Under the shade of a leafy green apricot tree on a scorching summer afternoon, Gokcen Yildiz scoops up a squirming ball of light-brown fur. The school teacher and street-dog advocate points to the dog's back legs, which are missing paws—a sign of the abuse some of Turkey’s street dogs endure. Ms. Yildiz looks after 160 dogs on her property on the outskirts of Ankara, reflecting a tiny fraction of Turkey’s estimated four million strays. The nation remains divided: should stray dogs be cared for as part of the neighborhood or should the government resort to drastic measures like euthanasia?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has proposed a new bill aimed at managing the burgeoning stray dog population. The bill, submitted to parliament by Erdogan's ruling party, is a scaled-down version of a previous proposal which had called for euthanizing unadopted dogs within 30 days of being rounded up. This initial proposal caused a public uproar, leading to revisions that still have not alleviated concerns among animal rights activists. The revised bill proposes to remove stray dogs from the streets and place them into shelters where they will be neutered or spayed. However, dogs at risk of rabies or exhibiting aggressive behavior could still be euthanized.
Supporters of the bill argue it is a necessary measure to ensure public safety, citing statistics from the Safe Streets and Defense of the Right to Life Association. According to the group, 65 people have died in street dog attacks since 2022. Moreover, British authorities have issued travel advisories warning about aggressive stray dog packs in Turkey. Despite existing regulations requiring stray dogs to be neutered and returned, lapses in enforcement have allowed the stray population to swell, contributing to increased safety concerns.
Critics, on the other hand, argue that the humane and effective solution lies in enforcing existing laws more stringently. Animal rights groups emphasize that proper implementation of sterilization and vaccination programs would be sufficient to control the stray population. The controversy has stirred emotions deeply, recalling historical instances like the 1910 incident where 80,000 stray dogs were left to perish on a deserted island, an event that presaged the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
The issue isn’t new. Turkey’s stray dog problem has its roots in decades of mismanagement. The country adopted its first animal protection bill in 2004, which legalized the catch-neuter-vaccinate-return (CNVR) method. This approach was undermined by a lack of resources and the failure of many municipalities to establish and maintain the necessary shelters and sterilization facilities. As Dr. Murat Arslan, President of the Turkish Veterinary Medical Association, explains, “Not every municipality had shelters or facilities where these operations could be carried out. Especially in small municipalities, there are neither shelters nor sufficient employment of veterinarians.”
A 2023 opinion poll echoes the nation’s divided sentiment: 80% of respondents supported measures to remove dogs from the streets and provide them shelter, yet only 3% thought euthanasia was acceptable. Both animal rights activists and regular citizens see a properly implemented shelter and sterilization program as a viable long-term solution. However, with inflation soaring and resources stretched thin, doubts persist about the feasibility of such a program.
Advocates like attorney Meltem Zorba, a volunteer for Safe Streets, push for legislative change to remove dogs from the streets permanently while maintaining humane standards. In contrast, people like Ms. Yildiz devote their personal resources to caring for dogs that face abuse and neglect. “The dogs outside here eat every two or three days, but they’re alive. They’re not about to die. That’s what really worries me,” said Ms. Yildiz. For her, the financial strain is significant but pales in comparison to the thought of abandoning these animals to a precarious fate.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) claims that the current system is insufficient to control the stray dog population or address public safety concerns. They argue that their approach aligns with practices in other countries like the UK and Portugal, even though comparisons may seem far-fetched given the scale of Turkey’s stray dog issue. The new bill includes a measure for taking photographs of strays and listing them on a government website for 30 days before they are euthanized if not adopted. This has reignited protests among animal rights groups and dog lovers.
Local municipalities are caught in this legislative crossfire. Required to enhance and improve conditions in existing shelters, they would also need to enforce the regulations laid out in the bill. However, reports indicate that only about one-third of Turkey’s provincial and district municipalities even have shelters, further complicating the situation.
Tensions have spiked with public demonstrations and fiery debates reverberating through Turkey’s political landscape. Even members of Islamist and opposition parties have spoken against the bill. Fatih Erbakan, leader of the Islamist New Welfare Party, criticized the bill as contrary to the “spirit of the Prophet Mohammed’s teachings.” Meanwhile, many animal rights activists see the bill as a form of political expedience rather than a legitimate attempt at resolving the issue.
For Dr. Gulay Erturk, President of the Veterinarians Association, the bill’s provisions fall far short of a humane solution. She advocates for the catch-neuter-vaccinate-release method, emphasizing that sterilization and vaccination are the keys to controlling the stray population without resorting to euthanasia. She stresses that only dogs identified as dangerous should be kept in care centers rather than put down.
Turkey’s stray dog crisis exposes a deeper issue of governance and resource allocation. With existing shelters underfunded and reports of inhumane treatment surfacing, the challenge goes beyond legislation. Istanbul-based economist and animal rights activist Banu Aydin underscores the complexity: “Do you know how many pit bulls there are in Istanbul alone? At least 50,000,” she said, pointing to the staggering numbers as evidence of the magnitude of the problem.
As the debate continues, Turkey finds itself at a crossroads. The nation must reconcile its culture of caring for street animals with the urgent need for public safety and humane policies. One thing is clear: the solution requires more than just legislation; it demands a cultural shift, adequate funding, and unwavering commitment to ethical principles. As one activist poignantly put it, “The life granted by the Almighty Allah can only be taken by the Almighty Allah. Be it a human or an animal, it is so.”