Turkish Veterinarian Bus – A Unique Home for Stray Dogs

Have you ever witnessed a concert like this one? The musicians play beautiful melodies with various instruments, each one fully immersed in the charm of music. As the atmosphere of the concert reaches its peak, a stray dog leisurely walks up to the orchestra, lying down and enjoying the music. The audience doesn't seem surprised, and the dog appears completely at ease.

This harmonious scene is a common sight in Turkey. However, not every place is as accepting of stray dogs. Back in the late 20th century, Turkey's attitude toward stray dogs was very harsh, almost to the point of "poisoning them." But this approach not only lacked humanitarian care for stray animals, but it also sparked strong opposition from many citizens. Eventually, the Turkish government passed legislation to protect the legal rights of stray animals, including dogs and other creatures. One of Turkey's major cities, Istanbul, has particularly embraced this trend, introducing veterinary buses for stray animals such as dogs and cats. A major reason people dislike stray dogs and cats is because they are often forced to live in filthy conditions, sometimes suffering from diseases. However, if stray dogs could receive the same care as pet dogs – regular grooming, health checkups, vaccinations, microchipping, and sterilization – their health and cleanliness could improve significantly. The veterinary bus in Turkey is an essential initiative for helping stray dogs and cats. Every day, the bus seeks out animals in need of care and provides appropriate checkups and assistance. If a dog requires more significant help or is in a serious condition, the bus will take it to a hospital. Importantly, once the dog is healed, the bus returns it to its original location, trying not to disturb the animal's life.

This initiative has proven to be extremely valuable for stray animals. With proper health checks and sterilization measures, the number of stray animals has been effectively controlled. In the three years since the veterinary bus was introduced, there has not been a single case of rabies in Istanbul. In addition to the veterinary buses, Turkey has also introduced dog feeding machines and government-sponsored shelters for stray animals. Step by step, the country is creating a unique home for these stray dogs and cats. Due to the overall social atmosphere, anyone visiting these areas is generally very tolerant and warm toward the stray animals. The stray dogs and cats have become accustomed to interacting with people and appear friendly. Of course, every place has its own unique situation and policies, so we can't generalize and apply the same practices everywhere. But let’s take this as an example and do what we can to help these animals!