The law, which includes regulations for stray dogs, has come into effect.

The Law Amending the Law on the Protection of Animals, which includes regulations for stray animals, has been published in the Official Gazette.

According to the law, which was approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accepted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on July 30, stray animals will be taken to animal shelters by relevant municipalities and rehabilitated dogs will be kept in these places until they are adopted.

The provisions of the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Law Article 9 will be applied to animals that pose a danger to human and animal life and health, have uncontrollable and negative behaviors, have infectious or incurable diseases, or are prohibited from being adopted.

Municipalities will allocate 0.5% of their latest budget revenues until December 31, 2028, to establish animal shelters and carry out rehabilitation procedures, while metropolitan municipalities will allocate 0.3%, and 40% of the expenditures made by municipalities above these rates will be transferred to the municipality by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

PRISON AND FINES ON THE WAY

Municipal officials who fail to fulfill their obligations will be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 6 months to 2 years, and the administrative fine for abandoning owned animals will be increased from 2,000 to 60,000 Turkish Lira.

Here are the articles of the Law Amending the Law on the Protection of Animals: