Difficulties Faced by Animal Organizations and Shelters

     Animal shelters in Turkey face significant challenges in providing healthy living conditions for stray animals. The resulting issues are this;

1. Financial Difficulties of Shelters

    Animal shelters in Turkey struggles with severe financial constraints to sustain the care of stray animals. Basic expenses; such as food, medicine, and veterinary services, have become increasingly costly. There are an estimated 6 million stray dogs and nearly 10 million stray cats in Turkey, forcing shelters to care for more animals than their capacity allows, further straining their resources. The total capacity of shelters in Turkey is only about 100,000 animals, shows the scale of the problem.

2. Lack of Veterinary Services

     In many provinces, accessing veterinary services in shelters is either costly or, in some cases, impossible. This is particularly true for shelters in rural areas, where finding adequate veterinary support for sick or injured animals is challenging. The shortage of veterinarians in shelters prevents the regular delivery of healthcare services. As a result, infectious diseases become more prevalent due to insufficient medical attention.

3. Shortages of Food and Basic Needs

     One of the most significant issues for shelters is the difficulty in meeting basic needs such as food, water, and adequate shelter. During winter, many animals in shelters lack sufficient space and heating to protect them from the cold. In summer, water supplies and cooling areas are often inadequate. Although it is estimated that approximately 1 million animals need to be sterilized annually in Turkey, municipalities and volunteer organizations can only meet about 20% of this need.

4. Volunteer Shortages and Socialization Challenges

    The lack of volunteers exacerbates the difficulties animals face in the socialization process. Most animals lead isolated lives in shelters until they are adopted, which makes it harder for them to adapt to humans and other animals. The limited support from volunteers complicates efforts to address this issue

5. Problems with Shelter Facilities

     Animal shelters in Turkey often accept more animals than they can accommodate, leading to several serious problems. The spaces allocated for animals are typically insufficient. For example, areas designated for dogs often require multiple dogs to share limited space, restricting their mobility and hindering their social interactions. Overcrowding increases stress among animals, fosters aggressive behavior, and negatively impacts their overall health. Furthermore, the inability to maintain hygiene standards accelerates the spread of infectious diseases, threatening the quality of life for shelter animals. Consequently, the current shelter infrastructure fails to provide the necessary conditions for stray animals to live healthy lives.

These issues underline the urgent need for better support, funding, and infrastructure improvements to ensure the welfare of stray animals in Turkey