A Historic Case in Hatay: Poisoned Shepherd Dog Sparked National Debate
Credit MGLUCLUM
The Tragedy in Hassa
29th December 2019
In the Hassa district of Hatay, Turkey, a shepherd dog lost his life under harrowing circumstances.
Allegedly poisoned, the animal was captured on video lying helplessly in a ditch, convulsing in his final moments. These images circulated rapidly on social media, igniting grief and outrage across the country.
Authorities Forced to Respond
For perhaps the first time in such a case, the reaction from both the public and authorities was immediate and intense.
The District Gendarmerie Command, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality intervened.
Samples were collected, toxicology and pathology tests initiated, and investigations launched to determine responsibility.
A Turning Point for Animal Welfare
While the poisoning of dogs is tragically not uncommon in Turkey, this incident stands apart.
The widespread circulation of the footage and the public demand for justice transformed this tragedy into a landmark event in the struggle for animal rights.
What has too often been ignored became impossible to overlook.
Statements of Accountability
The dog’s owner, Abidin Bövelek, said his companion ingested poison while grazing and died despite efforts to save him.
Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş condemned the incident and promised accountability. Even the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry became involved — an unprecedented level of government attention for such a case.
Legal Context and Failure of Justice
At the time of this tragedy in late 2019, Turkey’s animal-protection regime mostly resulted in administrative fines, even for severe cruelty. Criminal penalties, including custodial sentences for killing or torturing pets, were not introduced until 14 July 2021, when Law 7332 created Article 28/A of Law 5199.
Because this reform came too late, the Hatay shepherd dog received no justice.
Despite the public outcry and official investigations, there is no record of a trial or sentencing in this case. The person responsible walked free, highlighting the deep failings of the legal system at that time.
Why This Matters
The death of this shepherd dog is more than an isolated crime.
It is part of a wider pattern of violence and neglect against animals in Turkey. Yet the public anger and the unprecedented level of official response make this a historic moment.
It showed that cruelty would no longer be dismissed as normal, and that society was beginning to demand real change.
Our Stand
At Dog Desk Animal Action, we believe that laws must not only exist but be enforced.
Education on humane treatment must reach every community. Most importantly, the suffering of animals must be recognised as a moral and social issue of the highest importance.
The shepherd dog of Hatay must not be forgotten. His needless death and the lack of justice he received should serve as a call to action, a reminder that every life matters, and that the fight for animal justice must continue until no act of cruelty goes unpunished.