At the Kapıkule Border Gate in Edirne, the gendarmerie seized 22 'Pomeranian' breed dogs that were brought illegally from abroad in a car during a routine inspection.
The dogs, found hidden under the front seats of the car, were handed over to HAYTAP (Animal Rights Federation) as per the protocol signed between HAYTAP and the Ministry of Trade regarding the delivery of illegally seized animals from customs to HAYTAP without auction.
The dogs, adopted by HAYTAP volunteers, were brought to Bursa.
Veterinarian Rümeysa Üçgürz, who specifically takes care of the dogs' health, mentioned that the dogs had arrived with stress and fear. She said, "The weather is very hot, and we all suffer from it. When they arrived, they were suffering from heatstrokes. They all had serious respiratory distress, which we promptly addressed. Currently, their overall condition is good. They come from a crowded area, but we don't see any signs of serious infection or health issues. When they first arrived, they had a significant number of flea eggs and even live fleas on their bodies. We are starting with vaccinations to address this issue. Later, they will continue with their puppy vaccinations. Their general condition, eating, and drinking habits are fine. However, since they came from a crowded and unknown environment, they will be kept under quarantine for some time. We will monitor their general conditions closely."
Üçgürz stated that Pomeranian dogs were small breed dogs and were among the easiest to care for at home. She said, "All vaccinations, medications, and everything else are specially tailored for these little ones. They are very delicate. They usually weigh a maximum of 2-3 kilograms. They have specific diseases and specific medications. They are complete human-friendly little creatures. Taking care of them and training them is easy. They also get along very well with cats."
HAYTAP Bursa Representative Emre Demir stated that the dogs were handed over to them as custodians at the gendarmerie checkpoint, as per their protocol with the Ministry of Customs, due to being caught illegally smuggled into Türkiye. The incoming animals underwent health checks conducted by their veterinarians and were placed under quarantine. Demir emphasized the unfortunate reality behind the scenes, revealing that these animals were produced under terrible conditions and smuggled into the country in distressing circumstances. He urged people to be conscious and not support this dirty trade, as the demand for these animals prolongs their suffering. Demir also encouraged adopting pets from local municipalities or contacting animal welfare organizations and volunteers instead of buying animals, to put an end to the cruel production practices.
Demir stated that the dogs were produced in Balkan countries and brought to Türkiye for sale. He described how they were crammed into small spaces under the front seats of cars at the customs and gendarmerie checkpoints.
He said that he believed that if the animals made any noise during the inspection, they would be detected that way. "These dogs are likely smuggled into Türkiye from various countries and locations." he said. Demir also mentioned that although the authorities take necessary legal action against these practices, the key to stopping this trade lied in halting the production, which would ultimately end the suffering of these animals.
