Riot police, pepper spray, students dragged along the ground and dogs loaded into municipal collection vehicles. These were the scenes at Ege University in İzmir during an overnight operation that descended into violent confrontation on 16–17 October.

Students and animal welfare advocates attempted to prevent the removal of dogs they had cared for over many years. Footage circulating widely on social media shows police confronting protesters, with officers using pepper spray and people being dragged along the ground.

There are further accounts of plastic bullets being fired and a municipal vehicle being driven towards protesters. These allegations have not yet been independently verified.

The operation began late on Friday, when municipal vehicles accompanied by police arrived at an animal care area behind student accommodation on the university’s Bornova campus. As news spread, students, academics and animal welfare advocates gathered while police restricted access and collection teams removed the dogs.

Students also described animals being taken from university accommodation grounds, beyond the main rehabilitation area.

Nine Years of Animal Care

Since 2017, the Ege University Animal Rights Society had operated a rehabilitation programme on land allocated by the university.

Students and volunteers provided food, veterinary treatment, sterilisation, behavioural rehabilitation and adoption support. Some purchased food using their own allowances, investing years of work and personal resources in the animals’ care.

The operation therefore involved dogs already receiving organised support through an established university programme, rather than animals without anyone taking responsibility for them.

The removal of these dogs provoked an immediate reaction from the people who had been looking after them, leading to the confrontations witnessed during the night.

The Violence at Ege University

The use of force against students and animal welfare advocates has become one of the most disturbing aspects of the incident.

Beyond the pepper spray and physical confrontations visible in the footage, the accounts involving plastic bullets and a vehicle being driven towards demonstrators raise additional concerns. Whether anyone sustained injuries, and the full circumstances surrounding these incidents, remain unclear.

The confrontation has attracted considerable attention, with animal welfare advocates organising a gathering outside Bornova Government House on Saturday evening.

Where Have the Dogs Gone?

Students were informed that the animals would be transported to municipal shelters. However, the information available on Saturday morning does not establish which facilities received them, how many dogs were transferred or whether their former carers have been able to check on their welfare.

Some of the animals had been receiving medical treatment or rehabilitation, making continuity of care particularly relevant. It is not known whether their existing veterinary records and individual care information accompanied them.

The final number of dogs removed also remains unconfirmed, with estimates of the population in the affected areas ranging from 150 to 200.

The events at Ege University have exposed a deeply troubling reality: even an established animal welfare programme, supported by years of voluntary work, can find itself at the centre of a confrontation of this magnitude.

Beyond the immediate outrage lies a more enduring concern about the future of community-led animal welfare in Türkiye. If programmes built around sterilisation, treatment and rehabilitation cannot offer stability for the animals in their care, what future is there for the people working tirelessly to provide humane solutions?

That question extends far beyond the gates of Ege University.

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TÜRKIYE

ISTANBUL

Government Deadline For Street Dog Collections Passes

The Turkish government’s deadline for completing the collection of free-roaming dogs in Istanbul passed on 15 October, with no subsequent official confirmation of completion identified in the reporting reviewed.

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi previously announced that collection operations had reached 99.7% nationwide, identifying Istanbul and Diyarbakır as the two remaining provinces. Diyarbakır has been given until 30 October.

Under the government’s programme, collected animals are to be accommodated in municipal shelters and designated facilities. However, the reported collection percentage does not establish how many animals remain alive, where they are being accommodated or what has happened to them after collection.

The deadline marks another significant stage in Türkiye’s nationwide removal of dogs from public streets, while comprehensive information about their subsequent welfare and outcomes remains unavailable.

TÜRKIYE

ANTALYA

Ten Animals Rescued Following Forest Fire Adopted Into New Homes

Nine dogs and one cat affected by September’s forest fire in Aksu, Antalya, have found permanent homes after completing veterinary treatment.

The animals had been cared for at the municipality’s Yeşilkaraman Animal Care Centre and Natural Living Area following the fire on 7 September.

Three people who had helped animals during the emergency adopted all ten. Five dogs were adopted by one woman, three by another, while a third adopter welcomed a dog and a cat, named Çilek and Duman.

Aksu Municipality confirmed the adoptions on 13 October, marking a positive outcome for animals affected by the fire and highlighting the continuing importance of care and rehabilitation after natural disasters.

BRAZIL

RECIFE

City Opens 735 Free Sterilisation Appointments For Dogs And Cats

Recife Municipality has announced 735 free sterilisation appointments for dogs and cats during October, expanding access to veterinary services across seven areas of the Brazilian city.

The programme, operated through the municipality’s mobile veterinary unit known as Castramóvel, began its latest series of clinics on 16 October in Imbiribeira. Further sessions are scheduled throughout the month, with the final clinic planned for 31 October.

Animals must meet veterinary health and age requirements before undergoing surgery, and all receive a clinical assessment to determine their suitability for the procedure.

The initiative forms part of Recife’s municipal animal protection programme, helping residents access sterilisation services without charge while supporting the prevention of unwanted breeding and abandonment.

SPAIN

MADRID

More Than 20,000 Animals Rehomed As Madrid Marks 20 Years Of Municipal Animal Protection

Madrid’s municipal Animal Protection Centre has marked its twentieth anniversary, reporting that more than 20,000 dogs and cats have been adopted through its services over the past two decades.

The centre provides veterinary treatment, accommodation, sterilisation, behavioural support and adoption services for abandoned and lost animals. Its associated emergency veterinary service, SEVEMUR, operates around the clock and has attended to more than 75,000 animals during the same period.

To coincide with the anniversary period, the municipality has announced a special cat adoption event for 17 October, offering free adoptions without appointments. Cats will receive appropriate veterinary preparation, identification and vaccinations, with sterilisation or a commitment to sterilise where applicable.

The centre also provides post-adoption guidance and behavioural support, helping animals settle into their new homes.

INDIA

HIMACHAL PRADESH

High Court Orders Action Over Shortcomings In Street Dog Sterilisation Services

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has criticised shortcomings in the state’s street dog sterilisation programme, emphasising that public authorities must develop adequate veterinary infrastructure rather than depend heavily on private practitioners and animal welfare organisations.

Government figures presented to the court showed that 3,709 dogs were sterilised between January and June 2026, while 26,564 received vaccinations. Although 31 Animal Birth Control centres were reported to be operating across the state, officials acknowledged shortages of veterinary personnel, suitable surgical facilities and other essential infrastructure.

The court also heard that Shimla’s municipal sterilisation facilities had been without a permanent veterinary officer for approximately two years.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi directed the authorities to fill the vacant veterinary position before the next hearing, scheduled for 3 December.

The intervention reinforces the responsibility of public authorities to maintain adequately staffed, properly equipped and consistent sterilisation services as part of humane street dog population management.

MEXICO

MEXICO CITY

Fifty Dogs And Cats Rescued From Overcrowded Property

Authorities in Mexico City have rescued 30 dogs and 20 cats from a property in the Iztapalapa district following complaints about the conditions in which the animals were being kept.

The rescue operation took place in the Mexicaltzingo neighbourhood on 8 October, involving the city’s Environmental and Land Management Prosecutor’s Office (PAOT), the Iztapalapa authorities and Mexico City’s Animal Care Agency.

Officials intervened following reports of severe overcrowding and poor hygiene at the property. All 50 animals were removed and transferred to shelter accommodation, where arrangements were made for veterinary attention and care.

The intervention brought the animals out of unsuitable living conditions and into protective custody, with their recovery and longer-term welfare now dependent on appropriate veterinary treatment and accommodation.

