"Food and water will be left at the living environments of street animals, such as parks and gardens, and particularly animal shelters,” the ministry wrote in the notice. “All necessary measures must be taken to ensure stray animals don’t go hungry.”
Image Credit: Twitter/BayrampaşaBelediyesi
Turkey’s Interior Ministry recently issued a letter urging local
administrations to protect and feed the country’s hundreds of thousands of
stray dogs and cats, as residents stay at home to contain the spread of
coronavirus.
“Food and water will be left at the living environments of street animals,
such as parks and gardens, and particularly animal shelters,” the ministry
wrote in the notice. “All necessary measures must be taken to ensure stray
animals don’t go hungry.”
Turkish society has a strong cultural emphasis on caring for animals in
need. Municipal veterinarians vaccinate strays, and citizens help ensure
their safety as part of everyday life. New stay-at-home orders and social
distancing policies are heavily impacting these animals, who normally rely
on the general public for nourishment, especially in Istanbul where there
are over 150,00 stray cats and nearly 130,000 stray dogs, according to the
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
As cases of COVID-19 rise in Turkey, the government is considering imposing
heightened restrictions on movement, but thankfully, lockdown efforts seem
to be coupled with ways to mitigate the suffering of homeless animals
throughout the country.
The decision requiring local leaders to care for strays is being
well-received.
In a recent Tweet emphasizing the importance of caring for local cats and
dogs, Istanbul’s Bayrampasa district shared pictures of its municipal
workers feeding and interacting with the animals.
Return to Companion Animal Care
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