Minister Çiftçi, who came to Kocaeli to attend various programs, first visited the Şehit Faruk Aslan Police Station in the Gebze district.
Çiftçi was welcomed there by Governor İlhami Aktaş, AK Party Kocaeli MPs Veysal Tipioğlu and Cemil Yaman, Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz, Darıca Mayor Muzaffer Bıyık, Provincial Police Director Faruk Karaduman and Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Murat Bozkurt.
After greeting the personnel working at the police station and receiving information from officials, Çiftçi then visited the Çayırköy Highway Gendarmerie Command in the İzmit district. Çiftçi, who planted a sapling in the command's garden, later moved to the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Patilik Mutlu Sokak Hayvanları Kasabası and conducted inspections there.
Following the visit, Çiftçi reminded journalists that some changes were made to the law on stray animals with a regulation in 2024. Stating that the collected animals are now kept in shelters or natural habitats after treatment and sterilization, Çiftçi said that the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality has also established a nice shelter and natural habitat.
Çiftçi stated that the facility covers an area of 180 decares, saying, 'Currently, 6,500 animals are kept here in the natural habitat and shelter. 12 veterinarians and a total of 85 people work here.' Çiftçi explained that he saw during his inspection that the conditions are quite good and animal welfare is ensured, and thanked Governor Aktaş and Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın for their work.
'WE HAVE ACCELERATED THE WORK' Çiftçi, noting that the work on this issue started on March 15 last year, continued as follows: 'It first started in the 51 provinces with special provincial administrations. Then, in July, it was expanded to our metropolitan cities. Work in 30 metropolitan cities began as of July.'
As of now, 92.35% of stray animals across Turkey are now kept in shelters and natural habitats. We have accelerated the work. Our goal, God willing, is to collect all animals from the streets by the end of this year and place them in shelters, providing their care, adoption, and living in natural habitats.
Emphasizing that this way both streets, squares and parks become safer and animal welfare is increased, Çiftçi said, 'We are also saving animals from the mercy of people or the streets.' Minister Çiftçi reported that over 1,000 animals have been adopted from the shelter belonging to Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, and said, 'I also call on animal lovers.
Those who wish can adopt the animals here by applying to our Metropolitan Municipality and take care of them.' he said.
