ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish parliamentary committee began a heated debate on Wednesday regarding a bill aimed at managing the country’s large stray dog population, which has raised concerns among animal advocates about the potential for widespread killings.
The legislation, proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, has divided opinions between those seeking safer streets free of stray dogs and animal rights activists who are calling for the bill’s withdrawal. Erdogan has estimated that around 4 million stray animals are present in Turkey, with some forming aggressive packs and attacking people.
The bill being debated is a revised version of an earlier proposal that would have required strays to be collected, housed in shelters, and euthanized if not adopted within 30 days. This initial proposal, leaked to the media, sparked public outrage, with critics arguing it would lead to mass extermination of unadopted dogs.
The new proposal mandates that municipalities remove stray dogs from streets and place them in shelters where they would be neutered or spayed. Dogs that are ill, suspected of having rabies, or showing aggressive behavior would be euthanized. Municipalities would also be required to either construct new shelters or improve existing ones by 2028.
Despite these revisions, concerns remain that some municipalities might opt for mass culling rather than investing in shelters. The committee meeting, which initially faced disruptions as the chair ordered media and observers to leave due to space constraints, was eventually relocated to a larger venue. Activists continued to protest near the Turkish Grand National Assembly, despite rain, demanding the withdrawal of the legislation and chanting, “withdraw, withdraw, withdraw the legislation!” and “we won’t allow a massacre.”
Opposition from the center-left Republican People’s Party and other smaller parties contrasts with the support of Erdogan’s ruling party and its nationalist allies, who hold a majority in parliament. This suggests the bill is likely to pass when presented to the full assembly for final approval.
A report from the Safe Streets and Defense of the Right to Life Association, which advocates for the removal of all stray dogs, cites 65 fatalities from street dog attacks since 2022. Erdogan has also noted at least 55 deaths over the past five years due to traffic accidents caused by drivers swerving to avoid strays and highlighted the increased risk of rabies due to the stray population.
The government pledged to address the issue earlier this year following a severe dog attack on a child in Ankara. Current regulations require stray dogs to be captured, neutered or spayed, and returned to their original locations, but the lack of enforcement has led to a surge in the stray population. Animal rights groups argue that properly implementing existing regulations would be sufficient to manage the situation.
