Anthrozoological assessment of human-animal interactions in Van: A study on street dogs, Van cats and pigeons

From an anthrozoological perspective, this research aims to analyze the symbolic, spiritual, and practical (functional) roles of animals within the traditional belief system of Van, using the theoretical framework of anthrozoology to interpret practices observed in daily life. This study focuses on the Van cat, pigeons, and street dogs. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with people who keep Van cats and pigeons, as well as randomly selected individuals regarding street dogs. The participants consisted of 44 individuals aged 18 and above residing in the Edremit, Tuşba, and İpekyolu districts of Van. The study revealed that participants love and value their cats and pigeons as family members, train them, feel sad when they are sick, and mourn when they die. However, this attitude varies for different reasons depending on the animal species, its characteristics, and even its location. For example, contradictory attitudes were identified regarding street dogs. While participants stated that street dogs cause problems, they also expressed that the municipality should work more effectively and provide better conditions for street dogs in a separate space from humans. Furthermore, animal agency emerged as another significant phenomenon. Despite receiving full care, cats and pigeons were observed to sometimes exhibit different behaviors. For instance, cats keeping their distance from their owners, refusing to play, or even leaving the house; cats and pigeons choosing their own mates and rejecting imposed choices; and street dogs developing specific behavioral patterns can be cited as examples of animal agency. As these instances illustrate, animals should not be viewed merely as entities that serve humans or fulfill human needs. Instead, they should be considered as subjects within a mutual relationship, influencing and transforming each other. Therefore, the focus of this study shifts beyond interpretations stemming solely from utilitarian, or instrumentalist, approaches towards the multi-layered dynamics of human-animal interactions. The current research findings and the existing gap in Turkish literature necessitate an in-depth examination of these relational networks. For this reason, this study investigates human-animal interactions.