End of Bulletin

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Hong Kong is moving from Stable to Watchlist on the Dog Desk Animal Action Global Stray Dog Crisis Map. The decision follows newly disclosed euthanasia figures and the introduction of an intensified four-month operation to capture unattended dogs.

For a dog living on the streets of Hong Kong, being captured does not necessarily mean being rescued. It can mean permanent removal from the community, an assessment of whether the animal is suitable for adoption and, in some circumstances, euthanasia.

This is not a new policy, but recent developments have brought its consequences into sharper focus.

On 8 October 2026, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced a four-month operation targeting unattended dogs in areas associated with dog attacks or concentrations of roaming animals. The announcement followed heightened public concern about dog-related incidents, including a suspected fatal attack in Yuen Long.

The department says its officers will check captured dogs for identification and attempt to locate their keepers. Unclaimed dogs considered healthy and suitable for adoption may be transferred to animal welfare organisations. Those assessed as aggressive or otherwise unsuitable for rehoming may eventually be euthanised.

What is particularly significant is that unclaimed dogs are not returned to the communities from which they were taken, even following sterilisation.

For these animals, capture is therefore not a temporary intervention. Their future depends on the decisions made after they enter the government’s animal-management system.

More Than 600 Dogs Euthanised

On 14 October, new figures disclosed to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council provided a clearer picture of what has been happening to captured unattended dogs.

Between 2021 and May 2026, 617 were euthanised. The proportion of captured dogs euthanised reportedly increased from approximately 18% in 2021 to nearly one in three during the first five months of 2026.

These figures deserve attention, but they also require careful interpretation. An increase in the proportion euthanised does not necessarily mean that more dogs are being killed each year. The total number captured, the condition of those animals and the reasons behind individual euthanasia decisions are all important.

Nevertheless, the figures establish that euthanasia remains a significant outcome for dogs entering Hong Kong’s capture system.

They also raise questions that have not yet been adequately answered.

How many dogs were euthanised because of serious illness or suffering? How many were assessed as unsuitable for adoption because of their behaviour? What standards are used in making those assessments, and how much opportunity is given to dogs that are frightened, distressed or difficult to handle immediately after capture?

A terrified street dog may behave very differently inside an unfamiliar kennel from the way it behaves in a familiar community. That does not mean every dog can safely be rehomed, but it does mean that behavioural assessments must be careful, informed and fair.

The distinction between a genuinely dangerous animal and one responding to fear or confinement can be the difference between life and death.

What Happens When the Dogs Cannot Go Back?

Hong Kong’s approach differs from programmes in which healthy, sterilised and vaccinated community dogs are returned to their original territories.

Under the AFCD’s current policy, unclaimed dogs are not released back onto the streets. Instead, suitable animals may be transferred to welfare organisations for adoption.

There is a positive element to this approach. The government has supported the establishment of three rehoming centres with a combined capacity of approximately 450 animals, and a fourth is planned.

But the existence of rehoming facilities does not, by itself, answer whether sufficient places are available for every suitable dog entering the system. Nor does it explain what happens when an animal cannot immediately be placed.

The new four-month capture operation makes these questions more pressing. If the number of dogs entering government facilities increases, the system must be capable of providing appropriate accommodation, veterinary care, behavioural support and genuine opportunities for rehoming.

A policy that depends upon adoption must be judged not only by the number of animals captured, but by what happens to them afterwards.

Addressing the Cause, Not Simply Removing the Dogs

There is another issue that deserves equal attention: how dogs come to be living unattended in the first place.

Abandonment, irresponsible ownership, uncontrolled breeding and failures in identification and enforcement all contribute to free-roaming dog populations.

Removing dogs may respond to an immediate public safety concern, particularly where serious attacks have occurred. Authorities have a responsibility to protect people, and genuine risks cannot simply be ignored.

But repeated capture does not necessarily resolve the conditions that produce new unattended dogs.

Without effective prevention, responsible ownership measures, accessible sterilisation, identification and enforcement against abandonment, the same problems can continue.

It is therefore important that Hong Kong’s proposed dog-control reforms address the responsibilities of people as well as the consequences faced by animals.

A dog should not be the only one held accountable for a situation it did not create.

Why Hong Kong Is Moving to Watchlist

Dog Desk Animal Action is changing Hong Kong’s classification from Stable to Watchlist on our Global Stray Dog Crisis Map.

This is not because the government has announced an indiscriminate cull. It has not. The AFCD maintains procedures for identification, assessment and transfer to animal welfare organisations, and these must be recognised.

Our concern is the combination of a substantial euthanasia proportion, intensified capture operations and a policy under which unclaimed dogs cannot return to their communities.

We will be watching for the outcomes of the four-month operation, including the numbers captured, reclaimed, rehomed and euthanised. We also want greater transparency around the reasons for euthanasia and the assessment procedures used.

Public safety and animal welfare should not be treated as competing objectives. A responsible approach must protect communities while ensuring that animals are treated humanely, that killing is not used as a substitute for effective population management and that preventable suffering is addressed at its source.

Hong Kong’s street dogs deserve more than removal from public view. They deserve a system in which their individual lives and futures are taken seriously.

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Sources

• Hong Kong Government, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department — announcement of intensified capture operations, 8 October 2026.

• Hong Kong Government — Legislative Council response concerning unattended dogs, capture and euthanasia, 14 October 2026.

UNITED KINGDOM

WORCESTER

Four Dogs Seized As Police Investigate Suspected Wildlife Crime

Four dogs have been taken into the care of the RSPCA following a joint police and animal welfare operation in Worcester on Wednesday 14 October.

Officers executed search warrants at two properties in Warndon and Whittington after an investigation by Naturewatch Foundation identified suspected wildlife offences. Intelligence gathered by the organisation was passed to West Mercia Police’s Rural Crime Team and the RSPCA.

A man was arrested on suspicion of offences under animal welfare, hunting, deer and badger protection legislation. Three dogs suspected of having been used in the alleged offences were seized, along with a fourth dog. The man has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

The investigation highlights the suffering that can arise when dogs are used in activities involving the persecution of wildlife. The welfare of the dogs themselves is an important part of any investigation, alongside the protection of wild animals.

Police have not released details of the dogs’ veterinary condition or the specific activities in which they are suspected of having been involved.

The four dogs remain an important part of this case. Whatever the outcome of the criminal investigation, their individual welfare needs must not be overlooked.

SOUTH AFRICA

GAUTENG

Two Dogs Recovered After Armed Hijacking Of SPCA Rescue Vehicle

Two dogs have been found safe after an armed hijacking involving a vehicle belonging to Germiston Bedfordview SPCA on Wednesday 14 October.

The organisation’s driver, Junior, was held at gunpoint during the incident and subsequently abandoned in Soweto. Two dogs were still inside the vehicle when it was stolen, prompting an urgent appeal for information.

Both animals, described as a male Labrador-type cross and a male white Border Collie-type, were subsequently located and placed in the care of Johannesburg SPCA.

Although the dogs have been recovered, the stolen vehicle remained missing in the latest report published on 15 October.

The loss represents far more than the theft of a vehicle. SPCA transport is essential for responding to cruelty complaints, collecting injured and abandoned animals, transporting patients for veterinary treatment and maintaining day-to-day rescue operations.

For an organisation working with vulnerable animals, losing access to reliable transport can have consequences well beyond the original incident.

The immediate concern for the two dogs has been resolved, but the wider disruption to the SPCA’s ability to respond to animals in need remains.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

AL AIN

224 Rescued Animals Face Uncertain Future As Sanctuary Struggles To Survive

The future of 224 rescued animals is uncertain after an animal sanctuary in Al Ain warned that it may be forced to close before the end of the year unless it secures further financial support.

