Turkey is facing criticism from animal rights activists over a proposed bill targeting stray animals

Turkey is facing renewed criticism from animal rights activists over a proposed bill concerning stray animals. The proposal suggests photographing strays and listing them on a government website for up to 30 days. If unclaimed or unadopted, they would be euthanized by injection.

The country's Animal Rights Law, last amended in 2021, introduced mandatory pet microchipping, penalties for pet abandonment, and sterilization of strays. Initially, a provision for euthanizing unadopted strays was included but later removed due to public opposition. This provision has resurfaced in a new proposal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The ruling party argues that the current sterilization system is inadequate for controlling the stray dog population and addressing public safety concerns, citing practices in the UK, Portugal, and Italy as examples. However, animal rights activists and citizens are challenging the government, accusing it of not fulfilling previous promises to handle the issue peacefully.

Critics argue that the new proposal to use euthanasia as a solution is inhumane. They highlight that current shelters are poorly maintained, underfunded, and have limited capacity. Additionally, there have been numerous instances of mistreatment of strays in shelters.

The existing Animal Rights Bill requires every municipality to operate a shelter, but according to Dr. Gülay Ertürk, President of the Veterinarians Association, many municipalities have not met this obligation. Only 294 out of 1,394 municipalities have shelters, and those that do often lack effective sterilization programs. Haydar Özkan, Vice President of the Confederation for the Life Rights of Animals (HAYKONFED), described the new proposal as a "massacre under the guise of euthanasia."

Özkan suggests that the only solution is a sustainable sterilization campaign involving all municipalities. He advocates for each municipality to establish a sterilization center, hire enough veterinarians and support staff, and launch a coordinated sterilization campaign following medical and ethical guidelines. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has also failed to implement effective measures.

In an interview with Bir Gun newspaper, Alper Karmış, the Local Animal Protection Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Chairman of the Association for Keeping Street Animals Alive, stated that the public often misunderstands the term "putting an animal to sleep," only realizing later that it means euthanizing them. He mentioned that authorities are aware that most people are unlikely to adopt mixed-breed dogs, leading them to consider euthanasia, a logic he firmly rejects.

There are no up-to-date statistics on the stray animal population in Turkey. However, a 2022 statement from the then-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry estimated the number to be around 10 million at that time.

In Turkey, it's common to see people taking care of street animals by feeding them and building shelters for them. Some of these animals have even been honored with statues or have become beloved mascots for local municipalities. Additionally, the lives of street animals in Turkey have been featured in at least two documentaries, "Kedi" and "Stray." After the devastating earthquake in February 2023, a heartwarming story emerged of a firefighter adopting a rescued cat, touching many across the country.