Famagusta Municipality: Global Support for Animal Welfare

Famagusta Municipality: Global Support for Animal Welfare

A model sterilization campaign was recently conducted in Famagusta, thanks to the collaboration between NETAP and Famagusta Municipality. This initiative aimed to curb the uncontrolled growth of stray animal populations and ensure healthier living conditions for these animals. Over four days, from January 8 to 11, 2026, the campaign successfully neutered 114 female dogs, 1 male dog, 57 female cats, and 46 male cats. The project was spearheaded by Burak Toksoy, President of the Cyprus Turkish Veterinary Medical Association, and Ufuk Umay, Member of the Famagusta Municipal Council, with support from Lisa Goldinger, President and founding member of NETAP, and İlke Soyer, Head of the Famagusta Municipality Dog Shelter and Rehabilitation Center.

International Volunteer Team in Action

At the invitation of Ufuk Umay, the NETAP team operated at the Famagusta Animal Shelter for four days. The international team, comprising four veterinarians and four veterinary assistants specializing in anesthesia, performed surgeries on all listed animals. Each animal received a microchip, ear tag, vaccinations, and both internal and external parasite treatments. The campaign included Cypriot veterinarians Derya Uzmen İsmail and Erinç Faraçoğlu, as well as Swiss veterinarians Roxana Stan, Marcel Schaubli, and Vanessa Heitmann. Veterinary technicians Flipa Balsing, Vera Bierrer, Morris Wettstein, and Roxanne Brugger volunteered their expertise throughout the operation. [

Beyond the shelter’s dogs, stray cats from ten different city feeding points were also included in the campaign.

Dedication from Municipal Staff and Volunteers

The project’s success was made possible by the commitment of municipal shelter veterinarians Serten Tekbıyık, Silvan Demir, Sevda Gündüz, Mustafa Baytunç, Fikret Koruk, Ömer Korkmaz, Bülent Çavdar, and İshak Çetin. Health personnel Özgür M. Şahin and Emir Kaffaoğlu, along with volunteer animal advocate Hanife Önder, contributed at every stage. Despite encountering serious uterine health issues in many female dogs, the team’s professionalism and advanced equipment ensured the campaign’s completion.

Beyond Numbers: Sustainable Animal Welfare

Famagusta Municipality Dog Shelter and Rehabilitation Center Supervisor İlke Soyer highlighted that the campaign’s impact goes beyond statistics, emphasizing its importance for both shelter residents and city-wide animal welfare. Working with an international team provided invaluable professional and personal growth.

NETAP TRNC Coordinator Soley Rüstem praised Famagusta Municipality’s hospitality and commitment to animal welfare, expressing hope for continued collaboration and lasting solutions for the island.

Promoting Adoption and Humane Solutions

Famagusta City Council Member Ufuk Umay stressed the importance of improving shelter conditions and encouraged responsible animal lovers to support adoption efforts. Umay reaffirmed the municipality’s dedication to ongoing improvements.

NETAP President Lisa Goldinger described sterilization as a globally recognized, humane, and permanent solution to issues like hunger and disease among stray animals. Goldinger commended Famagusta Municipality’s modern, animal-friendly approach and expressed gratitude for their hospitality.

A Model of Social Responsibility

Famagusta Municipality Mayor Süleyman Uluçay affirmed that ensuring the health and safety of stray animals is integral to the municipality’s social mission. Uluçay thanked all contributors, including NETAP, veterinarians, volunteers, and municipal staff, for their meaningful work.

The international team appreciated the logistics and accommodation provided by Famagusta Municipality, marking this campaign as a standout example of effective cooperation between local government and international NGOs.

Source (Turkish): Famagusta (Gazimağusa) Municipality

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