Six Hounds & Co, founded in 2022, currently cares for dogs, cats and a sheep. Many of the animals have experienced abandonment, abuse or neglect, while others require continuing veterinary treatment.

Founder Anso Stander has described mounting financial difficulties, including outstanding food, utility and veterinary bills. The sanctuary is also facing uncertainty over its accommodation after the lease on its current premises expired.

According to the founder, the organisation’s outstanding bills are approaching AED 100,000. With limited staffing and so many animals depending on daily care, the sanctuary is seeking sponsors, adopters and foster homes.

The immediate concern is what will happen to the animals if sufficient support cannot be secured. Finding suitable homes for more than 200 individuals is an enormous undertaking, particularly when some are elderly, recovering from illness or have additional welfare needs.

The situation illustrates the vulnerability of rescue organisations that provide long-term care without secure, sustainable funding.

Closing a sanctuary does not end the responsibility owed to the animals living there. Their welfare must remain central to any decisions about the organisation’s future.

INDIA

PUNE

Police Investigate Allegations That Rescue Centre Demanded ₹350,000 To Return Seven Dogs

Police in Pune have registered a criminal case following allegations that an animal rescue centre refused to return seven dogs to a woman unless she paid ₹350,000.

The woman, a 39-year-old resident of Lohegaon, told police that she had temporarily placed the dogs in the centre’s care in January 2026. When she subsequently attempted to reclaim them, she alleges that the organisation’s founder and a trustee refused to release the animals, demanded payment and threatened her.

Lohegaon police registered a case on 8 October under provisions of India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning dishonest misappropriation of property and criminal breach of trust.

The allegations have not been proven, and police enquiries are continuing.

The case raises questions about the agreements and safeguards governing animals placed temporarily in rescue facilities. Organisations providing boarding, fostering or emergency accommodation should have clear arrangements covering ownership, financial responsibilities and the circumstances in which animals can be returned.

Disagreements over fees and care arrangements must not leave animals caught in the middle of a dispute.

The current whereabouts and welfare of the seven dogs have not been established in the available reporting.

SPAIN

TENERIFE

Man Arrested Following Suspected Burning Of Dog As Six Other Dogs Are Rescued

A man has been arrested in southern Tenerife following the suspected burning and death of a dog in the El Puertito de Adeje area.

The incident came to light during the early hours of 8 October, when a member of the public contacted emergency services to report a suspicious fire. Local police attended and subsequently arrested a man on suspicion of an animal cruelty offence involving the death of the dog.

The Guardia Civil has taken responsibility for the investigation, and the animal’s remains have been sent for specialist post-mortem examination to establish the circumstances and cause of death.

The case follows more than a month of investigations into suspected animal abandonment and mistreatment in the same area.

During those enquiries, authorities discovered several animals living in concerning conditions, including dogs, cats and a pig. Six dogs showing signs of mistreatment have been removed and placed in the care of Adeje’s municipal animal shelter, where they have received veterinary attention.

Municipal authorities have also reported difficulties accessing and assisting animals in the area because of hostility towards animal welfare personnel.

Investigators have not established responsibility for all the suspected incidents, and the allegations against the arrested man remain subject to legal proceedings.

Beyond the investigation into the dog’s death, there are important questions about the welfare of the surviving animals, the circumstances in which they were found and the measures being taken to prevent further suffering.

The six rescued dogs now have an opportunity to recover. Their continuing care and eventual placement in suitable homes will be an important part of the response.

UNITED KINGDOM

ANIMAL RESCUE AND REHOMING

Consultation Opens On Revised Animal Rescue Welfare Standards

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) has opened a consultation on proposed revisions to its Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards for animal rescue and rehoming organisations.

The consultation follows discussions at the association’s recent Open Meeting and Conference and forms part of its work to promote welfare standards throughout the rescue sector.

A members’ webinar is scheduled for Friday 16 October to explain the proposed changes and consultation process. Submissions can be made until 15 November 2026.

The review comes at a time when the regulation of animal rescue organisations in England is receiving increasing scrutiny.

In January, MPs debated the absence of mandatory licensing for animal rescue and rehoming centres in England, with concerns raised about inadequate oversight, poor welfare practices and the difficulties authorities face when investigating organisations operating without appropriate safeguards.

Voluntary standards have an important role, but they cannot provide the same legal accountability as an effective statutory licensing and inspection system.

Any future framework must protect animals while recognising the different ways rescue organisations operate, including small volunteer-led organisations, foster-based rescues and facilities providing specialist or lifelong care.

Good welfare cannot be measured just by the number of animals admitted or rehomed. It must also consider the quality of care provided, the suitability of accommodation, veterinary provision, behavioural needs and the decisions made for each individual animal.

The ADCH consultation provides an opportunity for organisations working directly with rescued dogs and cats to contribute their experience to the development of sector standards.

End Of Bulletin

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How we portray animals in public communications says something about our relationship with them, and perhaps something about ourselves.

There is something deeply uncomfortable about watching a real tragedy become entertainment.

On 10 October, 23-year-old William Chapman lost his life following an encounter with an Amur tiger named Altai at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. It was a devastating incident for his family, for those who witnessed it and for everyone involved.

In the days that followed, footage of the incident circulated online. US President Donald Trump shared footage of the attack on his Truth Social account and subsequently published an AI-generated video depicting himself playfully wrestling with a tiger.

Before going any further, we want to make something clear. Dog Desk Animal Action has no interest in party politics, political allegiance or the political views of those involved. Our concern is with animal welfare, public education and the responsibility we all share when representing animals, particularly when those representations arise from real incidents involving suffering or loss of life.

William Chapman’s family have spoken publicly about the distress caused by the circulation of material relating to his death. Their wishes deserve respect. We will not reproduce the footage or the AI-generated video here.

When a person loses their life in an encounter with a wild animal, two things should be possible at once. We should be able to recognise the terrible loss of human life and extend compassion to those left behind, while also recognising that the animal involved is a living being whose behaviour deserves to be understood rather than sensationalised.

Yet increasingly, events involving animals are reduced to moments of spectacle. Footage circulates, images are shared, jokes are made and, before long, the original circumstances become almost secondary to the attention the material attracts.

Artificial intelligence has added another dimension to this. We can now take real events and transform them into fictional scenes within seconds. An encounter that ended in tragedy can be recreated as comedy, an animal can be made to behave in ways entirely contrary to its nature, and something that should encourage reflection can become another piece of disposable entertainment.

At Dog Desk Animal Action, we spend a great deal of time examining how people perceive animals, particularly those whose behaviour brings them into conflict with human communities.

An animal portrayed as dangerous, aggressive or threatening may be judged long before anyone considers the circumstances of its behaviour. Equally, presenting a powerful wild animal as a harmless plaything can create a misleading impression of what that animal is and how humans should interact with it.

Neither portrayal serves the animal particularly well.

Wild animals are not actors in a human drama. They do not understand the narratives we construct around them, the attention their images attract or the humour people may find in their behaviour. They respond to their environment through instincts, experiences and biological needs that deserve respect. And when something goes terribly wrong, the consequences are real.

Behind the headlines there may be a family whose life has changed forever. There may also be an animal whose future becomes uncertain because of an encounter it could never understand in human terms. Those realities should not disappear simply because a video has the potential to attract an audience.

