Shelters protect needy stray animals in eastern Turkey

By Aydin Arik

BINGOL, Turkey (AA) - Dozens of shelters were built by volunteers to protect street animals in Turkey's eastern Bingol province during freezing winter conditions.

In 2018, a group of young individuals established an initiative in the Genc district of the province -- Association of An Hour for the Youth -- to contribute to environmental cleaning, and later built a total of 60 animal shelters in an area allocated by the local municipality.

Volunteers feed animals during curfews declared to curb spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak thanks to special permission granted, they also help others adopt stray cats and dogs.

Hisar Akkus, one of the members of the initiative, said it was high time to take responsibility for stray animals in need of help in the district.

Akkus also said people should be more sensitive to animals, referring to them as “voiceless friends”, and his group was determined to extend a helping hand to the needy animals either by taking care of them or helping others adopt them.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas in Ankara