10.02.2025 12:40
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced that municipalities that do not collect stray dogs, which pose a serious danger to citizens, will be fined 71,000 TL per dog. The ministry has sent the directive to the governors of all 81 provinces.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sent a letter to the governors of 81 provinces regarding stray animals without owners. In the ministry's letter, the claim that municipalities were given until 2028 to collect stray animals was denied.
A FINE OF 71,000 LIRA WILL BE IMPOSED
In the ministry's letter, it was stated that municipalities must immediately collect stray animals, and a monetary fine of 71,965 lira will be applied for each stray animal left on the street.
"WAITING UNTIL 2028 IS AGAINST THE REGULATIONS"
The letter sent by the ministry to the governors included the following statements: "Although the Law No. 5199 grants municipalities with a population exceeding twenty-five thousand until 31.12.2028 to establish animal shelters and improve the conditions of existing shelters; the provisions regarding the collection of animals and the keeping of dogs in animal shelters have come into force as of the date of publication of the Law, therefore waiting until 2028 for the purpose of collecting animals constitutes a violation of the regulations."
Even if the rehabilitation process is completed, it is prohibited by Article 14 of the Law to leave stray animals collected on behalf of local authorities anywhere outside the shelter or to leave dogs housed in the shelter behind. In case of detection of violation of the relevant article of the Law, an administrative fine of 71,965 TL per animal must be applied in 2025."