This raises a wider question about responsibility. We have become accustomed to sharing material almost without thinking. Something catches our attention, provokes a reaction and is passed along to thousands of other people. The speed of that process leaves very little room to consider whether the content is accurate, what it communicates about animals or how it might affect those directly involved.

Not everything that can be created or attracts attention deserves to be published or amplified.

That does not mean difficult incidents should be hidden from public view. Quite the opposite. Responsible reporting can help us understand animal behaviour, examine safety measures, identify failures and consider how similar tragedies might be prevented.

We can discuss a fatal encounter without turning the animal into a monster. We can acknowledge the extraordinary power of a wild predator without pretending it is a cuddly companion. And we can recognise the loss of a human life without making that loss the foundation of a joke.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of all this is how easily the seriousness of an event can disappear once it becomes content. A few seconds of amusement may seem inconsequential to the person watching, but the tragedy from which that amusement was created remains very real to somebody else.

Animal welfare is not confined to veterinary treatment, rescue or legislation. It also involves the attitudes we encourage and the understanding we help create.

How we speak about animals influences how we treat them. How we represent them influences how others perceive them. And how we respond when their lives intersect tragically with ours reveals something about the value we place on both human and animal life.

A tragedy should be an opportunity to learn, to understand and, where necessary, to prevent another one. It should not have to become entertainment.

Following this tragedy, Dog Desk Animal Action has written to Defra seeking clarification on the safety measures required in British zoos, particularly the emergency procedures in place when a person enters an enclosure housing dangerous animals.

Our enquiry also addresses the availability of chemical immobilisation, the use of non-lethal interventions and the protection of animals during such incidents. We have asked how lessons from serious incidents are shared across the sector to help prevent future tragedies. Our intention is not to speculate about what happened at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, but to better understand how human safety and animal welfare are protected together. We will share Defra’s response when it is received.

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Four very young puppies were collected from Hacettepe University’s Beytepe Campus in Ankara on 10 October 2026, prompting concerns about the methods used to remove them and what has happened to them since.

According to information made public by the Animal Rights Confederation (HAYKONFED), the puppies were so young that their milk teeth had not yet erupted. The organisation alleges that they were administered anaesthetic medication before being transported away in a commercial vehicle bearing an Ankara registration.

The circumstances have raised an immediate question: why would puppies of such a young age need to be sedated for collection?

Sedation can be necessary in certain circumstances, particularly when an animal cannot be handled safely or requires a medical procedure. However, very young puppies would ordinarily be expected to be manageable using gentle handling and suitable transportation equipment. The decision to administer medication should take account of the individual animal’s age, weight, health and circumstances.

Puppies are particularly vulnerable to complications associated with sedation and anaesthesia. Their immature physiology, limited ability to regulate body temperature and susceptibility to low blood glucose require careful assessment, appropriate dosing and close monitoring.

If the puppies were as young as described, their age would also raise questions about their nutritional needs, whether they were still dependent on their mother and what arrangements were made for their care following collection.

HAYKONFED has questioned the reported administration of medication and requested information about the personnel involved, veterinary supervision, the drugs used and the puppies’ subsequent treatment. The organisation has also sought access to collection documentation, veterinary records and CCTV footage.

The allegation that high doses of anaesthetic were administered is particularly concerning, although determining whether a dose was excessive would require information about the medication, the quantity administered, the puppies’ individual weights and their clinical condition.

There is a difference between sedation being medically justified and sedation being carried out safely. Both questions are relevant here.

The reported use of a commercial vehicle raises further questions about transportation arrangements, particularly for animals of such a young age. Puppies require suitable ventilation, protection from temperature extremes and appropriate monitoring during transport. If they had received sedative medication, their condition during the journey would be especially important.

At present, the identity of the collection team and the facility to which the puppies were reportedly taken have not been established in the information publicly available. Nor has a subsequent update been identified confirming their health, welfare or current whereabouts.

This is perhaps the most pressing aspect of the case. Whatever the circumstances of their collection, the immediate concern is whether all four puppies are safe, receiving appropriate veterinary care and, if still dependent on their mother, having their developmental and nutritional needs met.

The incident comes against the background of changes to Türkiye’s animal protection legislation introduced in 2024, which increased municipal responsibilities for collecting free-roaming dogs and accommodating them in designated facilities.

Hacettepe University’s Beytepe Campus has previously been the subject of animal collection activity. In July 2026, reports described an operation involving multiple municipalities during which 39 dogs were reportedly removed from the campus. That earlier operation is separate from the allegations concerning the four puppies in October.

The latest concerns demonstrate why the circumstances of individual collection operations deserve careful attention. Age, health, handling methods, veterinary oversight and transportation arrangements can all have a significant bearing on animal welfare, particularly when very young or medically vulnerable animals are involved.

HAYKONFED has indicated that it is pursuing information through formal channels, including documentation that may help establish what occurred on 10 October.

For now, the most important questions remain unanswered. Were the puppies sedated, and if so, why was this considered necessary? Was a veterinarian responsible for assessing and supervising the procedure? Where were the puppies taken, and what arrangements were made for their care?

Above all, where are the four puppies today, and are they safe?

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As the Philippines prepares to welcome international leaders to Metro Manila in November, reports of street dogs being captured and impounded have raised concerns about what happens to the animals once they are removed from public view.

The 49th ASEAN Summit is scheduled for 16 to 18 November 2026, bringing together government leaders from across Southeast Asia. Preparations are underway, including security arrangements, traffic management and operations intended to ensure public spaces are ready for the event.

Among those preparations are reported operations involving the collection of free-roaming animals from the streets.

On 13 October, Philippine news outlet Interaksyon reported concerns raised by animal welfare organisation CARA Welfare Philippines about the possible impoundment of community dogs ahead of the summit. The report referred to an earlier television broadcast, dated 2 October, describing cooperation between the Philippine National Police and Pasay City authorities on street-clearing operations, including the capture of stray animals for impoundment.

CARA issued an advisory encouraging residents and community carers to remain vigilant, while distinguishing the reported operations from unverified claims circulating online.

The concern now is what happens to the dogs after they are captured, particularly given the country’s laws governing municipal impoundment.

Three Days in a Municipal Pound

Under the Philippines’ Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, Republic Act No. 9482, local authorities are empowered to capture and impound stray, unregistered and unvaccinated dogs.

Section 9 provides that dogs remaining unclaimed after three days may be offered for adoption, with assistance from animal welfare organisations where feasible, or otherwise disposed of through legally authorised procedures.

This means a dog entering a municipal pound may face a decision about its future after only three days. Euthanasia is among the outcomes permitted under applicable animal welfare law, although it is not automatic.

For community dogs, this creates a particular problem. Many free-roaming dogs are not entirely without human care. They may have lived in the same neighbourhood for years, be recognised by residents and receive regular food from people who consider them part of their community.

If one of those dogs is collected during a street-clearing operation, how would the people caring for it know where to find it? Would they even be aware that it had been impounded? And could they locate and reclaim it before the three-day period expired?

Where Are the Captured Dogs Going?

Pasay City operates an animal control facility through its City Veterinary Office. The city has previously stated that its animal management services include impoundment, vaccination and adoption.

In November 2025, the city administration publicly rejected allegations about the killing of impounded animals using vehicle exhaust fumes, stating that its facility operated in accordance with national animal welfare requirements.

Those statements concerned an earlier controversy. They do not establish what is happening during the present summit preparations.

The reported operations have not been accompanied by publicly identified figures showing how many dogs have been collected, where they have been taken or their subsequent outcomes.

These are the records Dog Desk Animal Action is seeking from the Pasay City Veterinary Office, alongside clarification about arrangements for community carers attempting to locate dogs removed from their neighbourhoods.

