Heavily Sedated Dogs Found in Suspicious Transport From Gölcük Shelter – Urgent Call for Investigation
A troubling incident in Kocaeli, Turkey has sparked debate over the welfare of dogs in municipal shelters and the standards of care in their transport.
On 14 August 2025, volunteers reported intercepting a vehicle full of dogs under heavy anesthesia leaving the Gölcük Municipality Street Animal Rehabilitation Center. Eyewitnesses described the dogs as barely conscious and packed closely together in the back of the vehicle, with no apparent veterinary monitoring during transit.
Volunteers Demand Answers
Animal advocates are demanding clarification from Mayor Av. Yıldırım Sezer:
Where were these sedated dogs being taken?
Why was heavy sedation used in bulk transport?
The incident raised fears that such practices could endanger the lives of already vulnerable animals.
Municipality’s Response
In an official Gölcük Municipality Press Release, officials rejected the social media allegations, stating:
The animals were sedated under the supervision of specialist veterinarians.
The dogs were being transferred to other rehabilitation centres due to full capacity at Gölcük’s facility, where they could undergo sterilization operations.
The images shared online were “unrealistic claims” that distorted the purpose of the transfer.
In newly released municipal photos, the animals were shown “healthy and in paddocks.”
More than 7,000 stray animals have been sterilized in the district over the past five years.
The municipality expressed concern about individuals from outside the area using unauthorized drones to film the facility and “make posts contrary to the truth.”
The statement concluded that all work in the rehabilitation centre will be reviewed for compliance with laws and animal rights, and every claim will be investigated under legal procedures.
Dog Desk Animal Action’s Concerns
While acknowledging the municipality’s statement, Dog Desk Animal Action remains deeply concerned about the images and accounts from the scene:
Why were the dogs transported in the back of a van without individual dog crates?
Best practice in animal welfare requires that dogs be transported in secure, separate crates to prevent injury, stress, and cross-contamination.Why was heavy sedation used on multiple dogs at once?
Sedation carries significant medical risks, particularly when there is no visible veterinary monitoring during transport.Transparency and trust
If the transfer was routine and for sterilization, the process should be clearly documented, with humane handling standards observed and communicated to the public.
This case highlights a broader need for clear protocols and independent oversight in Turkey’s municipal shelter system to ensure animals are treated safely and humanely during all stages of care.
A Call for Action
We urge Kocaeli Governorship to:
Conduct an independent investigation into this incident
Assess the use of sedation and transport methods
Public vigilance and accountability remain vital in protecting the lives of stray and shelter animals. In our opinion, some shelters are currently failing the dogs in their care and should be closed until they can attain the required standard to meet the animals’ needs.
Dog Desk Animal Action will continue to monitor the situation, advocate for humane transport and shelter standards, and call for full transparency in all animal welfare operations.