Turkey's parliament passed a law in July ordering the impounding of the country's estimated four million stray dogs, despite protests by animal lovers and the opposition, who fear it will lead to many being put down.

A stray dog Sayko is seen inside a vehicle at an animal shelter in Istanbul, Turkey August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

The legislation, motivated by concerns about attacks by dogs, road accidents and rabies, aims to place all strays in municipal shelters by 2028. It says that any dogs showing aggressive behavior or with untreatable disease will be euthanized.

Animal rights activists Bengisu Komurcu and Nilgul Sayar stroll with stray dogs, three-legged Dali and Sayko, at an animal shelter in Istanbul, Turkey August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

Animal rights activist Nilgul Sayar, who runs an NGO shelter for dogs near Istanbul, has sent hundreds of dogs abroad for adoption but says demand has jumped since the law passed.

"We have around 20-25 dogs ready to fly," she said. "People continue to reach out to us (for adoption). I hope we will send more dogs soon. They will all have good homes."

Stray dogs Dali and Sayko are escorted by animal rights activists Bengisu Komurcu and Nilgul Sayar at Istanbul Airport before travelling to Netherlands via Brussels, in Istanbul, Turkey August 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

Getting a dog ready to travel to the European Union with the necessary paperwork and vaccinations can take 3-4 months and cost around 1,000 euros ($1,107).

Illustrating the scale of the challenge, Turkish shelters have capacity for 100,000 dogs and little space for more. Sayar said it often takes years to find homes for the large, old and disabled dogs that form the majority in her shelter. Cities are set to build more pounds to comply with the law.

Stray dogs Dali and Sayko are escorted by animal rights activist Nilgul Sayar at the Istanbul Airport before travelling to Netherlands via Brussels, in Istanbul, Turkey August 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya