Istanbul moves to remove all stray animals from streets

Almost half of the stray animals on the streets of Istanbul, or 46% of them, have already been taken in, and the rest will also be taken in, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced, quoted by the Turkish state television TRT Haber, CE Report quotes BTA.

“This task lies with the municipalities. All municipalities will immediately and without omissions fulfil this obligation of theirs. No tolerance will be shown for delays or neglect,” the Istanbul Governor added.

The statement comes after, at the beginning of April, the Governorship ordered that all stray animals be taken off the streets by the end of May. The Regional Administration called on municipalities to speed up their actions to collect stray dogs, accommodate them in shelters, and ensure that the population is brought under control. Failure to comply with the ordinance will result in sanctions. However, the measure has sparked protests among animal lovers, while animal rights activists have called for expanding neutering campaigns as an alternative to mass sheltering.

The Istanbul Governor stressed that controlling stray animals is not a matter of choice, but an obligation.

“Extreme approaches are not a solution - neither the mass killing of animals, nor lawlessness, nor a lack of control are acceptable. The law is clear: strays will be taken in immediately, neutered and housed under appropriate conditions,” Gul said.

He assured that not a single stray dog will remain on the streets and that not even the slightest sign of weakness in this regard will be allowed.

“Citizens who wish to adopt these animals may do so only on condition that they keep them in their own yard or house. The breeding and ownership of certain breeds is prohibited by law. Legal and administrative measures will be applied to violators,” the Istanbul Governor emphasised.

According to him, the safety of citizens is of paramount importance when it comes to implementing this measure.

Photo: Wikipedia