Stray dogs tracked electronically, says Istanbul municipality

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Microchips on stray dogs allow for better tracking of the animals and also allow for shots and surgery to be conducted. DHA photo

Microchips placed on stray dogs of Istanbul allow municipality officials to track the animals and follow up with their medical treatments, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Veterinary Services Directorate head Muhammet Nuri Çoşkun said today.

The microchips, placed underneath the skin after the necessary examinations are conducted, carry the medical histories of each animal, allowing officials to better meet the needs of the animal the next time it comes into the hands of a vet.

The animals, with the chips installed, are placed back in their original habitats unless they constitute a danger to the public, or are too sick to make it on their own. In the event of either of the mentioned circumstances, the animals are placed into care homes to be treated.

The chips allow for better tracking of the animals and also allow for shots and surgery to be conducted, Çoşkun added. Each microchip is also defined on the municipality’s website, making the dogs’ histories easier to access by the public.

The microchips also allow officials to be notified when a dog dies, and are then able to attend the corpse in a quick manner, Çoşkun said.

Some 25,000 stray dogs are now being tracked with microchips, and municipality officials aim to widen the scope of the project to include all stray animals.

Around 40,000 stray dogs currently walk the streets of Istanbul.