Animal lovers gather round! Some very clever folks in Istanbul have created a vending machine that releases food and water for the city’s stray dogs in exchange for recycled plastic bottles. I couldn’t help but share this in the hopes that they get a little buzz to help spread the word.
Take a look at how it works (it’s in Turkish, but you get the gist of it) …
This solar powered vending machine, called Pugedon, operates at no charge to the city and covers the cost of the food it dispenses with the recycled bottles deposited by passersby.
In a city like Istanbul which is home to more than 150,000 stray dogs and cats, the vending machine helps provide a more steady source of food to the animals while cleaning up the streets of plastic litter which could otherwise be recycled.
Turkey also adopted a “Neuter and Release Program” that sees vet mobile clinics visit each area 2 to 3 days at a time, twice a year to sterilize, vaccinate and ID stray dogs and cats.
Some 29 other countries have already adopted the machines in their cities, receiving a positive response from both local residents and furry friends alike!
There will of course be differing opinions on the presence of stray animals in urban environments and how to minimise the problem, but in the meantime, I fully support that this project brings awareness directly to the street and provides a simple but immediate call to action for helping both homeless animals and our environment.
Every little helps and the Pugedon gives the average passerby the chance to do their bit.
Discover more on the Pugedon website and find their Facebook page here. Spread the word!
