Dog spay/neuter project in Turkey

Klinge, N., & Taal, L. (2015). Spay/neuter project Ayvalik Turkey.

The aim of this report is to show that problems with a surplus of street dogs in European countries can be solved humanely, cost-effectively and permanently using the appropriate methods and set of measures. Some authorities facing a surplus of free roaming dogs still turn to indiscriminate catch, kennel and kill policies expecting the number of free roaming dogs to decrease. Some authorities imprison free roaming dogs for life by implementing new animal welfare laws with no kill strategies. Both policies however, will not have any effect on the root cause of the problem and have no long-term effect on the reduction of the street dog population. In Europe the source of the street dog problem is not feral dogs foraging for food.
The most reproductively successful dogs are those with owners, feeders or protectors. Therefore the problem is not the dogs themselves. We need to enlist the help of the politicians funding animal birth
control projects and implementing animal welfare laws as well as the citizens feeding and protecting dogs to have all fertile dogs sterilized.
The seaside town Ayvalik in the North West of Turkey is no exception. Animal welfare organizations in Ayvalik reported a substantial population of free roaming dogs. Since 2004 the Turkish Animal Protection Law 5199 was designed to ensure that animals are afforded a comfortable life and receive good and proper treatment, to protect them in the best manner possible from the infliction of pain, suffering and torture, and to prevent all types of cruel treatment. Article 6 describes the collection and management of stray animals.
This report also describes the unexpected events that might occur during a spay/neuter project.

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Canine exiles from Constantinople

THE ADVERTISER, ADELAIDA, MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1910

SUFFERING DOGS 

THE CANINE EXILES FROM CONSTANTINOPLE

Further particulars have been received regarding the condition of the «crowds of dogs» collected from the streets of Constantinople and placed on a neighboring island. In response to protests, it was stated that the dogs were to be killed, but nothing has been done.An account of their terrible ' plight is given in a message from Reuter’s Constantinople representative, -who states:-"In company with a party of English and American friends, I visited the Island of Oxia, in the Sea of Marmora, the place of exile of the dogs. A picture of misery and desolation met our eyes. Dead and dying animals were to be seen everywhere. I saw dogs eating their dead companions. We were soon covered with flies, and were only able to shake them off when we got out to sea again. There were many dogs which still preserved their robust and fit appearance, but the lack of fresh water will doubtless bring those to the same stage as the others. In two respects I noticed an improvement There were some half-dozen men on the island who fed the dogs twice a day, for which purpose bread is imported weekly. The dogs greeted us on landing by wagging their tails and brushing up against us, so if to say, "Take us away from this inhospitable place." Several actually tried to swim behind the dinghy when leaving the island, but soon had to abandon the attempt owing to their weak condition. The men lived in a wooden hut on the elevated part of the island. I was informed by them that there were some 40.000 dogs in the place, though this is evidently an exaggeration. Probably half that number would be nearer the mark and include the total deportation thus far. The death-rate was about 200 a day. An industry has been started on the island by a Frenchman, who skins the dead carcases and boils them for the purpose of extracting the bones, both, skin and bones being exported to Europe. Fresh arrivals at the island now take place once a week only, as the supply is fast diminishing, which is not surprising, seeing that the city has been practically cleared of dogs."

See also Barking island

The dogs of Istambul

Pinguet, C. 2008. Les chiens d'Istanbul, Saint-Pourçainsur-Sioule: Bleu Autour

Catherine Pinguet’s Les chiens d’Istanbul (The Dogs of Istanbul) explores the history of stray dogs in Istanbul. The book sheds light on a neglected facet of the past – the perception of dogs by different cultures and religions. Pinguet tellgs the readers about the massacre of Istanbul's stray dogs in 1910 by offering accounts from travelogues and from residents of the city, along with visual materials such as photographs and cartoons. She also covers contemporary issues such as animal shelters, animal rights and societies for animal protection. Les chiens d’Istanbul reflects on a silent aspect of history and interjects itself well into the history of animal welfare as a whole. Pinguet’s humanitarian tone and comparative analysis powerfully relate the story to readers ...

See also Barking island

Barking island

En 1910, miles de perros callejeros fueron enviados a la isla desierta de Sivriada u Oχeia ( Ὀξεία) en el mar de  Marmara, para evitar su presencia en las calles de Estambul. Un corto de 2010 nos ilustra la historia.

In 1910, thousands of dogs were sent to Sivriada ( Ὀξεία, Oχeia) Island in Marmara Sea, close to Istambul, to avoid their presence in the streets. A shortfilm tells us the story.