Finding a home for stray dogs in Turkey

World
Europe

07:01

Stray dogs are a common sight in Turkey. The city of Istanbul alone has hundreds of thousands of them.

On the streets, they face the risk of injury, hunger, and ill treatment.

However, some animal lovers have stepped in to help. One of them is Veronique Guys.

To her, feeding the canines is like meditation and a part of her daily routine that gives her joy.

A stray dog waiting be fed. /CGTN Photo‍

Veronique is part of an NGO called Cesme Alacati Association of Nature and Animal Lovers, or CESAL.

The group has set up a center where they feed and take care of stray dogs in a protected environment.

“We try to take care of them. We also vaccinate them so they're healthier. Otherwise, they'd fall ill with all sorts of diseases that become more difficult to care for,” Veronique who is also the vice president of the NGO, told Assignment Asia.

The Turkish government has also been putting in efforts to vaccinate stray dogs and control their population through sterilization.

The government-financed shelter on the coast of Istanbul, which can host over 7,000 dogs. /CGTN Photo

Although Turks are divided in their attitudes toward dogs, they tend to agree that the animals are part of Turkey's fabric and accept them as part of the environment.

Still, advocates like Veronique say Turkey needs to improve its animal protection laws.

Assignment Asia is CGTN's award-winning current affairs program featuring long-form stories and documentaries on some of the most pressing issues in the region. The show airs Saturdays at 13:30 and 21:30 GMT, with replays every Sunday at 06:30, Monday at 01:30, and Tuesday at 05:30.