Two years on from the stray animal regulation: Collection targets, shelter allegations, and the search for solutions

Two years have passed since the Animal Protection Law regulation, which mandates the collection of stray animals from the streets to be kept in shelters and natural habitats, came into effect. The regulation, which began implementation on August 2, 2024, continues to spark fierce public debate, particularly regarding stray dogs.

The regulation also allows for euthanasia for animals deemed to pose a danger to human and animal health, those whose negative behavior cannot be controlled, those with contagious or incurable diseases, or those whose ownership is prohibited. While some animal rights advocates describe the law as a "massacre law" for this reason, the government argues that the implementation is necessary for street safety and animal welfare.

OFFICIAL TARGETS AND THE CAPACITY DEBATE

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi announced in a statement in June that the collection of stray animals had been completed in 63 provinces. In a speech in July, the Minister stated that 92.35 percent of stray animals in Turkey had been collected. According to Çiftçi, this process has made streets, squares, and parks safer while also rescuing animals from the "mercy of people or the streets."

Current and detailed data on stray animals are not available in open sources. According to information provided by Interior Ministry officials at a parliamentary session in April, it was stated that the number of dogs living on the streets in Turkey is approximately 1 million 250 thousand.

According to a response provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to a parliamentary question, as of February 2026, there are 386 animal shelters and 102 natural habitats in Turkey with a total capacity of 413 thousand animals. The Ministry reported that 244 thousand animals are being cared for in these facilities. The same response stated that approximately 501 million liras in support were provided to municipalities, local administration unions, and provincial special administrations for the construction of animal shelters and natural habitats in 2025, and 109 million liras in financial aid were provided for stray dogs registered in the Animal Information System.

ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT AND VIOLENCE FROM ACTIVISTS

Lawyers and animal rights advocates who oppose the regulation argue that the practices in the field involve serious problems. Deniz Tavşancıl, the former head of the Istanbul Bar Association's Animal Rights Center, argued that the implementation eliminates the living spaces of stray animals and said the process has resulted in "much bloodier" outcomes.

Tuğba Gürsoy, head of the Ankara Bar Association's Animal Rights Center, also alleged that deaths occurred during the collection of animals due to high doses of anesthesia, being kept in airless vehicles, and poor transport conditions. Gürsoy stated that some animals died in shelters due to lack of care, adding, "We see that the right to life of stray animals is not being respected in any way."

Activist Alper Karmış, who has visited shelters in different provinces across Turkey, expressed that there are issues with overcrowding, malnutrition, and access to treatment in some facilities. Responding to Karmış's allegations regarding the shelter in Kars, the Kars Municipality announced that no findings confirming the allegations were encountered and that maintenance, feeding, and health checks are carried out regularly.

Ankara has also been one of the provinces at the center of the debate. Ankara Governor Yakup Canbolat announced on July 1 that 52 thousand stray animals had been collected in the city. However, an official document dated April 2026 obtained by BBC Turkish contained information that approximately 60 thousand stray dogs were collected in Ankara between January 1, 2025, and April 2026, and that approximately 32 thousand dogs died of "natural causes." The document noted that the natural causes were not detailed.

Mustafa Şener, Head of the Veterinary Affairs Department of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, stated that he could only speak about the activities of the ABB and denied the allegations of poor transport and violence. Şener said that the municipality's vehicles are ventilated and air-conditioned, animals are transported in compartments, and no team is sent to the field without a veterinarian.

SOLUTION TOPICS: ADOPTION AND NEUTERING

On the solution side of the debate, topics such as adoption, neutering, and oversight come to the fore. Gökçen Yücekaya, a dog training and behavior expert working in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality shelters, stated that adoption has become critical for animals to leave shelters and drew attention to the importance of volunteer support.

Deniz Tavşancıl argues that animal sales should be temporarily banned to reduce the number of animals in shelters. Haydar Özkan, Second President of HAYKONFED, stated that the collection policy would not solve the problem without neutering and called for a new legal framework that prioritizes the right to life of stray animals.