterinarians union leader Elif Budak Mutluer warned that staff shortages jeopardize animal and human health, citing huge livestock numbers and demanding more hires and better working conditions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-veterinarians-union-calls-for-more-staff-and-better-conditions ### 2026-06-23: Turkish municipalities open modern shelters for stray animals Municipalities in Aydın and Osmaniye, Turkey, are opening modern stray‑animal shelters, with Efeler’s new 26,000 m² facility featuring rehab services and Kadirli’s shelter feeding over 300 dogs using surplus, s 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-municipalities-open-modern-shelters-for-stray-animals ### 2026-06-19: Turkey expands animal health initiatives in Balıkesir and Bitlis Turkey continues livestock vaccination in Balıkesir’s Burhaniye district and opens a Bitlis shelter where 2,000 stray dogs have been treated, 800 neutered and all vaccinated against rabies. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-animal-health-initiatives-in-balkesir-and-bitlis ### 2026-06-17: Kağıthane District Launches 10‑Dunam Animal Rehabilitation Center in Istanbul Kağıthane district in Istanbul opened the 10‑dunam Can Dostlar Ofisi, a 24/7 rehabilitation centre for stray cats and dogs with capacity for 180 cats and 60 dogs, staffed by 50 personnel including five veterin‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kathane-district-launches-10dunam-animal-rehabilitation-center-in-istanbul ### 2026-06-16: Turkey aims to relocate all stray animals to shelters by year‑end Turkey plans to move all stray animals into shelters or natural habitats by year‑end, with 83% already collected nationwide and full coverage achieved in 51 provinces, according to officials. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-aims-to-relocate-all-stray-animals-to-shelters-by-yearend ### 2026-06-13: Turkish Cities Launch Advanced Health Services for Street Animals Izmir and Balıkesir municipalities have rolled out advanced animal‑health programs—Izmir with a new central sterilisation unit for shelters and Balıkesir with the mobile Can Dost unit, which has treated around 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-cities-launch-advanced-health-services-for-street-animals ### 2026-06-13: Turkey expands 24/7 stray‑animal response while vets demand better safety Elazığ runs a 24/7 stray‑animal service that has treated thousands, while vets nationwide demand safer working conditions and health‑insurance coverage for occupational risks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-247-strayanimal-response-while-vets-demand-better-safety ### 2026-06-09: Turkey launches major stray‑animal shelter projects in Trabzon and Bursa Turkey opens two large stray‑animal shelters: a 57‑hectare, 5,000‑capacity site in Trabzon and a 13,000‑m², 200‑animal rehabilitation centre in Bursa’s Yenişehir district. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-major-strayanimal-shelter-projects-in-trabzon-and-bursa ### 2026-05-31: İzmir Büyükşehir Municipality builds 2,500‑capacity street animal campus in Dikili İzmir Metropolitan Municipality started building a 2,500‑animal street‑animal campus in Dikili, featuring veterinary clinics, a surgery suite and natural‑habitat zones, slated to open by end‑2026. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/izmir-bykehir-municipality-builds-2500capacity-street-animal-campus-in-dikili --- Cite as: Turkey stray-animal municipal initiatives and protests. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-stray-animal-shelter-projects