Türkiye Passes Law to Get Stray Dogs off the Streets and Into Shelters 

Garip, a stray dog, who has been taken care by the shopkeepers at a local market, is pictured in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 23, 2024. (Reuters)
Garip, a stray dog, who has been taken care by the shopkeepers at a local market, is pictured in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 23, 2024. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Passes Law to Get Stray Dogs off the Streets and Into Shelters 

Garip, a stray dog, who has been taken care by the shopkeepers at a local market, is pictured in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 23, 2024. (Reuters)
Garip, a stray dog, who has been taken care by the shopkeepers at a local market, is pictured in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 23, 2024. (Reuters)

Türkiye’s parliament on Tuesday approved a law that aims to round up millions of stray dogs and put them into shelters, a plan that has alarmed animal lovers who say a mass neutering campaign would be a better solution.

Under the legislation, proposed by the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK party, municipalities would have to get the strays off the streets and into shelters. Any dogs showing aggressive behavior or that have untreatable diseases will be put down.

Under previous legislation, municipalities have to neuter and vaccinate all street dogs and leave them where they were found following treatment.

The population of street dogs in Türkiye is estimated to be 4 million, and municipalities have neutered around 2.5 million in the past 20 years, according to the draft bill. The animals are often taken care of by neighborhood residents and treated like pets.

There are currently 322 animal shelters with a capacity for 105,000 dogs, according to the bill.

The law also requires all municipalities to spend at least 0.3% of their annual budget on animal rehabilitation services and building shelters.

Municipalities will be given time until 2028 to build new shelters and improve current shelters, the law says.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets over the past few weeks to protest against the law, occasionally scuffling with police.



AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
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AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the launch of AlUla's harvest season, starting with the AlUla Summer Fruits Season. This seven-day event from July 22 to 28 at Al Manshiyah Farmers Market marks the beginning of several seasonal celebrations, including dates, citrus, peregrine, and honey seasons.

According to SPA, during the Summer Fruits Season, farmers and local families will showcase diverse fruits, supporting comprehensive agricultural and economic development. The commission aims to drive economic growth through community initiatives during this peak harvest period for AlUla's over 5,000 farms, which boast more than 50,000 trees.

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares.

Celebrating centuries of agricultural history, AlUla's diverse and high-quality produce balances ancient traditions and sustainable agriculture. The Royal Commission for AlUla prioritizes agricultural development to boost economic opportunities, enhance competitiveness, create local jobs, and offer visitors a unique experience of the region's agricultural