Istanbul’s dogs wander the streets and have a long history in the city. And they’re as friendly as street dogs come. Dogs are a deeply engrained part of Istanbul’s culture. Back in 2012, the Christian Science Monitor wrote that “street animals have been a part of Turkish culture for generations, and many Istanbul residents believe they have as much right to inhabit the streets as people.”
Istanbul's street dogs have been estimated to be between 100,000 and 150,000 strong, altough it's hard to find reliable numbers. They all tend to be larger, apparently mixed breeds, and very docile. Not prone to barking, Istanbul's dogs, for the most part, lay on the grass and sidewalks while people pass by.
The city’s dogs are all generally rounded up, tagged — you can see the tags on their ears if you look closely — and spayed and neutered. In some areas, people feed and groom the dogs.
More recently, the dogs have become a point of conflict between some who believe “street animals are seen as legitimate denizens of the city” and others who want a more globalized, gentrified city. There has been controversy in recent years over plans to send the dogs to forested areas on Istanbul’s outskirts.
If you love dogs and want to see the street dogs of Istanbul continue to thrive, please click below! To learn more information: Meet the Remarkably Nice Street Dogs of Istanbul