Municipalities across the country will be allocated TL 11.5 million ($3.3 million) by the government for the rehabilitation of stray animals, the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs announced.

The funds, doubled compared to last year's allocation, will be used for the spaying of animals, electronic tagging and the construction of shelters for stray animals. Minister Veysel Eroğlu said they provided more than TL 22 million to 45 municipalities for the care of animals between 2009 and 2016.

Half of the funds will be spent on maintenance, construction of animal shelters and for spaying while the rest will be used to fund installing microchips to trace animals. The ministry announced recently that some 175,962 animals were vaccinated around Turkey in a campaign for the adoption of stray animals who have been tagged with chips and tags before they were castrated and put up for adoption. Some 39,393 animals have been adopted so far.