When Public Events Change the Lives of Street Animals

Major international events place considerable pressure on host cities to present an orderly and welcoming environment. But the presence of community dogs cannot be responsibly addressed simply by removing them from sight.

There is a difference between routine animal-control work undertaken for public safety and intensified collection operations associated with preparations for an international event.

If dogs are being collected specifically because the summit is approaching, the authorities should be able to explain why the removals are necessary, what safeguards are in place and how the animals are being cared for.

Removing a dog from the street does not resolve the responsibility for that animal. It transfers that responsibility to the authority that captured it.

Philippines Remains on Watchlist

The Philippines is currently classified WATCHLIST on the Dog Desk Animal Action Global Stray Dog Crisis Map.

The reported collections warrant further investigation, but there is not yet sufficient evidence to justify changing the country’s classification. There is also no confirmed evidence that dogs collected during these preparations have been euthanised.

The ASEAN Summit will last three days. For a dog captured and placed in a municipal pound, three days may be enough to determine whether it ever leaves alive.

The world may see “clean streets” when international leaders arrive in Manila. We want to know what has happened to the dogs who were living on those streets before the preparations began.

Supporting Sources

1. Interaksyon — 13 October 2026. Animal org raises alarm over claims of pet impounding ahead of ASEAN Summit. Reports CARA Welfare Philippines’ advisory and the earlier report of street-animal impoundment in Pasay City.

2. Republic Act No. 9482 — Anti-Rabies Act of 2007. Philippine Supreme Court E-Library. Section 9 establishes the three-day impoundment provision and subsequent disposition of unclaimed dogs.

3. Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9482. Philippine Supreme Court E-Library. Further provisions concerning animal impoundment and rabies-control responsibilities.

4. Philippine Information Agency — October 2026. NCRPO beefs up inter-agency coordination for ASEAN Summit in November. Official information concerning summit security preparations.

5. Manila Bulletin — 6 November 2025. Mayor Emi rejects allegations concerning treatment of impounded animals in Pasay. Background on the city’s previous statements about its animal control facility.

ITALY

MARCELLINARA

Animal Welfare Group Challenges Municipal Order To Capture Stray Dogs

An animal welfare organisation in Calabria has requested an urgent review of a municipal order reportedly issued on 12 October requiring the capture of stray and roaming dogs along Via IV Novembre in Marcellinara.

Voce Animale has questioned whether the order allows for individual assessments and complies with regional legislation permitting eligible dogs to return to their territory following veterinary checks. The organisation has requested details of the dogs affected, the reasons for collection and where captured animals will be housed.

The municipality’s response and the implementation of the order have yet to be established.

BRAZIL

PERNAMBUCO

Prosecutors Recommend Closure Of Two Animal Shelters Following Welfare Inspection

Public prosecutors in Pernambuco have recommended the closure of two irregular animal shelters in Bezerros following inspections that identified inadequate accommodation, sanitation problems and insufficient veterinary supervision.

Approximately 45 dogs were identified at one facility, while animals at the second were reportedly found in poor condition and unsuitable surroundings.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has called on the municipality to assume responsibility for the animals, arrange veterinary assessments and treatment, and provide suitable accommodation. Authorities have been given 30 days to report on the measures taken.

MEXICO

MEXICO CITY

Benito Juárez Reports More Than 500 Dog And Cat Sterilisations In 2026

The Benito Juárez borough of Mexico City has reported completing more than 500 dog and cat sterilisations during 2026 as part of its efforts to prevent unwanted breeding and animal abandonment.

The municipality is participating in the Latin American CASTRALAT initiative for the fifth consecutive year, providing accessible veterinary services through its municipal animal care centre.

The current campaign continues until 16 October. The municipality has not published figures establishing the programme’s impact on abandonment or the wider free-roaming animal population.

MEXICO

SONORA

Guaymas Launches Three-Day Dog And Cat Sterilisation Campaign

Municipal authorities in Guaymas have launched a sterilisation campaign running from 14 to 16 October, offering surgical procedures for dogs and cats through the city’s animal care centre.

Appointments are limited to ten animals daily, with a maximum of 30 procedures available across the campaign. Residents may register one animal each, subject to health and age requirements.

The initiative aims to prevent uncontrolled breeding and promote responsible animal care, although the limited number of appointments restricts the campaign’s immediate reach.

UNITED KINGDOM

STOCKPORT

Council Suspends Stray-Dog Collection For Two Days

Stockport Council has announced that its dog warden service will be unable to collect stray dogs on 14 and 15 October, with normal operations expected to resume on Friday 16 October.

Residents finding stray dogs during the interruption are being directed to Manchester Dogs’ Home but must contact the facility beforehand to establish whether accommodation is available.

The council has not publicly explained the reason for the suspension or detailed what alternative arrangements are available for residents unable to safely contain or transport a stray animal.

UNITED STATES

NEW YORK

New York City Proposes Ending Horse-Drawn Carriage Operations By 2028

New York City has announced an agreement that could bring horse-drawn carriage operations to an end by June 2028, following years of debate over the welfare of horses working in busy urban environments.

The proposed legislation includes provisions for the retirement and protection of carriage horses, alongside measures intended to support drivers affected by the closure of the industry.

The City Council is expected to consider the proposal on 22 October. The ban has not yet been enacted, and the final arrangements remain subject to legislative approval.

End of Bulletin

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Questions are being raised about the welfare and whereabouts of dogs collected by Lüleburgaz Municipality in Türkiye’s Kırklareli province.

At a public statement on 12 October, local animal welfare campaigners raised concerns about conditions at the municipality’s Temporary Animal Care Centre, including veterinary treatment, sterilisation and the procedures used to collect dogs from the streets.

Among the animals highlighted were dogs suffering from skin conditions and injuries, together with a mother dog that had given birth inside the facility. Campaigners are seeking information about the care these animals received and what subsequently happened to them.

Questions have also been raised about the use of sedatives during collection operations, whether veterinarians accompanied collection teams and whether any dogs died during or following collection.

The concerns are significant because collecting a dog is only the beginning of a municipality’s responsibility towards that animal. Dogs entering care may already be sick, injured or frightened. Some will need immediate treatment, others prolonged veterinary attention, and all require appropriate accommodation and handling.

Perhaps the most important question being asked in Lüleburgaz is a straightforward one: where are the dogs now?

Since Türkiye amended its animal protection legislation in 2024, municipalities have faced increased responsibilities for collecting free-roaming dogs and accommodating them in designated facilities. This has brought shelter capacity, veterinary resources and animal welfare outcomes into sharper focus.

Across Türkiye, considerable attention has been paid to the number of dogs collected from public spaces. Far less visible is the information needed to establish what happens afterwards.

How many dogs remain in municipal care? How many have been transferred to other facilities or adopted? How many have died, and what were the recorded causes? These figures are essential to understanding the consequences of collection policies, particularly when facilities are receiving large numbers of animals.

Accurate records are an important part of animal welfare management. They help ensure continuity of veterinary care, support the planning of resources and provide a clearer understanding of the needs and outcomes of animals entering municipal facilities.

The concerns raised by local campaigners deserve clear answers through the appropriate channels, with the welfare of the animals at the centre of that process.

A dog does not disappear from our responsibility when it disappears from the street. What happens next is every bit as important.

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COOK ISLANDS

Petition Challenges Culling Of Stray Dogs

A petition calling for an end to the culling of stray dogs in the Cook Islands has attracted more than 500 supporters. The campaign challenges the use of killing to manage free-roaming dog populations and calls for alternative approaches.

