Ministry issues letter to governorships: Penalties for municipalities regarding stray animals!
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has denied claims that municipalities have been granted until 2028 to collect stray dogs. It was stated that municipalities must take action without delay, and it was announced that a fine of 71,965 TL per animal will be imposed on municipalities that release dogs back onto the streets.
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In an instruction sent by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to governorships, it was emphasized that claims suggesting municipalities have been granted until 2028 to collect stray dogs are not true.
While it was stated that municipalities must collect stray dogs without delay, it was noted that a fine of 71,965 TL per animal will be imposed on municipalities that release collected dogs back onto the streets.
The Ministry's instruction included the following statements:
"Although Law No. 5199 grants municipalities with a population exceeding twenty-five thousand until 31.12.2028 to establish animal shelters and improve the conditions of existing shelters, the provisions regarding the collection of animals and their transport to shelters, as well as keeping dogs in shelters, have entered into force as of the date of the Law's publication; therefore, waiting until 2028 for the collection of animals constitutes a violation of the legislation."
Furthermore, it was reminded that even if rehabilitation is complete, leaving collected stray animals anywhere other than shelters or releasing dogs from shelters back onto the streets is prohibited by Article 14 of the Law. It was reported that an administrative fine of 71,965 TL will be imposed on municipalities that act in violation of this rule for each animal identified.