Turkey's parliament approves the “massacre law” on stray dogs
Environment — di Valentina Neri
In Turkey, stray dogs are to be removed from the streets, with the possibility of resorting to euthanasia for those that are sick or dangerous.
Turkey's parliament approves the “massacre law” on stray dogs
In Turkey, stray dogs are to be removed from the streets, with the possibility of resorting to euthanasia for those that are sick or dangerous.
- Turkey's parliament has passed a law requiring stray dogs to be removed from the streets for safety reasons.
- They are to be confined in shelters, sterilised and put up for adoption. But for those that are sick or aggressive, euthanasia is envisaged.
- The decision has sparked fierce protests from animal rights organisations and citizens, who have taken to the streets in protest.
Update 4 September. On Sunday 1 September, too, thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul to reiterate their "no" to the law that opens the door to the confinement, or even the culling, of stray dogs. Animal rights organisations also organised a protest outside the Turkish embassy in London. Online, calls to boycott Turkey as a tourist destination are multiplying.
Animal rights activists and opposition political groups are calling it the "massacre law". They are referring to the amendments to the animal protection law that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the country's unicameral parliament, approved on 30 July. And which could potentially pave the way for the mass killing of stray dogs. All that is needed for it to come into force is the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
How many stray dogs are there in Turkey
According to statistics released by the government, Turkey has approximately 4 million stray dogs. Many of them are harmless, like Boji, who became a social media star for making his way around Istanbul on public transport with ease.
The story of Boji the Dog
In some cases, however, they can pose a danger. The spokesperson for an association lobbying specifically for road safety argues that, since 2022, at least 75 people (including 44 children) have been killed as a result of dog attacks or road accidents caused by them.
Why animal rights campaigners are talking about a "massacre law"
Hence the text passed by Turkey's parliament, which obliges local authorities to remove stray dogs from the streets and house them in shelters, where they are to be vaccinated, castrated and sterilised before being made available for adoption. If the animals are aggressive or sick, recourse to euthanasia is an option. And it is this amendment, in particular, that has sparked the opposition of the thousands of people who have taken to the streets in protest.
The people of Turkey 🇹🇷 are speaking up to protect the nations street dogs & cats & it’s wonderful to see #Turkey
As things stand, the total capacity of dog shelters across the country is approximately 100,000 animals; in some areas they are entirely absent. For this reason, the law requires investment in the shelter network by 2028 and even provides for imprisonment for mayors who fail to comply. However, local authorities are often in financial difficulty, and it is reasonable to doubt whether they will manage to equip themselves with adequate facilities in such a short space of time. Many therefore fear that dogs will end up crammed into overcrowded, insanitary facilities or that they will be killed in their thousands.