What's really happening with dogs in Türkiye?

Khalisya Anjani Putri - AfA Dog & Cat Coalition
Oct 27
5 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

The Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC) has received numerous questions and concerns from the public about the alarming situation faced by the free-roaming dogs in Türkiye. Over the past year, Türkiye has undergone a shift in their policy, moving away from its historically compassionate and dog-friendly approach to a law that many fear will lead to widespread suffering and deaths of dogs in overcrowded shelters.

In this blogpost, DACC is going to break down how the situation has escalated and what it means for the fate of Türkiye’s dogs.

A country that’s celebrated for its compassion

Türkiye is known as a haven for stray animals. In cities like Istanbul, it isn’t unusual to see free-roaming dogs coexisting peacefully with residents, lounging in parks, walking beside commuters, or napping at storefronts. This harmony didn’t happen overnight, it was the result of community compassion and national laws that have been protecting the dogs’ well-being for nearly 20 years.

In 2004, the Turkish government passed the Animal Protection Law No. 5199, which required local governments to rehabilitate, not eliminate, stray animals. The law established a no-kill, no-capture principle, and stated that unlawful killings would be punishable by law. The law mandated that stray animals be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to the exact location they were found.

Between 2004 and 2018, approximately 1.2 million animals were sterilized and 1.5 million vaccinated across the country. Sterilized dogs were fitted with ear tags containing digital chips, allowing the public to recognize the animals that are monitored by the government.[1]

A stray dog with a blue ear tag sleeps on a tiled pavement beside a pile of dry dog food (Photo by Wallula via Pixabay).

So what is the problem?

The core of the issue is that Türkiye’s CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) programs, which had formed the backbone of its humane dog population management for years, were never properly sustained. According to ICAM, the CNVR programs in Türkiye suffered from inadequate funding, and lack of national implementation and enforcement.[2] There’s no confirmation that the numbers of free-roaming dogs continued to rise in some regions, but the existence of these dogs led to growing public complaints and political pressure.

In response to public concern and political debate over the visibility of free-roaming dogs, the Turkish government took a sharp turn in 2024: a new law was introduced allowing municipalities to round up free-roaming dogs and put them in shelters. However, this policy was met with serious concerns because the math simply didn’t add up.

In Istanbul alone, it is estimated that around 129,000 stray dogs live on the streets.[1] When you consider the entire country, the number of free-roaming dogs is believed to be around 2 million. Yet, Türkiye only has a few hundred municipal shelters, and many of these have limited capacity, resources, and staff. Most are already operating well beyond their limits. People are concerned that once shelters reach capacity, authorities may feel pressured to make space by quietly removing or euthanizing existing animals, regardless of their health or adoptability.

Another fear among the public is that some municipalities, fully aware that their shelters cannot accommodate the influx, may turn to mass killing of dogs on the streets before they even reach shelters, transgressing the legal process entirely.

And sadly, the worst fears of many animal advocates are starting to come true. In October 2024, a disturbing case made headlines when 51 dead dogs and cats were found dumped outside a government-run shelter in Gebze.[3] A report revealed that many municipal shelters in Türkiye are in poor condition, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate food, and minimal veterinary care.[4]

What triggered the shift?

It appears that growing concern for public safety, particularly related to dog bites, is what pushed the government to adopt a more aggressive approach toward free-roaming dogs.

One of the most well-known cases occurred in March 2025, when a two-year-old toddler was allegedly attacked by a group of stray dogs in Konya.[5] The tragedy was heavily covered by national media and cited by the Ministry of Interior as a turning point, causing a renewed push to fully enforce the controversial law on rounding up street dogs.

Turkish news outlets also published news stories highlighting public concern about groups of dogs roaming neighborhoods. One example comes from Amasya’s Akbilek district, where headlines described dogs as “gangs” scaring residents, with locals demanding that authorities take action.[6]

These kinds of incidents created a wave of pressure that appears to have laid the groundwork for the current law. While no comprehensive data on dog bite incidents in Türkiye has been shared publicly, the focus on fear, amplified through media and political rhetoric, has clearly shaped the government’s decision in policymaking.

What does this mean for the free-roaming dogs in Türkiye?

Right now, the future of Türkiye’s free-roaming dogs remains a big question mark. With the law in full effect, free-roaming dogs across the country are at risk of being rounded up into municipal shelters, even though they are healthy, sterilized, and well-integrated into their communities.

What are we doing to make a change?

In May 2025, the Asia for Animals Coalition (AfA), through its Dog and Cat Coalition (DACC), joined the growing number of voices speaking out against Türkiye’s new law regarding free-roaming dogs. We sent an appeal letter to President Erdoğan and the Turkish government, urging them to revoke the law that allows mass capture of free-roaming dogs and return to humane, evidence-based dog population management. Read the full letter here.

On the ground, Turkish organizations and activists have mobilized across the country, organizing peaceful protests, making petitions and raising public awareness through media and art. Some university students and independent activists have even launched a hunger strike in a powerful show of resistance, calling on the government to listen to the people and protect the country’s street dogs.[7]

A man sitting in a protest with a dog on his lap, with a banner in the background that reads: 'You cannot collect, imprison and kill! #withdrawthelegislation' (Photo by Burhan Ozbilici via AP)

Here’s how you can help:

Stay informed and share verified updates about the situation. You can follow coverage from AP News and Reuters or Türkiye Today for accessible English-language reports on Turkish policy and public opinion.
Support local animal organizations in Türkiye, such as HAYTAP (Animal Rights Federation in Turkey) and HayFed (Animal Rights Federation). They are doing their best to advocate for animal welfare in Türkiye and they need your support to keep going.
Adopting a dog from Türkiye. Some local and international groups like Animal Friends of Turkey and Pets in Turkey are facilitating overseas adoptions - handling everything from paperwork to travel logistics. While this is not a sustainable solution for every dog, international adoptions can offer a lifeline for those at immediate risk of euthanasia.