Adopting a Street Animal in Ankara: A Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step guide to adopting a street or shelter animal in Ankara: making the decision, paperwork, microchipping, the first vet visit and settling in.
Bulut Veterinary Clinic Medical Team
Reviewed by Mücahid Çiftçioğlu, DVM
One of the most meaningful ways to bring an animal into your life is to adopt rather than buy. In Ankara, dozens of cats and dogs wait for a home every day — in municipal shelters, in foster homes, and on the streets of your own neighborhood. And anyone who has ever taken in a street animal will tell you the same thing: the bond they form with the person who gave them a home is hard to put into words.
Adoption, however, is a decision that starts with the heart and continues with planning: choosing the right animal, completing the official paperwork, getting a full health check, and managing the settling-in period with patience. In this guide we walk through every step of adopting a street or shelter animal in Ankara — from the decision itself to the first veterinary visit, from microchipping to the first weeks at home.
The decision: are you ready?
Adoption is an exciting moment — but a cat may live with you for 15 to 20 years, and a dog for 10 to 15. Before you decide, there are questions worth answering honestly:
- Time: dogs need at least two walks a day, and cats need daily play and attention — does your schedule allow it?
- Budget: food, litter, vaccinations, parasite prevention and unexpected treatments are a regular expense
- Your home: if you rent, clarify your landlord's position, the building's rules, and how everyone in the household feels — especially anyone with allergies
- Lifestyle: if you travel often, plan in advance who will care for your pet
- Adult or baby: puppies and kittens take far more work; an adult animal's character is already known — and adults are usually the ones who wait longest in shelters
Where can you adopt?
There are several routes to adoption in Ankara, and all of them matter. Municipal animal shelters (temporary care centers run by the metropolitan and district municipalities) are the first place to look: adoption is generally free of charge, and animals are usually handed over vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Visiting the shelter and spending time with an animal is the healthiest way to see whether your characters match.
The second route is animal welfare associations and volunteers: these networks share adoption listings on social media and provide foster care, acting as a bridge especially for young animals and those needing special care. The third route is the most natural one — adopting a street cat or dog you already see and like in your own neighborhood. In that case, make sure the animal is genuinely unowned: it may have a collar, a microchip, or someone who feeds and cares for it regularly. Asking around the neighborhood and having a vet scan for a microchip settles the question quickly.
The paperwork: microchip, registration and contract
In Turkey, owners of cats and dogs are legally required to have their animals identified with a microchip and registered in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's PETVET system. The microchip is a rice-grain-sized implant placed under the skin with a simple injection; it gives the animal a lifelong identity number and is the most reliable way to be reunited if your pet ever gets lost.
When you adopt from a shelter, the process is simple: you apply with your ID and sign an adoption contract; if the animal is already chipped, the registration is updated to your name. If you adopt directly from the street, the microchip and registration are handled through a veterinary clinic — and can usually be completed in a single visit together with the first check-up. Adoption contracts formalize your responsibility for the animal's care; some associations may follow up with a home visit or a phone call, which is a well-intentioned safeguard.
The first vet visit: health screening and vaccine plan
The health history of an animal coming from the street or a shelter is usually unknown — which is why a thorough veterinary check before the animal enters your home, especially if you already have other pets, is the single most important step. A typical first visit includes:
- A full physical exam: weight, body condition, heart and lung auscultation, mouth and teeth, skin and coat, and an estimate of age
- A microchip scan: whether the animal has a registered owner is answered in seconds
- External parasite check and prevention: fleas, ticks and mange mites are common in street animals
- Internal parasite screening and treatment: a fecal exam and an appropriate deworming protocol
- Viral testing for cats: especially if you have other cats at home, your vet may recommend tests such as FeLV/FIV
- Blood work: a basic panel to assess organ function in animals of unknown age or condition
- A vaccination plan: with no verifiable history, vaccination is planned from scratch; the rabies vaccine and official registration are also legal requirements
Spaying and neutering: health and responsibility in one
If your newly adopted animal has not yet been neutered, don't put it off. Spaying and neutering go far beyond preventing unwanted litters: in females they markedly reduce the risk of mammary tumors and uterine infection (pyometra), and in males they reduce heat-driven roaming, fighting and marking behaviors. Remember too that a female cat or dog taken in from the street may already be pregnant — your vet will assess this at the first exam and plan the right timing for surgery with you.
Settling in: the first days and the value of patience
For an animal that has lived free on the streets or in a crowded shelter, a home is a whole new world to get used to. In the first days, set aside a single quiet room with food, water, a bed and (for cats) a litter box, and let the animal explore the rest of the house at its own pace as its confidence grows. Cats may hide at first — this is normal; never force them out. With dogs, leash habits, toilet routines and being alone are built up in small steps and rewarded generously.
If you already have pets, don't rush the introductions: scent exchange first (swap blankets and beds), then contact under the door, then short, supervised meetings — that is the safest sequence. Settling in can take weeks, and days of regression are not failure. Loss of appetite, diarrhea, sneezing or lethargy can appear in the first weeks — sometimes from stress, sometimes as the first sign of an infection that was incubating. If you're unsure, call your clinic. Ours is open 24/7, so a question at midnight is never a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Does adopting from a shelter cost money?
Adoption from municipal shelters is generally free of charge, and animals are usually handed over vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Some welfare associations may ask for a contribution toward costs already incurred. In every case you sign an adoption contract and the registration is transferred to your name.
How are vaccinations planned for an animal of unknown age?
Your vet estimates age from the teeth, eyes and overall development during the exam. If a vaccination history cannot be proven with documents, the animal is treated as unvaccinated and core vaccination is planned from the beginning; the rabies vaccine and microchip registration are legal requirements. This approach protects both your animal and everyone around it.
Will an adult street cat adjust to living indoors?
Most do; how long it takes depends on the cat's character and history. A street cat that already has good relationships with people usually settles in within a few weeks. The golden rules are letting the cat explore at its own pace, providing hiding places, and never forcing contact. For truly unsocialized, fearful cats, realistic expectations and a longer dose of patience may be needed.
Should the animal see a vet before coming home?
Yes — and if you already have pets, the order matters. Street animals commonly carry external and internal parasites and can carry infectious diseases; the safest path is to complete the first exam, parasite treatment and any necessary tests before contact with your existing pets. The microchip and registration can be done at the same visit.
How do I introduce my new dog to my resident cat?
Slowly and in stages: keep them in separate rooms for the first days and swap scents, then allow brief encounters through a door or baby gate, then move to supervised meetings with the dog on a leash. Always leave the cat an escape route to higher ground and reward every calm encounter. The process can take weeks — don't rush it.
Related services
Bring your newly adopted friend in for their first exam, microchip registration and vaccine plan — we're open 24/7, so their new life starts healthy.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination. Always consult your veterinarian about decisions concerning your pet's health.