Action Line #100501 – Off Base Pet Shop

  • Published
  • By 39th Air Base Wing
  • Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint:

The pet shop in the alley is selling under age puppies and telling people they have been vaccinated. Some of the puppies are as young as four weeks old and are too young to be vaccinated. Can something be done to force the pet shop to commit to selling only puppies that are at least eight weeks? Thank you.

Response:

I appreciate you bringing this concern to our attention. There have been a number of questions regarding local pet shops. Turkish law governs local business practices, and the applicable laws impose strict requirements on pet shops. All pet shops must be licensed, and the animals must be at least eight weeks old (similar to U.S. laws), in good health and have proper documentation signed by a veterinarian prior to being sold. The proper avenue for complaints about pet shop conditions and business practices is the local police station (332-7218) or regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture (344-1717). The Veterinary Treatment Facility has visited the pet shop several times and is very willing to answer any questions at 676-3119. You can also go to their website at www.39fss.com/vet.html and look at the "Animals in Turkey FAQ" link at the bottom left hand corner. I hope this helps and thank you for your concern