Owners abandon dogs in Turkey amid virus fears

Pets in Turkey are being abandoned in increasing numbers as Turkey's coronavirus crisis deepens, activists say.

Animal rights activist Tugay Abukan says over the past three weeks some 100 dogs have been dropped off in a suburban forest in Istanbul.

The increase is in line with other animal activists who estimate a 20% surge in the number of dogs fending for themselves since the start of the pandemic.

"It is thought that they carry the (new) coronavirus and people are afraid. But there's no such thing," says 41-year-old Abukan.

Turkish social media is abuzz with calls for citizens to feed stray animals to prevent starvation during stay-at-home orders.

Over 82,000 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus according to Turkey's healthy ministry. The ministry has also reported nearly 2,000 deaths from the disease.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.