Stray dogs in Türkiye face a grim future under new law

The new stray animals law passed in Türkiye puts the lives and freedoms of stray dogs at risk.

The biggest giveaway that you’re in Türkiye without being explicitly told is the stray dogs and cats. Or at least, it used to be.

Today, stray cats and dogs hold a significant place in the modern urban life of Türkiye. It’s quite common to see them waiting for the traffic light to cross the street, sleeping on the floor of a pharmacy, or nestled among clothes in a shop.

In fact, for many residents of major Turkish cities, purchasing food for stray cats and dogs is routine. Many also incur veterinary debts for neutering, medical treatments, and medications.

However, there are two sides to every coin. While most stray animals have adapted to community life, the number of unsterilized, neglected, and unchecked stray animals has increased the incidence of attacks.

@zoeetravels I love how well stray animals are looked after in Turkey. Starbucks, Mango and other boutiques allow them to take shelter inside, they feed them and give them fresh water and there are even little fountains for cats in the streets 🥰 #turkeytiktok #strayanimals #adoptdontshop #animalwelfare #kindhearts #fyp #iloveanimalsmorethanhumans #straycatsoftiktok #straydogsofinstagram ♬ elio voice – cam

Earlier this year, after a dog attacked a 7-year-old child in April, the discourse on social media shifted, fostering a climate of fear.

False claims circulated online, suggesting there were 470,000 stray dog attacks in Türkiye within a year, though this number actually came from a news report about rabies risk.

As a result, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated at a parliamentary group meeting that no developed country faces a stray animal problem and that new measures need to be taken.

What the new law is about?

In 2004, the current government enacted a law stating that healthy, vaccinated dogs should be returned to the streets. Alexander Christie-Miller from The Guardian noted that ‘Turkey is perhaps the only country where stray animals have a legal right to inhabit the street.’

However, the provision requiring that ‘stray animals be supported like owned animals’ has been removed, so the state no longer has an obligation to protect them.

Additionally, the initial proposal frequently mentioned ‘euthanasia’, but after protests, its use decreased. The new decision requires all stray dogs to be housed in shelters.

Sera Kadıgil, a deputy from Turkish Workers’ Party, stated that it is estimated there are 4 million stray dogs in Türkiye and that providing shelters where they can live healthily is impossible.

PLEASE SHARE🚨
Turkish activist and academic Melda Ece Kelemcisoy reveals the horrifying truth behind Turkey’s new law, which could result in the largest massacre of stray dogs and cats in history, putting 4 million at risk.

With only 322 shelters and 105,000 spaces, the fate… pic.twitter.com/Qy6H3M9pOV

— The real Homer Simpson (@yohomersimson) August 4, 2024

Despite having over 300 shelters with a combined capacity of 105,000 dogs, she highlighted the failure to protect animal rights. For instance, a video emerged in 2022 showing dogs being killed with a shovel in a shelter in Konya.

Additionally, Didem Doğu, Deputy Chair of the Animal Rights Center at the Ankara Bar Association, told the BBC that even though ‘euthanasia’ is mentioned less, the vagueness of the new provision opens the door to the practice.

According to Doğu, the new provision’s phrase: ‘dogs that pose a threat to the life and health of humans and animals, have uncontrolled negative behaviors, carry infectious diseases, or are prohibited from adoption’ lacks a clear definition. She notes that even a barking dog on the street could fall under this blanket rule and be subject to euthanasia.

Actions we can all take

Firstly, Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition party has stated that he will take the issue to the constitutional court.

At this point, regardless of where we are in the world, it is important to inform those around us about this issue and ensure it remains a topic of discussion.

Secondly, if you are considering adopting a dog, you might choose to rescue a stray in Türkiye. Here are some organizations where you can either rescue a stray dog or make a donation:  Barınak Meleği, Kurtaran Ev, Pets in Turkey.