Former Istanbul street dogs Dali and Deezi are now living in the Netherlands after years in a shelter in Turkey. Their journey to a better life comes as Turkey enforces a controversial new law aimed at removing the country’s estimated four million stray dogs from the streets by 2028. The law, passed in July, has sparked protests from animal rights activists who fear it will result in many strays being euthanized, particularly those deemed aggressive or suffering from untreatable diseases.
The new legislation is a response to concerns about dog attacks, road accidents, and the spread of rabies. It mandates the placement of all stray dogs in municipal shelters, but Turkey’s current capacity of 100,000 dogs is insufficient to accommodate the millions of strays. Animal rights activist Nilgul Sayar, who runs an NGO shelter near Istanbul, has been working to send dogs abroad for adoption. Since the law was passed, interest in adopting Turkish strays has increased. Sayar currently has 20-25 dogs ready for adoption in Europe and hopes to send more soon.
However, the process of getting a dog ready for travel to the European Union, including necessary paperwork and vaccinations, can take 3-4 months and cost around 1,000 euros. Sayar notes that finding homes for older, larger, or disabled dogs often takes years. Dali, who lost a leg after being hit by a car, and nine-year-old Deezi spent four years in Sayar’s shelter before being flown to Belgium and then taken to the Netherlands by the NGO Animal Care Projects.
The law has prompted protests across Turkey, where stray dogs and cats are commonly seen on the streets and are cared for by locals who provide food, water, and shelter. In response to the new regulations, some businesses have adopted stray dogs for their offices, while a hotel on the coast built a shelter for dogs to introduce them to tourists. Additionally, some veterinarians are offering free vaccinations to those who adopt street animals.
Dali is currently in a foster home in the Netherlands, awaiting adoption. Deezi has already found a new home in Haarlem with Caroline Dieleman, who rescued her after learning about the law. Dieleman, who had recently lost one of her own dogs, said she felt compelled to help, even if it was just for one dog. “One is better than none,” she remarked, reflecting the growing concern over the fate of strays in Turkey under the new law.
READ MORE: