Turkish government feeds hundreds of thousands of stray animals

‘All necessary measures must be taken to ensure stray animals don’t go hungry,’ Interior Ministry says

A member of Istanbul Metropolitan municipality pets a stray cat during a food ditribution near an empty Hagia Sophia square (AFP)

Turkey‘s government has told local councils to feed the country’s hundreds of thousands of stray animals during the coronavirus lockdown.

Strays have been receiving less food as they are typically fed by local residents.

The Interior Ministry ordered local councils to “bring food and water to animal shelters, parks, gardens, and other areas where animals are found,” the BBC reported.

It insisted “all necessary measures must be taken to ensure stray animals don’t go hungry”.

The ministry also said shelters and dens for the animals should be disinfected.

Stray animals in Turkey are already vaccinated by vets working for the local councils.

Last week, Ankara’s environment and urbanisation minister, Murat Kurum, tweeted to urge citizens leave food and water for stray animals.

In a message on World Street Animals Day, he said: “In these difficult days, we are not forgetting our friends and leaving food and water in front of our homes.”

Turkey has had over 38,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 812 people have died, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

It comes as cat owners who are self-isolating have been urged to keep their pets indoors as evidence emerged domestic animals can be infected by Covid-19.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA), which issued the warning, said “owners should not worry” about animal-to-human transmission and cats from non-affected households can still be allowed out.

Cats may be able to catch coronavirus and spread it among themselves, research from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China has suggested, but dogs are not as susceptible to infection.

Only two dogs and two cats have tested positive for the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.