Ankara Karataş Shelter: Outrage After Alleged Animal Massacre

On 26 December 2025, disturbing footage from the Karataş Animal Shelter in Ankara circulated widely on social media, sparking a wave of shock, anger and urgent calls for accountability from animal rights advocates across Turkey.

Viral Footage Ignites Public Outcry

The video clips show what appear to be dead dogs placed in plastic bags inside a cold storage area, alongside at least one dog that was still alive among the bodies. These images quickly went viral, reigniting intense debate about animal welfare in the country.

Animal rights campaigner Alper Karmış has stated that around 50–60 dogs may have been killed, demanding an independent and transparent investigation so the public can know exactly what happened.

Authorities Respond Denying Shelter Ownership

The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality responded with an official statement claiming that:

• The depot shown in the footage does not belong to the municipality, and no sign, emblem, or logo of the institution appears in the video.

• Municipality and Ministry of Agriculture officials reviewed security footage and found no evidence of wrong doing.

• They insist that security measures were in place and deny that the images are proof of a massacre.

Despite this, animal lovers gathered in protest outside the shelter, reporting that municipality teams and gendarmerie blocked access, raising concerns about possible evidence tampering. Some protesters also highlighted allegations that dogs were left hungry and thirsty before their deaths.

A Broader Context of Animal Rights Tensions In Turkey

This incident is not isolated. Over the past year, animal rights groups in Turkey have repeatedly raised alarms following the passage of controversial changes to animal protection law. Critics argue that the new legislation which requires municipalities to capture stray animals and allows euthanasia of aggressive or sick animals has opened the door to indiscriminate killings in shelters & on the streets.

Independent reports and activist groups have documented multiple alleged cases of mistreatment and unlawful euthanasia at shelters in various cities, fuelling a wider debate about how animals are treated under current policies and whether humane alternatives are being properly funded or enforced

Animal Welfare Advocates Demand Transparency

Animal rights defenders argue that:

• There must be a fully independent investigation beyond municipal review.

• All footage and shelter protocols should be made public.

• Animal welfare organizations and legal observers should be allowed unrestricted access to the site.

Many on social media have also called on political leaders including Ankara’s mayor and national officials to issue clear statements and take responsibility for ensuring shelter animals are protected and treated with dignity.

Numbers That Don’t Add Up

Despite a total shelter capacity of only 12,675, a total of 41,341 dogs have been collected. Authorities report that 17,790 of them died from so-called natural causes, raising serious concerns.

We hoped the change in law would deliver a sheltering system that worked, one grounded in care, accountability, and compassion. Instead, it has failed miserably, inflicting profound suffering on hundreds of thousands of innocent, sentient beings whose only crime is having been abandoned by irresponsible humans.