Public Opinion on the Regulation of Stray Animals

SUMMARY

This section explores the events surrounding the regulation of stray animals, pet ownership in Turkey, and public perception of stray animal policies:

• Do you have a pet at home? If so, which one(s)?
• Which regulation regarding stray animals do you think is the most appropriate?

Following a steady increase between June 2017 and June 2022, the pet ownership rate in society decreased by 5% to reach 36% as of July 2024. This rate increases as one moves from metropolitan areas to rural ones; 1 in every 2 people in rural areas is a pet owner. Additionally, a relationship is observed between income level, lifestyles, and pet ownership. Turkey is a cat country; the proportion of cat owners is higher than dog owners. It is observed that the proportion of those identifying as modern is higher among cat and dog owners, whereas no such distinction exists among bird owners. When attitudes toward the publicly debated stray animal regulations are examined, it is seen that society opposes harsh methods such as culling. The expectation of more than half of society is for the state and local governments to produce a solution on this issue without using harsh methods. The proportion of those who think stray animals do not constitute a problem is also at a level that cannot be ignored.