site.btaIstanbul Authorities to Urgently Remove Stray Dogs ahead of School Year

The Governor’s Office in Istanbul has decided to urgently remove stray dogs from the streets in light of the upcoming start of the school year. Another reason for the decision is that packs of dogs in certain parts of the city pose a threat to the life and health of citizens, according to the Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber.

The measure is based on the Animal Protection Act, adopted in Turkiye in June 2024. Under this law, stray animals are to be removed from the streets and placed in shelters. Authorities reminded the public that the law imposes this obligation upon them. The Istanbul Governor’s Office also justified its decision with an accompanying report.

“We expect complaints regarding stray animals to increase with the beginning of the school year. For this reason, stray animals in our district must be collected, starting with areas around schools,” the document from the Governor’s Office states.

The decision has been communicated to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, district governors and mayors, the Directorate of Security, and the gendarmerie.

The collection of stray dogs in Turkiye has sparked public debate. One point of contention is a clause in the law that permits the euthanasia of animals that are terminally ill, suffering, or pose a risk to human health. At the same time, rising incidents involving dog attacks and bites from stray packs have made such measures seem necessary.

In March, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that legal and disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against those who failed to fulfill their obligations regarding the control of stray animals and the effective operation of shelters. His comments came after a tragic incident in which a young girl died following an attack by a pack of stray dogs. In response, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya vowed to enforce the law in its entirety.