Turkish legislators have approved a controversial law aimed at resolving the country’s stray dog problem by removing millions of dogs off the streets.
Animal rights activists and opposition lawmakers alike have dubbed it the “Massacre Law” as they fear this will lead to millions of stray dogs being killed or being neglected in overcrowded shelters.
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says the law is necessary to deal with the country’s stray dog problem.
The Turkish government estimates that there are around 4 million stray dogs roaming the streets and rural areas of Turkey. And Reuters reports that supporters of the law have cited concerns about attacks, road accidents, and rabies.
The law was approved with 275 votes in favor, and 224 against. And under the new rules, municipalities are required to round up stray dogs and house them in shelters to be vaccinated, neutered/spayed before making them available for adoption.
Dogs that are in pain, terminally ill, aggressive, or those that pose a health risk to humans will be put down.
The new law also states that local mayors who do not enforce the new law could be put in prison for two years, according to EuroNews.
According to Reuters, the law states that Turkey has a total of 322 animal shelters with a capacity of 105,000 dogs – obviously not enough to house all the stray dogs they have to remove off the streets.
Now, the problem lies on where each municipality will find the money and resources to build new shelters and ensure the new requirements are met.
Veterinarian Turkan Ceylan said that there are not enough places in the very limited shelters in Turkey, so this will only mean that local officers will be forced to euthanize stray dogs, regardless if they’re healthy or not, due to the lack of resources.
“We animal rights activists know very well that this spells death,” Ceylan explains.
Humane Society International reveals that it had written to the President to raise the concerns that the law will cause “unnecessary suffering and death to countless animals in a short-term fix that won’t deliver a long-term solution.”
Animal rights activists are instead suggesting alternatives such as neutering campaigns to be stepped up and supported.
They’ve also taken to the streets over the past few weeks to protest against the law.
EuroNews reports that in Istanbul’s Sishane Square, hundreds have gathered and issued a powerful message to the government: “Your massacre law is just a piece of paper for us. We will write the law on the streets. Life and solidarity, not hatred and hostility, will win.”
Furthermore, Reuters reveals that the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will appeal against the legislation in the Constitutional Court.
“The bill is clearly unconstitutional and does not defend the right to life,” CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said. “We will do more than what is required of us in terms of building more shelters, vaccination, neutering and adoption, but it is not possible to completely fulfil this burden with the power that municipalities have.”
