Turkish students build shelters for strays ahead of winter cold

With the winter just around the corner, the weather is getting colder and now more than ever, our four-legged friends on the street need love and care. To help them during the winter cold, a group of middle school students from southeastern Turkey's Diyarbakır has built nearly 200 homes for stray cats and dogs, as well as birds.

With the help of their teachers, the students placed the shelters on their schoolyard and in nearby parks.

The students want to set an example for other students around the country and urge them to take care of stray animals during the winter.

They built the houses with pieces of wood and cardboard that they brought from home. Built with their own young hands, the houses will shelter animals in winter as well as protect them from the summer heat. School Principal Mehmet Can Akay told Anadolu Agency (AA) that people should be care more from street animals, especially during the winter.

"The weather in Diyarbakır is harsher in winter and it is far too cold for stray dogs, cats and even birds. We share our environment with these creatures. I hope our efforts will set an example," he said.

"I built this house so stray animals don't die from cold," said İrem Yağmur, one of the students, showing the animal shelter she built from scratch.

Avşin Cankurt, another student, said she was sad to see animals die on the streets because of cold weather. She called on animal lovers to show respect to stray animals.