The Turkish Parliament adopts a regulation on homeless animals

The Homeless Animal Ordinance was adopted and approved as a law with all its articles in the Great National Assembly of Turkey. The main provisions of the new law are as follows:

- Homeless animals will be transferred to shelters where they will either be sterilized and adopted or put to sleep. The decision to put terminally ill animals and animals that pose a danger to life and health of citizens will be taken by veterinarians. 

- Financial support will be provided to local administrations and other institutions and organizations to increase the number of shelters.

- Animals not subject to euthanasia will be kept in the animal care centre until they are adopted. 

- The fine for citizens who have thrown animals out on the street has been increased from 2,000 liras to 60,000 liras per animal.

- An administrative fine of 50,000 liras per animal will be imposed on municipal authorities who take homeless animals to other areas.

- Municipalities will allocate 0.005% of the total budget to shelter and care for homeless animals. In the capital municipalities, this rate will be applied as 0.003%. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will transfer 40% of the amount of expenditure exceeding the specified rates to the municipalities.

- The mayor and council members who do not allocate or spend funds allocated for animal shelters, rehabilitation or care of homeless animals prior to their adoption, or spend the funds for other purposes, will be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of between six months and two years.

- Municipalities will be obliged to establish new shelters and improve the conditions of existing shelters until 31 December 2028.

- Owners of cats and dogs will have to register their animals using digital identification methods (chips) no later than 31 December 2025.

The Turkish opposition has already stated that it will file a cassation appeal against the new law adopted by the parliament.