Outrage in Konya: Footage Shows Dogs Being Dragged and Pushed Into Water at Karatay Shelter
New images and videos from a municipal animal shelter in Karatay, Konya have sparked public outrage and renewed concerns about how animals are treated in some institutional facilities.
According to local reporting, footage circulating online appears to show dogs being dragged across the ground with capture tools and then pushed into a large water area inside the shelter raising serious questions about the treatment of animals once they are brought into the facility.
The scenes have alarmed animal lovers and rights advocates, many of whom have shared their reactions and called for a thorough investigation. In social media posts accompanying the videos, users described seeing dogs being handled roughly, dragged by ropes or equipment, and repeatedly submerged in water and questioned whether these actions were justified as hygiene measures or represented mistreatment.
Historic Concerns at Karatay Shelter
This is not the first time the Karatay animal shelter has been the focus of criticism. Previous allegations circulated years ago about poor conditions and suggestions of mistreatment, and these new images have reignited those concerns.
One animal rights defender cited in the coverage says the shelter houses close to a thousand animals, yet that figure is only a fraction of its potential capacity allegedly more than ten times higher raising questions about overcrowding, management and humane treatment standards.
Community Reaction
After the footage began circulating, many people took to social media to express disbelief and anger. Some posts describe seeing animals being dragged by improvised harnesses or ropes and being forced into water, with commenters demanding clarity from officials: Is this a legitimate procedure, or is this cruelty in plain sight?
Advocates are not only disturbed by the visuals but also by the lack of transparency around animal handling protocols at the shelter. They are calling for:
a full investigation into the incident and shelter practices,
independent oversight of the facility,
and clear, humane standards legally enforced for animal handling and shelter operations.
Many argue that if these actions were genuinely intended for hygiene or safety, they should be openly explained and justified and done in ways that uphold animal welfare standards rather than fuelling suspicion of abuse.
Why This Matters
Animal shelters exist to protect animals that have lost homes, been injured on the streets, or otherwise need care. When graphic or ambiguous footage like this emerges, it undermines public trust in institutional care systems and discourages people from supporting shelter initiatives.
For rescuers, volunteers and donors who devote time, money and emotion to animal welfare such scenes are profoundly upsetting because they strike at the heart of what sheltering should mean: compassion, safety, and rehabilitation.
What Needs to Happen Next
At minimum, advocates are demanding:
Official comment and explanation from Karatay shelter authorities and municipal officials,
Third-party inspection by independent animal welfare experts,
Transparent policies on animal intake, handling, sanitation practices and humane treatment.
In the absence of clear explanations or accountability, the risk is that shelter animals already in vulnerable positions will be subjected to further harm under the guise of normal operations.
This situation is a stark reminder that animal protection is not only about rescue and housing it is also about how institutions treat lives once they are entrusted to them.
If you haven’t signed our petition yet please do so now. We do not want dogs living on the streets but we do not want them suffering in substandard shelters either. We are asking the government to suspend collections until shelters are equipped to provide dogs with the care they need.