Turkish Dentist wraps up stray dogs in winter

A Turkish dentist is on a mission to keep stray animals warm in the winter by wrapping them in blankets as they sleep on the streets of Istanbul.

Huseyin Yurtseven, who lives in Turkey’s largest city, has been scouring the neighbourhood for cats and dogs and keeping them warm with the blankets.

The medic spends his evenings looking for animals to help after he was affected by a video on social media and saw street dogs living in his area.

He has also distributed the blankets to local tradesmen and other animal lovers to extend the network of helpers trying to stop the cats and dogs from freezing, Yeni Safak reported.

The dentist and his friends have also left contact details so helpful Istanbul residents can return the blankets if they become dirty.

Turkey has already been hit by snow this year in a cold snap across Europe, while the lowest temperature ever recorded in the country in January was -25C (-13F) in early 1942.

Dentist to the rescue: Huseyin Yurtseven lays a blanket over a sleeping dog outside a shop in Istanbul, as he goes on a mission to keep stray animals warm in the freezing winter.

Not such a cold cat: A stray animal is covered with a blanket in Istanbul after dentist Huseyin Yurtseven’s campaign to keep them warm this winter. He has also distributed the blankets to local tradesmen and other animal lovers.

Safely in their bed: Dogs covered with blankets are seen in the doorway of a building in Istanbul after the dentist and his friends gave them something warm to sleep under.

Man on a mission: Huseyin Yurtseven covers wraps a dog in a blanket on a patch of grass in Turkey’s largest city on Monday. The medic spends his evenings looking for animals to help after he was affected by a video on social media.

Something to sleep under: A stray cat lies on a bench under one of the blankets provided by Yurtseven and his friends.

Preparations: Yurtseven, right, and a friend fold up the blue blankets as they prepare for another night of helping animals. He saw street dogs living in his neighbourhood and decided to help.