The petition has brought renewed attention to government dog-control practices and the responsibilities of dog owners. The number of dogs killed under existing arrangements has not been independently established.

UNITED STATES

CONNECTICUT

Police Investigate Dog Thrown Over Municipal Shelter Fence

Police in New London, Connecticut, are investigating an incident in which a dog was thrown over a six-foot fence at the city’s municipal animal shelter during the early hours of 12 October.

The dog was subsequently discovered hiding within the shelter grounds and was recovered by an animal control officer. The animal has received veterinary attention and remains in care. Police have released images and are appealing for information to identify the person responsible.

UNITED STATES

ILLINOIS

Animal Cruelty Charges Follow Discovery Of Dead Dogs At Boarding Facility

Three women face animal cruelty charges following an investigation into an unlicensed dog boarding facility in Glen Carbon, Illinois.

Investigators discovered 18 living dogs and six dead dogs at the property, with additional animal remains subsequently recovered. Court documents detailing the conditions were reported in October, although the investigation began earlier.

The allegations have not yet been determined by a court.

SINGAPORE

New Shelter Guidelines Address Animal Welfare Standards

Singapore’s Animal & Veterinary Service has introduced its first guidelines specifically addressing the operation of animal shelters.

The guidelines cover shelter capacity, housing conditions, hygiene, veterinary care and arrangements for animals when shelters cease operating. They follow concerns about conditions at the now-closed Animal Lovers League shelter, including overcrowding and delays in obtaining veterinary treatment.

The measures are intended to establish clearer expectations for organisations responsible for rescued animals.

UNITED STATES

VIRGINIA

Animal Rescue Organisation Challenges Proposed Warehouse Development

Hanover Humane Society in Virginia has raised concerns about proposed warehouse developments near its animal shelter, warning that construction noise and heavy vehicle movements could affect the welfare of rescued dogs.

The organisation reports that construction associated with an existing data centre has already disrupted shelter activities and frightened dogs in its care. Residents have challenged the proposals, while local planning officials have requested revisions.

The proposed warehouse development has not yet received final approval.

INDIA

UTTAR PRADESH

Security Guard Arrested Following Fatal Shooting Of Street Dog

Police in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a security guard accused of shooting and killing a free-roaming dog.

The incident has prompted concern among residents and animal welfare campaigners, with calls for action under animal protection legislation. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.

End Of Bulletin

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INDIA GOA

Authorities Give Seven Days For Beach Dogs To Be Adopted Before Relocation

Goa’s Tourism Department has announced a seven-day opportunity for residents, animal welfare organisations and members of the public to adopt free-roaming dogs living on the state’s beaches before a planned relocation operation.

Dogs remaining after the adoption period are expected to be collected, sterilised, vaccinated and transferred to authorised shelters.

The announcement raises questions about the capacity of receiving facilities, the long-term care of relocated dogs and the arrangements for animals that have spent their lives in familiar beach communities. Further information about how the operation will be implemented will be important in assessing its welfare implications.

PHILIPPINES

Proposed Legislation Seeks Stronger Animal Welfare Protections

Animal welfare advocates in the Philippines are supporting proposed legislation intended to strengthen the country’s existing Animal Welfare Act.

The proposed Animal Life Advocacy and Guardianship Act, known as the ALAGA Bill, includes measures addressing the management of stray dogs and cats and oversight of government-operated animal pounds.

Supporters say the reforms are needed to improve accountability, strengthen protection for companion animals and address shortcomings in existing arrangements for animal population management.

The legislation remains a proposal and has not yet become law.

AUSTRALIA TASMANIA

Government Defends Plans To End Greyhound Racing

Tasmania’s government has defended its decision to withdraw public funding from greyhound racing and pursue legislation to bring the industry to an end.

During a parliamentary committee hearing, Minister Roger Jaensch referred to 51 injuries recorded across 2,928 racing starts between April and June 2026, citing concerns about the risks faced by racing dogs.

Opposition representatives questioned the government’s reasoning and its approach to other animal-based sports.

The proposed closure has not yet been completed. Arrangements for dogs currently involved in racing, including their future care and rehoming, will be an important part of the transition.

UNITED KINGDOM

Increase Reported In Animal Poisoning Incidents Involving Recreational Drugs And Nicotine

Figures from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service and Animal Poison Line indicate a 42% increase in enquiries involving recreational drugs and nicotine during 2025, rising from 445 to 633.

Dogs can encounter hazardous substances during ordinary walks, including discarded drugs, contaminated materials and human waste in public spaces.

Veterinary specialists have warned that suspected exposure requires prompt veterinary attention, as some substances can cause serious poisoning even in small quantities.

The figures highlight an environmental hazard affecting companion animals and the importance of recognising potential poisoning symptoms quickly.

UNITED KINGDOM

Consultation Opens On Revised Welfare Standards For Animal Rescue Organisations

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) has opened a consultation on proposed revisions to its Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards.

Announced on 6 October, the consultation follows discussions at the organisation’s recent conference and open meeting. The standards provide a framework for animal welfare and operational practices within rescue and rehoming organisations.

The consultation offers an opportunity to examine how expectations of animal care, management and organisational practice may develop across the rescue sector.

The revised standards remain proposals while consultation is underway.

ROMANIA

Proposed Legislation Would End Euthanasia Of Healthy Stray Dogs

Legislative proposals in Romania seek to prohibit the euthanasia of healthy stray dogs and introduce a different approach to dog population management.

The proposals, introduced in November 2025, include sterilisation, microchipping, a county-level census of stray animals and dedicated funding for local authorities to develop population management plans.

A public petition supporting the reforms attracted more than 215,000 signatures. The proposals would also require local authorities to establish specialist structures responsible for animal welfare and stray dog management.

End Of Bulletin

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PHILIPPINES

Renewed Pressure For Stronger Animal Welfare Laws

Calls for stronger animal welfare legislation are growing in the Philippines as lawmakers consider proposals intended to improve the treatment of animals and strengthen accountability for cruelty.

The proposed Animal Life Advocacy and Guardianship (ALAGA) Act would introduce tougher penalties for animal cruelty, establish an independent animal welfare commission and improve conditions in municipal pounds. It also seeks to make humane population management, including trapping, neutering, vaccination and return, a greater priority for local authorities.

The legislation has not yet been passed. Its progress will be an important test of whether growing concern about animal cruelty can be translated into meaningful protections for animals, particularly those living on the streets or entering government facilities.

IRELAND

Government Allocates €20.4 Million To Greyhound Racing

Ireland’s government has allocated €20.4 million to greyhound racing in Budget 2027, despite continuing concerns about animal welfare within the industry.

The funding decision has renewed criticism of public financial support for greyhound racing, particularly in relation to racing injuries, deaths and the fate of dogs once their racing careers end.

Greyhound Racing Ireland has welcomed the allocation and maintains that animal welfare is a priority. However, questions remain about whether existing protections and oversight are sufficient to safeguard the dogs involved.

The decision comes as other jurisdictions move towards ending greyhound racing, placing Ireland’s continued investment in the industry under increasing scrutiny.

MALAYSIA

More Than 37,000 Animal Welfare Complaints Recorded

Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services received 37,043 animal welfare complaints between January 2020 and September 2026, highlighting the scale of concerns being reported across the country.

Of those complaints, 6,749 were addressed under the Animal Welfare Act 2015. Reported welfare issues included inadequate food, unsuitable living conditions, failure to provide veterinary treatment and incidents involving injury or suffering.

