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