A charity has been established by British expats in Didim to care for and house stray animals. To provide food, shelter, and medical treatment to stray animals left behind during summer vacations, the CODA Didim Street Animals Association was founded by kind British expatriates.
The group sells donated clothing and household goods at the English Bazaar, a weekly charity market held in Didim’s Akbük area. Every year, regardless of the weather, the market has grown to be a favourite among the residents, who wait in line early in the morning to peruse goods ranging in price from 20 to 200 Turkish Liras.
The items, which are donated by both locals and tourists, include anything from clothing, shoes, and purses to bedding, curtains, and accessories. The money raised from the bazaar is used to feed and treat stray animals, and CODA members also work as direct volunteers at animal shelters, giving them practical support.
Concerned about the effects of Turkey’s new animal welfare laws, Happy Paws Puppy Rescue, a U.K.-based organization, collaborated with Turkish shelters to ship rescued dogs to the United Kingdom for adoption last year. The group identifies itself as a nonprofit organization that works to save dogs and find them homes with families.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) demanded changes to the Animal Rights Law in May, claiming that the current sterilization-based strategy was inadequate to control the estimated 6.5 million stray dogs.
The contentious bill was adopted by the parliament on July 30 after intense discussions and criticism, and it became operative last December.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
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