Malaysia has legislation intended to protect animals from cruelty and neglect, but the figures raise questions about enforcement capacity, the handling of complaints and whether sufficient resources are available to investigate and respond to reported abuse.

KUWAIT

Stricter Dog Ownership And Rabies Prevention Rules Introduced

Kuwait has introduced new requirements for dog owners, including compulsory licensing, official identification and annual rabies vaccination.

Dogs must also undergo veterinary examinations, while owners are required to keep them leashed and muzzled in public places. Those who fail to comply may face fines or imprisonment.

The measures are intended to improve public safety, disease prevention and responsible ownership. Their implementation will determine how effectively the new requirements protect both animals and communities.

LAOS

Government Strengthens Rabies Prevention Programme

Laos is strengthening its efforts to eliminate human deaths caused by dog-mediated rabies by 2030, with vaccination and improved disease surveillance central to its approach.

The government is reviewing its national rabies prevention strategy for 2026–2030, working with international partners to improve coordination between public health and veterinary authorities.

Gaps remain in dog vaccination coverage, public awareness and access to preventative treatment following potential exposure.

Vaccinating at least 70% of dogs in at-risk communities is recognised as an effective means of interrupting rabies transmission. Expanding vaccination coverage offers a route to protecting human health while avoiding indiscriminate killing of dogs.

IRELAND

Government Considers Recommendations From Dog Control Review

Ireland’s government has received the report of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group, established in 2024 to examine existing dog control legislation and policy.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed on 8 October that the recommendations are being considered alongside the development of a national Animal Welfare Strategy.

The review could influence future rules governing responsible ownership, dog control and the responsibilities of local authorities.

The report has not yet been published, leaving its recommendations and the government’s intended response unknown.

End of Bulletin

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When a dog enters a public shelter, decisions about treatment, adoption and euthanasia should be made according to that animal’s circumstances. A new South Korean law has brought an uncomfortable question into focus: what happens when a shelter can also supply that animal’s body to a university or research institution?

On 1 October 2026, South Korea’s National Assembly passed an amendment to the Animal Protection Act allowing animal protection centres to provide animal remains for veterinary research and education under conditions to be set by the Ministry of Agriculture. Supporters say the change could reduce the need to buy and euthanise purpose-bred dogs for teaching, while giving veterinary students access to cadavers.

There is a reasonable case for making careful use of an animal who has already died. The difficult part is ensuring that the animal’s death was decided independently of any demand for a body. Animal-law specialists quoted by Hankook Ilbo warned that, where shelters already make euthanasia decisions without sufficient transparency, a new route for supplying remains could affect whether an animal receives further treatment or is offered for adoption. The parliamentary committee review reportedly identified gaps in the bill, including no clear prior-consent procedure, uncertainty over who could receive remains and insufficient management standards.

That is a risk to guard against, not evidence that shelters have euthanised dogs to meet research demand. The amendment does not itself add a new legal ground for euthanasia. South Korea’s current Article 46 requires humane disposal to be carried out by a veterinarian and sets rules for disposing of the resulting remains. The amendment creates an exception to those disposal rules; its detailed safeguards are still to be established.

It is not yet clear whether the new arrangement will cover only animals who are euthanised, or also those who die naturally in a shelter. That needs to be settled before anyone can say exactly which animals’ remains may be used.

The financial question deserves the same care. The reports describe the transfer as providing or donating remains; I have found no evidence that universities will pay shelters for them. Using remains for teaching could, however, save a public authority the cost of disposal or cremation. That potential saving is not proof of improper practice, but it makes clear rules about payments, reimbursements and cost-sharing important.

Oversight is another concern. A dead animal used for teaching may not be subject to the same safeguards as a live animal used in an experiment. The rules therefore need to say which institutions may receive remains, which purposes are permitted and how use will be monitored. They should also require records that connect each animal’s identity and cause of death with the shelter’s decision, the receiving institution, the use made of the remains and their final disposal.

Most of all, the rules should state plainly that no animal may be euthanised, denied treatment or removed from an adoption pathway to supply a research or teaching need. Decisions about care and euthanasia must be made first, independently and for reasons relating to the animal; any later decision about the remains must be separate and fully traceable.

The amendment’s supporters say it could reduce the use of purpose-bred dogs. Whether it does so will depend on what happens in practice: whether shelter remains replace animals otherwise killed for teaching, whether institutions continue to develop alternatives such as models and simulation, and whether the public can see reliable records of transfers and outcomes.

South Korea now has a chance to put those protections in place before the new route begins operating. The National Assembly has approved the change, but the safeguards are not yet clear. The ministry’s ordinance should close that gap before any shelter is asked to supply a body.

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MALAYSIA

29 Organisations Call For Government Funding To End Municipal Dog Killing

A coalition supported by 29 organisations has called on the Malaysian government to allocate RM10 million annually towards humane management of free-roaming animals and end the killing of stray dogs by local authorities.

Representatives delivered a memorandum to Parliament on 7 October, proposing investment in sterilisation, vaccination, veterinary treatment, rescue, adoption and sanctuaries.

The coalition’s demands also include establishing a national animal welfare commission, reforming the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and removing pound release fees for stray dogs.

Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan received the memorandum and indicated that it would be forwarded to the relevant authorities. No government commitment to implementing the proposals has been confirmed.

INDIA

MAHARASHTRA

High Court Demands Stray-Dog Population And Sterilisation Figures

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to provide updated information on free-roaming dog populations, sterilisation programmes and rabies treatment availability by 2 November.

Figures presented to the court by an amicus curiae indicated that 150,594 dogs had been sterilised across urban local authorities during the preceding six months. However, 128 government hospitals reportedly lacked anti-rabies vaccines, while 381 lacked rabies immunoglobulin.

The court also sought information about funding, the number of dogs still requiring sterilisation and the management of dogs on institutional premises.

PAKISTAN / ROMANIA

Karachi Delegation Visits Animal Welfare Organisation Amid Romania's Continuing Stray-Dog Crisis

A delegation representing the Pakistan–Romania Business Council has visited the Save the Dogs and Other Animals centre in Cernavodă, Romania, to examine approaches to managing free-roaming dog populations.

The visit, reported on 8 October, included discussions about sterilisation, vaccination, veterinary treatment, identification, adoption and community education.

The delegation expressed interest in adapting elements of the Romanian organisation’s work to Karachi and other areas of Sindh, where street-dog management remains a significant animal welfare and public-health issue.

The visit was exploratory, and no formal implementation programme or funding commitment has been confirmed.

ROMANIA

Municipal Survey Reveals Serious Gaps In Dog Population Management

A September 2026 assessment by CAMRO has identified significant gaps in the management of free-roaming and owned dogs among responding Romanian municipalities.

Of 105 municipalities analysed, 42 reported having no systematic dog-management method, while six reported killing as an existing management measure.

The assessment also found that 58 municipalities had no fixed annual budget for dog management and 60 had no designated responsibility for the issue. Meanwhile, 93 expressed a need for support with neutering programmes.

The survey is not nationally representative, but its findings highlight the difficulties of managing dog populations where local authorities lack established systems, funding and veterinary partnerships.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Government Advances Restrictions On Commercial Puppy And Kitten Sales

Northern Ireland has approved proposals to introduce its own version of Lucy’s Law, restricting third-party commercial sales of puppies and kittens.

The proposals, announced by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir on 7 October, would prevent commercial dealers and other third-party sellers from supplying puppies and selling kittens.

Prospective puppy buyers would generally be required to deal directly with breeders and see the animals with their mothers at the breeding premises.

