Stray dogs, cats enjoy classical music at Istanbul rehab center

ISTANBUL

A rehab center for stray animals in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district has started playing classical music in a bid to reduce the stress of cats and dogs.

At least 950 dogs and 70 cats listen to orchestral music everyday as part of the project, which Ertuğrul Tunçel, the head of veterinary services at the Beylikdüzü Municipality, said they had started to reduce stress among the animals.

“We let the animals listen to classical music through speakers between 8.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. every day. This reduces their stress,” he said, adding that they consider cats and dogs as “guests.” 

A music teacher from Marmara University, Melis Çelti, first suggested this idea for the rehabilitation of the animals at the center. They subsequently drew up a playlist of 27 works by composers including Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven and 20th century Turkish composer Adnan Saygun.

“There are specially selected compositions among them. Music certainly reduces the anxiety of the animals, as we have experienced here,” Tunçel said.