Belgin Güneş, a resident of Deniz Mahallesi in Hatay’s Samandağ district, was attacked by stray dogs while walking on the beach yesterday evening. She was rescued from the dogs with the help of her neighbors and sustained an injury to her right leg. She was taken to Samandağ State Hospital for treatment, where she is currently being cared for. The incident has caused concern among locals, as stray dogs are often seen wandering on the beach, posing a threat to residents who go for walks, as mentioned by Seyran Yüksek, a neighbor who assisted Güneş, stating that the increasing number of dog attacks is alarming.
In another incident in İstanbul’s Başakşehir district, an 11-year-old child was injured when two dogs attacked him in the school yard. The incident occurred when the child’s ball rolled into the area where two Kangal dogs, allegedly being fed by the school principal, were kept. The child, attempting to retrieve his ball, was attacked by the dogs but managed to be rescued by parents and a teacher. The child’s family has filed a complaint against the school administration, prompting an investigation by the İstanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education.
Reports of stray dogs roaming around Balıklıgöl and Göbeklitepe in Şanlıurfa have raised concerns among tourists, leading municipal workers to take action in collecting the dogs. Teams deployed in the tourism areas have started capturing the dogs using tranquilizer injections, relocating them to the city shelter for further care and control. This initiative aims to address the issues arising from the increasing number of stray dogs in popular tourist spots, ensuring the safety of visitors and locals alike.
Similarly, in Konya’s Seydişehir district, a 17-year-old high school student named Nurbahar Sarıkaya was attacked by a group of stray dogs while sitting in a park with friends after school. This incident left the teenager traumatized, as she shared her account of the terror she experienced while trying to escape the dogs. Despite her efforts to fend off the dogs with her school bag, she was ultimately saved by bystanders. The incident prompted her family to file a complaint with the municipality, emphasizing the need for responsible pet ownership and appropriate measures to prevent such attacks in public spaces.
Hüseyin Sarıkaya, Nurbahar’s father and a retired police officer, emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of stray dogs through proper feeding practices and controlled environments to prevent such incidents. He stressed the need for education on responsible pet ownership and advocated for supporting municipal shelters, where stray animals could be cared for. The community has been shaken by these events, with residents like Zahide Kapkap expressing concern for the safety of their children and calling for stricter measures to protect individuals from potential dog attacks in public areas. The incidents have underscored the necessity of effective animal control policies and public awareness campaigns to ensure the well-being of both humans and animals in communities across the country.