The measures are intended to strengthen safeguards against irresponsible breeding and trading. Further legislative and Assembly procedures are required before the restrictions can take effect.

SRI LANKA

Army Supports Vaccination And Sterilisation Of Free-Roaming Dogs

The Sri Lanka Army has reported a vaccination and sterilisation programme for free-roaming dogs at the Army Headquarters vehicle yard on 6 October.

The programme focused on dogs living within and around the Tri-Forces Headquarters.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts towards Sri Lanka’s target of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.

The Army’s announcement, published on 9 October, did not specify how many dogs were treated.

End Of Bulletin

On 30 August 2026, a one-year-old miniature donkey named HeeHaw was shot and killed by a police officer in Georgia, United States. He was standing in a pasture belonging to Elsberry Riding and Farm when officers entered the property during a search for a missing 12-year-old girl.

HeeHaw was not a wild animal. He was a domesticated donkey who had been bottle-raised, was accustomed to people and was regarded as a member of the family. His owner, Hannah Israel, has described a sociable young animal who participated in petting-zoo activities. By the end of that night, he was dead.

The officer who shot HeeHaw, Trenton Garner of Cedartown Police Department, stated in his incident report that the donkey charged towards officers and a K-9 handler. According to his account, an attempt to deter the donkey using a TASER was unsuccessful, and he discharged his firearm.

HeeHaw’s owner disputes the suggestion that her donkey posed a threat. She has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the officer, alleging that police entered her enclosed pasture without consent or a warrant and unlawfully killed her animal. Those allegations remain contested.

On 9 October, local broadcaster WSB-TV published body-camera footage of the encounter. The footage brings renewed attention to the circumstances of HeeHaw’s death, but it also raises a question that goes beyond the actions of one officer.

How much do police officers actually know about the animals they encounter while carrying out their duties?

A search for a missing child is a serious and urgent police operation. Nobody disputes the importance of locating a vulnerable child as quickly as possible. But urgency does not eliminate the need to understand the environment into which officers are entering, particularly when that environment contains animals.

A pasture is not an empty field. It is an occupied space in which animals may react to unfamiliar people, unfamiliar dogs, sudden movement, noise and perceived threats. A donkey approaching an intruder may be curious, defensive, alarmed or displaying several responses at once. Movement towards a person does not, by itself, establish an intention to attack.

At Dog Desk Animal Action, we have direct experience of donkeys living alongside dogs. The donkeys are accustomed to canine companions, familiarity is important. An animal’s acceptance of dogs it knows does not necessarily tell us how it will respond to unfamiliar dogs arriving in its enclosure during the night.

There is a question about responsibility. When officers enter a space occupied by animals, particularly with police dogs, they are introducing unfamiliar elements into an established environment. If an animal responds defensively, that response cannot automatically be assessed as though the animal had independently created the confrontation.

Police officers are trained to assess threats, make rapid decisions and protect themselves and others. But human threat assessment and animal behaviour assessment are not interchangeable skills.

An officer may be highly competent in conventional policing yet have little understanding of equine behaviour. A K-9 handler may be experienced in managing a working dog without having received meaningful instruction in how livestock respond to dogs. Those are training questions, not assumptions about the competence of the particular officers involved in HeeHaw’s death.

We want to establish what training was actually provided, what procedures existed and whether those procedures were followed.

Dog Desk Animal Action Has Opened Formal Enquiries

We have prepared formal requests under the Georgia Open Records Act directed to Polk County Police Department, Cedartown Police Department and the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office.

The requests seek existing policies, training materials, operational guidance, risk assessments, K-9 deployment procedures and records relating to the shooting of HeeHaw.

We are asking whether officers receive specific instruction on recognising fear, curiosity, defensive behaviour and aggression in domestic animals and livestock. We want to know what guidance exists for entering enclosed pastures, particularly when police dogs are involved, and whether officers are required to consider withdrawal, repositioning or alternative approaches before using force against an animal.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division has also been investigating the incident, while HeeHaw’s owner is pursuing legal action. Our work is separate from those proceedings.

This Investigation Is Bigger Than One Donkey

HeeHaw’s death has brought an important issue into focus, but the question applies to many different animals and many different policing situations.

Police officers encounter dogs in homes, gardens, streets and public spaces. They encounter horses and livestock during rural searches, traffic incidents and emergencies. They may be called to situations involving injured, frightened, confined or distressed animals.

In each case, the animal’s behaviour can be affected by its surroundings and by the actions of the people approaching it.

The ability to recognise those influences should not be treated as optional knowledge when officers are authorised to use force that can end an animal’s life.

We are not suggesting that every encounter is safe or that officers should be expected to expose themselves to serious injury. Genuine threats exist, and there will be circumstances in which immediate protective action is necessary.

But a proportionate response requires more than identifying a possible danger. It requires understanding the nature of that danger, how it arose and whether it can be reduced without killing the animal. And we are not sure that officers are fully equipped with the knowledge they need to carry out operations to the best of their ability when animals enter their spaces of operation.

Better training cannot guarantee that every encounter will end safely. It can, however, give officers more information on which to base decisions, improve operational planning and reduce the risk of avoidable confrontations.

That is what we intend to examine.

HeeHaw Cannot Be Brought Back

For HeeHaw’s family, this is not an abstract discussion about policing procedures. A young animal they raised and loved was killed in his own pasture. That is a tragic & deeply upsetting incident for them & for the public.

The legal process will address the allegations made in the federal lawsuit. Investigators will examine the circumstances of the shooting. Our concern is with the wider question of whether the systems surrounding such encounters are sufficiently informed by animal behaviour and welfare.

If officers are entering environments containing animals without adequate species-specific knowledge, that is a problem which deserves attention well beyond Georgia.

If effective training and safeguards already exist, we want to see them. If there are gaps, we want to identify them and consider what improvements could prevent another animal from dying unnecessarily.

An animal should not have to die before anyone asks whether the people approaching it understood its behaviour.

Dog Desk Animal Action will publish the responses to our enquiries, subject to appropriate redaction, and report on what the evidence establishes.

HeeHaw’s death deserves a thorough examination. So does the wider question it has raised.

This investigation is ongoing. Requests for records do not imply findings of wrongdoing. The allegations in the civil proceedings remain subject to determination.

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UNITED KINGDOM

Government Rejects Calls For Mandatory Recording Of Companion Animal Euthanasia

The UK Government has rejected calls to introduce mandatory reporting of companion animal euthanasia, stating that it has found no evidence of unnecessary euthanasia occurring on a scale that would justify additional reporting r…

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HONG KONG

Government Announces Four-Month Operation To Capture Free-Roaming Dogs

Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has announced a four-month operation targeting free-roaming dogs in areas identified as high-risk. Captured animals will be checked for identification and assessed, with some poten…

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Sky was a five-year-old Belgian Malinois who had served the South African Police Service as an arson-detection dog. She had been trained to work, deployed to work and depended entirely on SAPS for her care. When her operational career ended, she was taken to the SAPS Veterinary Hospital at Roodeplaat, Pre…

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Green Light For Northern Ireland’s Own Lucy’s Law

Northern Ireland has taken a significant step towards restricting the third-party commercial sale of puppies and kittens after the Executive approved proposals for its own version of Lucy’s Law.

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir announced the approval on 7 Oct…

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In October 2025, an exchange on social media appeared to offer real hope for El Salvador’s street animals & we all welcomed it enthusiastically. President Nayib Bukele said thousands of dogs and cats were living on the country’s streets and that his government wanted to change this without cruelty. He said El Salvador had …

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