The situation for stray dogs in Turkey continues to worsen. Since the controversial legislative change in August 2024, stray dogs have been increasingly rounded up and taken to local animal shelters. As the association Datça Dogs – Hilfe für die Straßentiere in Datça e.V., which is affiliated with the German Animal Welfare Federation, currently reports, the local authority responsible is overwhelmed by the number of dogs. Too many animals are being housed in a confined space at the municipal animal shelter and are exposed to the blazing sun. The available capacity is insufficient to provide the animals with adequate care.
“We warned two years ago that the mass rounding up of stray dogs does not solve the problem, but merely shifts suffering from the streets to overcrowded animal shelters. The latest reports from Datça are a prime example of where a policy leads when free-roaming dogs are not neutered, but stray dogs are simply rounded up and locked away,” says Lisa Hoth-Zimak, specialist advisor on companion animals at the German Animal Welfare Federation. “Although the dogs disappear from public spaces, the problem of uncontrolled breeding remains unresolved.”
The German Animal Welfare Federation supports the approach of reducing the stray dog population through sustainable and animal-welfare-compliant population management. In addition to the neutering of stray dogs, this also includes the neutering of dogs with owners, as well as public education. However, repeated appeals by the Federation for an animal-friendly solution to the relevant authorities in Turkey and committees in Germany have so far gone unheeded. The German Animal Welfare Federation therefore continues to call on the Turkish government to reconsider its current strategy and to work with animal welfare organisations to develop sustainable and animal-friendly solutions. Meanwhile, Turkish animal welfare activists continue to campaign with great dedication on behalf of the affected dogs and are trying to mitigate the consequences of the political measures.
German Animal Welfare Federation renews appeal to holidaymakers
To further increase pressure on policymakers, the German Animal Welfare Federation is currently advising against travelling to Turkey. “Only if enough people make a conscious decision not to holiday in Turkey will there be economic pressure that could actually bring about change,” said Hoth-Zimak. Anyone wishing to help can also support reputable local animal welfare organisations and raise awareness of the situation facing stray dogs within their own communities.
Background
In Turkey, a legislative amendment from August 2024 obliges local authorities to capture stray dogs and place them in animal shelters by 2028 at the latest. Failure to comply will result in fines equivalent to around 2,000 euros per dog. Nationwide, however, there are only around 110,000 shelter places available for some four million affected animals. Because capacity is lacking in many places, countless dogs are suffering in conditions that violate animal welfare standards. The law also permits the killing of sick or aggressive dogs, without clear criteria.
