Teams from Bornova Municipality in İzmir rounded up 160 dogs cared for by students and volunteers on the Ege University campus on the night of 16 October, accompanied by police. Police used pepper spray against students and animal rights defenders who tried to prevent the dogs from being taken away. Academics also came to the campus to support the students. İzmir Right to Life Defenders demanded disclosure of where the animals were being kept and their health conditions. Bornova Municipality said the operation was carried out at the request of the Ege University Rectorate and on the instruction of the Bornova District Governor’s Office. The municipality said microchipped dogs would be returned to their owners beginning on 19 October and the other dogs would be kept at the municipal shelter. Animal rights defenders called for a march from the Bornova Government Office to the municipality on 17 October to protest the practice.
17 October 2026
Artı Gerçek