A contentious new law to manage the population of four million stray dogs has been approved by Turkey’s parliament, in spite of strong protest from animal rights activists both nationally and globally. The incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) held a late-night voting session prior to the summer break, overlooking concerns about the probable euthanisation of the stray dogs.
The bill, labelled the “massacre law” by its critics, states that euthanasia is deemed necessary for strays that pose a threat to humans or animals, show unmanageable negative behaviour, carry a contagious or incurable disease, or are forbidden from being adopted.
The main opposing party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has expressed its intention to challenge the law. CHP leader Özgür Özel condemned the law on the grounds that it infringes on the animals’ right to life, and promised to challenge it at the constitutional court.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged for a solution to handle the stray dog problem, but activists have recommended sterilisation and large-scale vaccination instead. The country’s holding facilities for animals are inadequate, with the 322 shelters only capable of holding 105,000 dogs, considerably lower than the actual number of strays. According to Humane Society International, the new law could lead to extensive suffering and death of countless animals in an attempt to handle a long-term crisis with a short-term solution.
The legislation also encourages municipalities to devote 0.3 per cent of their yearly budget to expanding animal shelters by 2028, which has the potential to strain resources. It has been suggested that the law could particularly impact the nine major cities that the CHP won in the March elections. Defying the new law, which is considered by Murat Emir, a CHP deputy, as “morally, conscientiously and legally broken” could result in a two-year imprisonment.
Multitudes of Turkish citizens offer sustenance and housing to the homeless dogs, they enact legislation for their safeguarding and condemn cullings. From 2004 to 2020, local government bodies undertook procedures to neuter, immunise, and tag over a million stray dogs, before releasing them back onto the streets. Various charities actively gather funds to cater to their requirements.
In 2021, a globally recognised wandering Anatolian shepherd mix, Boji, from Istanbul, was known for his exploits on the public transport system in the city. Boji regularly hopped on and off buses, subways, trams, trains, and ferries, and was capable of covering a distance of 30km daily. Transport officials tracked his exploits after he was immunised and microchipped. His fame ensured a place on Wikipedia and he amassed a following of 60,000 on a platform X before being adopted in 2022 by Omer Koc. Koc further added to Boji’s adventures by taking him on a London bus ride in March 2024.
Zeytin, a female Labrador mix, was subject to filming in 2021 by Elizabeth Lo for the acclaimed documentary ‘Stray’, which focusses on Istanbul’s human and dog residents. The film’s trailer pronounced triumphantly about Turkey’s “no-kill, no-capture” attitude towards all its stray animals. – Extra reporting: Reuters.