VOA新闻杂志2024--Turkey's Homeless Dogs Find Families in Other Countries

A law that recently passed in Turkey requires the country's four million stray¹ dogs to be impounded, or put in animal shelters. The legislation² aims to place all strays³ into city shelters by 2028.

Supporters of the law, which passed in July, say it aims to prevent dog attacks, road accidents, and the spread of rabies.

But critics say the law may lead to many dogs being euthanized, or killed. Animal lovers, activists⁵ and organizations are working to find homes for Turkey's street dogs, including homes overseas.

Animal rights activist⁴ Nilgul Sayar runs a shelter for dogs near Istanbul. She has sent hundreds of dogs overseas for adoption⁶. She said demand for international dog adoptions⁷ has jumped since the law passed.

"We have around 20 to 25 dogs ready to fly," Sayar said. "People continue to reach out to us (for adoption). I hope we will send more dogs soon. They will all have good homes."

It can take up to four months to get a dog ready to travel to the European Union with the necessary paperwork and vaccinations⁸. And it can cost over $1,100.

Sayar said it often takes years to find homes for the large, old and disabled dogs that make up the majority of the animals in her shelter.

Dali and Deezi used to be stray dogs living on the streets of Istanbul. They were caught and put in Sayar's shelter. But today, Dali and Deezi live in the Netherlands, where they enjoy a comfortable life.

"We wanted to support these dogs and find loving families abroad," said Ali Okay, who volunteered to fly with them from Turkey to Belgium. The animals were later taken to the Netherlands by the non-governmental organization Animal Care Projects.

Dog shelters across Turkey can currently⁹ hold around 100,000 animals. Cities are to build more shelters to meet the requirements of the new law.

Thousands of Turks have protested against the law in recent weeks. Stray dogs and cats can be seen in streets across Turkey. They are loved and cared for by many people. Large stray dogs sometimes sleep in shop doorways¹⁰, with people gently stepping around them.

In response to the new law, some companies are adopting strays for their offices. One hotel on the coast built a dog shelter to introduce them to foreign visitors. Some animal doctors are offering free vaccinations when people choose to adopt animals from the streets.

Turkey used to trap and neuter dogs and then return them to the streets. Critics of the new law say dog numbers would have been under control if that policy had been carried out.

Dali is now in a foster¹¹ home in the Netherlands awaiting adoption. Deezi is settling into her new home and is calm and happy, said new owner Caroline Dieleman.

Dieleman was mourning the death of one of her dogs in June. When she heard about Turkey's new law, she decided¹² to rescue Deezi.

"The new law makes me feel sick physically¹³ but also powerless," said Dieleman. "This was a little thing I could do...it is one dog only, from how many dogs. But one is better than none."

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

stray -adj. not belonging to anyone or having a home

adoption -n. a process in which a family takes someone else, usually a child, but the term is used for animals too, to legally become part of their family

gently -adv. done in a careful, soft or light way

response -n. the result of or answer to an action, rule or question

neuter -v. to remove the reproductive glands of an animal so it cannot reproduce

1 stray   

n.走失的家畜，浪子；adj.迷途的，偶然的；vi.迷路，彷徨

参考例句：

• We couldn't identify the stray child.我们不能辨认出这个迷途孩子的身份。
• Please don't stray from the subject.请不要离开本题。

2 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。

3 strays   

v.走失( stray的第三人称单数 )；偏离正题；走入歧途；（已婚者或有固定关系者）有外遇

参考例句：

• There are lots of waifs and strays living on the streets here. 这里有很多露宿街头的无家可归者。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• My wife is always inviting various waifs and strays from work to our house.She seems to attract them. 我妻子总是邀请公司里各种各样的单身男女到家中作客，他们很愿意和她交往。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

7 adoptions   

n.采用，收养( adoption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Adoption agencies are always so open to alternative family adoptions. 领养中介机构永远都对领养家庭敞开。 来自电影对白
• The number of adoptions has grown in the past year. 去年，收养子女的数字增加了。 来自互联网

8 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

10 doorways   

n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The houses belched people; the doorways spewed out children. 从各家茅屋里涌出一堆一堆的人群，从门口蹦出一群一群小孩。 来自辞典例句
• He rambled under the walls and doorways. 他就顺着墙根和门楼遛跶。 来自辞典例句

11 foster   

vt.收养，培养，促进；adj.收养的，收养孩子的

参考例句：

• Nowadays young couple sometimes foster.现今年轻夫妇有时领养别人的孩子。
• The captain did his best to foster a sense of unity among the new recruits.队长尽力培养新成员之间的团结精神。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。