Turkey
Istanbul Governorship Announces Six New Measures On Street Dogs
Following the recent Istanbul Provincial Animal Protection Board meeting, the Istanbul Governorship announced six new measures relating to street dogs and municipal enforcement. Authorities stated collection operations would continue with determination, while animal welfare groups continue questioning where dogs will be housed if removals intensify further.
The measures include accelerated shelter and natural living area construction, mandatory monthly street dog inventories, expanded use of the national HAYBİS tracking system, rapid completion of new collection facilities in Pendik and Tuzla, legal sanctions against municipalities failing to allocate required animal welfare budgets, and new action against abandonment alongside increased adoption pressure on businesses and institutions.
The announcement has intensified concern around shelter capacity, overcrowding, and welfare risks linked to rapid intake across Istanbul. Critics also noted the absence of any major new sterilisation expansion within the measures despite the scale of the street dog population
Turkey
Protests Continue After Dozens Of Dead Dogs Found In Edremit
Animal welfare protests continue in Edremit after dozens of dead dogs were reportedly discovered near a dumping area. Witnesses and campaigners stated that some of the animals were ear-tagged, increasing concern over how the deaths occurred.
Protesters accused authorities of failing to protect collected animals and called for stronger oversight of municipal shelter systems.
Turkey
Court Opens Path For Investigation Into Allegations Dogs Were Poisoned And Buried Alive At Osmaniye Shelter
A Turkish court has reportedly overturned an earlier administrative decision that blocked investigation into serious allegations involving Osmaniye Municipality Animal Shelter.
The case centres on claims that dogs inside the shelter were poisoned, killed, and in some cases buried while still alive. Animal welfare advocates have argued for months that the allegations were never properly investigated despite public outrage and documentation shared online.
The new court ruling effectively reopens the path for prosecutors to investigate municipal officials connected to the shelter. Campaigners say the decision is significant because it challenges what they describe as a pattern of administrative protection around municipal shelter abuse allegations.
The case has become one of several high-profile shelter controversies in Turkey following the intensification of street dog collection policies and growing concern over overcrowding, lack of oversight, and conditions inside some municipal facilities
Read about the incident here and here
Pakistan
Rights Groups Say Ban On Dog Culling Is Being Ignored In Punjab
Animal welfare organisations and civil society groups in Pakistan continue speaking out against ongoing stray dog killing operations in Punjab despite existing restrictions on culling practices.
Recent discussions between campaigners and legal advocates highlighted concerns that poisoning and shooting campaigns are continuing in practice even as authorities publicly acknowledge sterilisation and vaccination as the preferred long-term strategy.
Rights groups argue the continued reliance on killing operations reflects failures to properly implement sustainable rabies control measures, including vaccination coverage and sterilisation programmes.
Pakistan
Debate Grows Over Failure To Expand Vaccination Programmes
Debate continues in Pakistan after reports criticised failures to properly expand dog vaccination and sterilisation programmes despite existing policy frameworks.
Animal welfare advocates argue repeated culling campaigns are continuing without addressing long-term rabies control through sustained vaccination coverage
Southeast Asia
Pressure Continues Against Dog And Cat Meat Trade Across Vietnam And Indonesia
Animal welfare organisations across Southeast Asia continue documenting trafficking, poisoning, transport, and slaughter connected to the dog and cat meat trade.
In Vietnam, campaigners continue working with government-linked One Health initiatives focused on rabies prevention and companion animal welfare, while in Indonesia pressure continues growing for wider bans on the trade. Welfare groups say poison baiting, trafficking, and theft of street and owned animals remain ongoing concerns across parts of the region.
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