Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Akın set an example for Türkiye by launching a stray animal adoption movement with the project “We adopt, we do not leave them unattended”. Establishing the website “candostlar.balikesir.bel.tr” to facilitate the process of citizens who want to adopt an animal, Mayor Akın pioneered the movement by becoming a home for 2 pets.
Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Department of Environmental Protection and Control, Veterinary Affairs Branch Directorate, under the leadership of Mayor Ahmet Akın, has set an example for Türkiye by launching a stray animal adoption campaign with the project “We adopt, we do not leave unattended”. The launch of the adoption campaign, which is a measure against the draft law on the killing of stray animals submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, was held at Altıeylül Stray Animal Treatment Center. The program hosted by Mayor Ahmet Akın and Arbil Akın was attended by animal lovers and members of the press. In the program; While Mayor Ahmet Akın and his wife Arbil Akın adopted a cat and a dog, animal lovers Nuray Demirel and Melis Ünal also adopted a pet and became a home.
BECOME A HOME FOR AN ANIMAL FRIEND WITH ONE CLICK
The Metropolitan Municipality has established the candostlar.balikesir.bel.tr website to facilitate the work of citizens who want to be a home for animal friends. Citizens who click on the link will select the animal friend they want to adopt from the screen in front of them, click on the “I want to adopt” button and complete the process by filling out the “Animal Friend Adoption Application Form”.
“FOR THIS WORK WE NEED CONSCIENCE, FEAR OF GOD AND LOVE”
Beginning his speech by emphasizing that a mayor is not only the mayor of people but also the mayor of stray animals, Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Akın said, “We are at a point where everyone's conscience is being questioned in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, on the streets, in homes, in the bazaar and in the market. That's why I say it from the heart. There is no need for preparation for this work, we need conscience for this work. It needs fear of God, it needs love. We continue our service by working with that logic and feeling with that logic. We are increasing our services, our food support will continue. We must not leave stray animals, stray animals without owners. When you go to the modern countries of the world, the number of stray animals is very few or almost non-existent.”
FIRST ADOPTION BY MAYOR AKIN
Mayor Ahmet Akın, who made the first adoption with his wife Arbil Akın to support the Metropolitan Municipality's “We adopt, we do not leave unattended” project, said, “In addition, we provide all kinds of support for sterilization. For example, if a citizen wants to adopt a stray animal, of course we will always support him. We will give him all kinds of support. I want to underline that and I say this with great sincerity. My teammates have done a great work and I thank them all. A website has been prepared for this, “candostlar.balikesir.bel.tr” This is our address. I invite all our fellow citizens of Balıkesir to this problem, this desire, this excitement, this love by logging in from this address.”
“BALIKESİR WILL MAINTAIN ITS ASSERTIVE STANCE”
Stating that they will stand by the mothers who want to adopt a pet, Mayor Ahmet Akın said, “We will always provide all kinds of support from food support to veterinary support to those who adopt. For example, we have a cat and a dog in our house. We are happy with it. It is also a living creature and we feel happy, peaceful and responsible for adopting it years ago. We will do our best to spread this responsibility and sensitivity throughout Balıkesir. Hopefully, Balıkesir will continue its assertive stance on this issue. We will give all the support we can to our citizens in this regard. Balıkesir is changing, transforming and becoming more flourishing. The city of beautiful people, the shining star of Türkiye, Balıkesir will indeed show its sensitivity on this issue. I would like to thank my dear wife and all my teammates again, thank you.”
“IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANIMAL FRIENDS, PLEASE ADOPT THEM”
Arbil Akın, who is known as an animal lover, called on everyone to support the project and said, “If you are looking for animal friends who will love you unconditionally, add joy to your home and be friends of your children, please adopt them. We have many animals in our shelters waiting for you to adopt them. In this regard, I especially ask you to share the new platform created by our municipality. Let's reach as many people as possible and increase adoptions. Especially those who are looking for a companion should adopt, not buy. We need to raise awareness on this issue as much as possible. I thank you all very much in advance for your support, thank you.”
“NO LIVING CREATURE SHOULD BE KILLED”
Nuray Demirel, an animal lover who adopted a friend and became a home, said, “This decision you have taken after this harrowing law made us very happy. At least we received the guarantee from you that no stray animal will be killed within the scope of our city of Balıkesir. We are experiencing at least a little happiness. We hope this will happen all over Türkiye. All municipalities act in this way. No living creature should be killed. Thank you very much again.”
