[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey stray-animal municipal initiatives and protests

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-07 16:04 UTC → 2026-08-16 09:39 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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 and equipped with veterinary clinics, an operating theatre and public‑amenity spaces.~~ animals. Early June saw the launch of a 57‑hectare natural‑habitat shelter in ~~Trabzon’s Kaynarca‑Akçakale border area~~ Trabzon and the opening of a 13,000 m² rehabilitation centre in Bursa’s Yenişehir district, featuring surgery rooms and a sterilisation target of 60 animals per month. Elazığ introduced a 24‑hour “153 Mobile White Desk” that coordinates stray‑animal capture, treatment and re‑homing, while veterinary unions highlighted hazardous field conditions and called for better occupational safety. Izmir added a hospital‑grade central sterilisation unit at the Pako Shelter, and Balıkesir’s mobile “Can Dost” team provided free care to thousands of street animals across 20 districts. Bursa. By mid‑June, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi reported 83 % of stray animals nationwide were placed in shelters or natural habitats, with Erzurum’s network handling 1,900 animals without serious incidents. Istanbul’s Kağıthane district opened a 10‑dunam rehabilitation centre for 180 cats and 60 dogs, offering 24‑hour veterinary services. Bitlis inaugurated a shelter for roughly 2,000 stray dogs, neutering 800 of them. Aydın’s Efeler municipality began constructing a 26,000 m² shelter with a 14,000 m² natural‑habitat zone, while Osmaniye’s Kadirli district expanded its municipal shelter and food‑recycling program. Veterinarian union leaders in Ankara demanded additional staff and improved working conditions to support the expanding animal‑health infrastructure. habitats. In August, Manavgat ~~started~~ began a 75‑hectare natural‑habitat project in Taşağıl, integrating shelters, feeding ~~stations~~ stations, and health ~~services to protect stray animals and public health. These actions reinforce Turkey’s nationwide effort~~ services. Gümüşhane Municipality also opened a 141,763‑square‑metre natural habitat designed to ~~relocate, treat~~ improve animal health and ~~permanently house stray animals, with~~ reduce disease transmission. However, the ~~goal~~ intensification of ~~reaching full coverage by year‑end.~~ 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.

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