Turkey Launches Nationwide Stray Dog Removal Plan

Turkey Plans to Remove All Stray Dogs from Streets by Year-End

Turkish authorities have announced a large-scale plan to remove all stray dogs from public streets by the end of the year. The animals are expected to be captured and relocated to shelters across the country.

According to the Minister of Interior, the target is to reach a 100% street removal rate for stray dogs. However, the initiative faces major logistical challenges.

Millions of dogs, limited shelter capacity

Official estimates indicate that around 4 million stray dogs currently live on the streets of Turkey.

At the same time, animal shelters exist in only 273 out of 1,111 municipalities. Their total capacity is estimated at approximately 90,000 animals , which is far below the number of dogs expected to be removed.

New law changes animal control policy

The campaign follows a new law that abolished the previous catch-neuter-release system. Under the updated regulations, municipalities are now required to keep stray animals in shelters until they are adopted.

The new policy has sparked heated public debate across Turkey.

Supporters of the initiative believe it is necessary to improve public safety and reduce incidents involving stray animals in urban areas.

Critics warn that the current shelter infrastructure may be unable to handle such a large number of animals, raising concerns about overcrowding and animal welfare.

Animal welfare organizations have expressed concern that shelters may become overcrowded if capacity is not expanded significantly.