A Dark Cloud Over İlkadım Animal Shelter
The people of İlkadım and indeed, all animal lovers across Turkey deserve transparency, accountability, and compassion when it comes to the treatment of vulnerable animals. Yet recent developments surrounding the municipal animal shelter have raised serious concerns, prompting the CHP İlkadım District Chair Umut Alkaç to publicly demand answers, particularly regarding the closure of the shelter to the public & the whereabouts of any deceased dogs.
In a statement that resonated with many, Alkaç emphasized:
“We are not questioning anyone’s fear of God, conscience, or love for animals. Our demand is that the mayor clearly and directly answer the questions required by his institutional responsibility.”
Why Was the Shelter Closed to Elected Officials?
According to Alkaç, if millions of lira were indeed invested into building a modern animal shelter a public facility then why were elected municipal council members and the CHP District President denied entry?
This question strikes at the heart of public accountability. A shelter built with public funds must remain accessible to oversight and inspection. Instead, the secrecy surrounding it has only deepened suspicion.
The Unanswered Question Where Are the Animals Being Buried?
Another disturbing silence concerns the fate of deceased animals. Alkaç revealed that council members repeatedly asked about the burial site, yet no answer has been given for over twenty days.
“Why was the question ‘Where will the animals be buried?’ left unanswered?”
Improper burial or worse, no burial at all raises serious ethical, legal, and health concerns. Humane treatment does not end with life; it extends to dignity in death.
A Living Space or a Hidden Tragedy?
The municipality claims that a ‘complete Animal Habitat’ has been built. If that is true, asks Alkaç, why was it closed instead of proudly shown to both the CHP delegation and the public?
The most chilling allegation came next:
“While we’re talking about so much investment, what are dead animals doing in a garbage dumpster?”
If confirmed, this would constitute a grave violation of animal welfare norms — one that demands immediate investigation and accountability.
“We Expect Documentation — Not Emotional Rhetoric”
Alkaç stressed that the matter should not be dismissed with religious or emotional appeals. Instead, the public expects verifiable facts:
“These questions must be answered not with fear of God or emotional expressions, but with transparency, documentation, and explanations that will satisfy the public conscience.”
This speaks to a larger issue in animal welfare governance: emotions are not enough systems are needed. Without transparency, oversight, and accountability, shelters risk becoming mere warehouses — or worse, graveyards.
Call for a Full Judicial Investigation
At the conclusion of his statement, Alkaç called for a full judicial inquiry:
“We want the judicial process to proceed healthily, for the incident to be illuminated in all its aspects, and for the animals in İlkadım to live in healthy conditions and be buried properly.”
This is not just a local issue. It is a test of Turkey’s commitment to Rule of Law, public accountability, and respect for life. If the allegations are true, they represent not only a failure of policy but a failure of conscience.
Where Do We Go From Here?
A transparent inspection of the shelter must be allowed.
All burial procedures must be documented and regulated.
An independent veterinary and legal review should be initiated.
Civil society and NGOs must be included in the monitoring process.
The animals of İlkadım and the citizens who care about them deserve answers. Silence is not an option.