With natural disasters and Türkiye’s horrifying mass slaughter law allowing for the roundup and killing of thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats, the country’s activists are working tirelessly to save lives, even amid fears for their own safety. Fortunately, they refuse to back down, and we’re grateful that with your support, we can stand firmly with them and support their efforts.

Communities and tourists alike have long had a good relationship with the country’s beloved stray dogs and cats. Tragically, a misguided “massacre law” was passed in an attempt to eradicate them. With an estimated population of 4 million and a shelter capacity for only around 100,000, the simple math means untold numbers will die.

In its wake, these animals have faced a brutal and violent assault. They’re being killed in the most cruel and merciless ways. Even loving guardians have had their animals taken and killed.

Despite the risks and division this politically-motivated nightmare law has caused, activists aren’t giving up and are more determined than ever to see this stopped, save lives, and educate the public and lawmakers about the need for spay/neuter programs to effectively and humanely control the numbers.

We’re thrilled to be able to stand with them. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to fund these amazing organizations working on the ground to build a network, save lives, and bring about much-needed change, especially as natural disasters complicate things even more.

Patiko Ödemiş (Ödemiş Animal Rescue Association)

Despite only being founded eight months ago, Patiko has taken impressive steps toward saving the lives of animals and advocating for their plight. This all-volunteer team has been working with local officials to improve conditions at their municipal shelter and organize adoption events, in addition to working with a member of the Turkish Parliament to oppose the recent mass killing law that’s putting countless lives at risk.

Amid this work, direct animal rescue and rehabilitation are a priority, including three dogs who were injured in traffic accidents, requiring surgeries, rehabilitation, and specialized care. Their work was made even more difficult by a recent wildfire in the Izmir Province that required even more animals to be saved and treated from trauma, burns, and respiratory problems.

Thanks to your generous support, we’ve donated toward providing much-needed veterinary care and supplies, along with food and supplements, to ensure they can continue to provide help for more animals going forward.

Doğa Dostu Derneği

What started as a group of volunteer students caring for two paralyzed puppies at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University in 2017 has since expanded into a full rescue operation helping dogs both on and off campus. Unfortunately, while last year’s regulations changed, resulting in the demolition of the rehabilitation area on campus, this group had already been officially established as a non-profit and decided to build a new living space on property donated by a volunteer, where they could bring the dogs from campus.

Now, with 68 dogs in their care, including 10 puppies, who have come from shelters, been abandoned, or have serious medical needs, and more who still need to come from the university, funds were urgently needed to build proper infrastructure and provide veterinary care.

We’re thrilled we could help. Thanks to your generosity, we’re able to support their work building dog houses and runs, structures to provide shade, set up a water distribution system, provide veterinary support, including spay/neuter surgeries, and set up a surveillance system.

This helps ensure they can continue their vital rescue work and animal birth control efforts, in addition to animal rights education.

Yaşamdan Yana Derneği and Animal Save Ankara

Yaşamdan Yana Derneği and Animal Save Ankara are both devoted to saving the lives of animals and educating communities about how they can help. Both are actively involved in rescue efforts, particularly focused on homeless dogs, and especially during natural disasters, and in transforming the food system.

Working with other organizations and university groups, these organizations have saved hundreds of animals and worked on a major report highlighting the inability of the country’s shelters to house an estimated 4 million homeless dogs after the mass killing law was passed.

Thanks to your support, we were able to fund their long-term partnerships with sanctuaries, including Renkli Rüyalar Sanctuary and Birpati Çetesi, which have provided both short-term and permanent homes to rescued animals, in addition to supporting their work during disasters and outreach efforts promoting veganism and rescue, which will soon include workshops with primary schools and kindergartens to share stories about the friendship between dogs and humans.   

Patikara Animal Protection and Emergency Intervention Association

What began as a neighborhood effort to find, treat, and rehome injured and sick stray animals in 2020 quickly grew as word traveled about Patikara’s search and rescue efforts, with requests for help coming in from across the country. The team expanded and officially became an all-volunteer organization that focuses its efforts on cats, but that’s not all they do.

Since the beginning of this year, they’ve provided veterinary treatment to over 600 animals, and are hurrying to rescue more from the streets before they’re rounded up by authorities following the mass killing law. They’re currently caring for 100 animals and admit around 70 new cases to clinics each month, making outside support vital to enable them to continue to take in more.

Thanks to your support, we were able to fund these ongoing efforts, with priority going to treating, spaying/neutering, and rehabilitating more than two dozen animals in urgent need of medical care, in addition to supporting their efforts to stop animal cruelty, advocate for legal protections, and find homes for animals in need.

Saving Turkey Dogs

Emel and Siyami moved from Istanbul to Türkiye's Aegean region 15 years ago to build their dream home to accommodate the dogs and cats they rescued from the streets and shelters, going so far as to install a pool that could be used for therapy, which is also very popular as a place to play and cool off. They started with eight dogs and six cats, but now care for nearly 200.

While they were working to adopt animals out, an earthquake a little over two years ago brought in even more who were displaced when families lost their homes. Fires in recent months and the mass killing law have brought the numbers to a record high.

For almost a decade, they’ve also been working with golden retriever rescues in the U.S. who could potentially adopt out dogs (including Jimmy, who is now enjoying a new life with In Defense of Animals staffer Jane Elizabeth), but they’re still taking in others, even if they have little chance of being adopted. With a growing number of senior dogs in their care, the costs to provide for them increase, along with costs for boarding dogs who haven’t been socialized and don’t get along with the others at their home.

With costs mounting, every little bit goes toward caring for these dogs and ensuring they’re able to continue to take in more, even if it means high veterinary costs. Thanks to your support, we were able to help ensure they continue this lifesaving work.

How You Can Help

Every person taking action on behalf of Türkiye’s animals matters! You can help by making calls, posting on social media, and signing and sharing our alert calling on officials to stop the massacre law and implement humane alternatives, or by making a donation to support Turkish organizations.