The Changing Status of Stray Animals in the Context of Urbanization

Abstract

The domestication of some animal species and the urbanization can be shown as turning points that determine the relationship between humans and animals in the historical process. Domestication of the animal made the animal dependent on humans. Urbanization caused the extinction of some wild animal species, as well as the destruction of areas where stray animals could live and the exclusion of animals from cities. When we look at western society, starting from the 18th century, especially in the 19th century, with the understanding that they pose a threat to health and hygiene, the existence of stray animals was destroyed by killing them in cities. In Turkish society, stray animals were generally accepted as residents of the city until the 19th century. However, in the 19th century, as urbanization, contacts with the West began to increase and the traditional neighborhood texture began to deteriorate, the relations established with stray animals changed and stray animals became surplus in the city. For these reasons, from the 19th century until the end of the 20th century, interventions were made by killing stray animals, especially dogs, from cities, primarily Istanbul. Today, stray animals are still seen as a threat in modern cities, and in this direction, even if they are not killed openly, they are collected, thrown out of the city, or imprisoned in shelters in very unhealthy conditions. While human took over the living spaces of animals in the creation and expansion process of urban areas, he/she consciously brought animals to urban areas by domesticating them. In line with this fact, it is necessary to create a physical and social environment for these creatures to live together with people in the cities again. Because humans are responsible for the existence of these animals in urban areas.