A Walk That Ended in Violence
Pati had been walking with her guardian, Özden Özkan, in their residential neighbourhood in Datça. It was an ordinary evening: neighbours talking, dogs playing, the sky changing colour as the sun set. Then a deafening explosion shattered the calm. Moments later, Pati collapsed in her own garden, bleeding from pellets fired from a wild-boar hunting rifle. She was rushed to the veterinarian, but despite all efforts, she lost her life.
This Was Not the Middle of Nowhere
This was not a remote forest, not a hunting zone, not an abandoned area. A firearm was discharged in a populated neighbourhood, where people live, walk their dogs, and raise their children. Pati was a family member, a companion, a life taken deliberately in a place that should have been safe.
A Family’s World Shattered
Özden Özkan has spoken about not only grief, but the collapse of trust: trust in safety, in community, in humanity. She speaks of fear, shock, and the unbearable thought that the same bullets could just as easily have struck her, her neighbour, or any passer-by. Pati had recently been declared healthy by a veterinarian. She had her whole life ahead of her. In seconds, it was stolen
The Normalisation of Cruelty
When such acts go unpunished or unnoticed, violence against animals becomes normalised. Every living being has a right to life. When that right is violated so brutally and publicly, it should shake the conscience of society. Silence, however, teaches the opposite: that animal lives are disposable, that their deaths do not warrant serious concern.
The Deafening Silence of the Media
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this tragedy is the lack of interest from mainstream media. While animal rights advocates and social media users have tried to keep Pati’s story alive, major news outlets have ignored it. No sustained coverage, no investigative follow-up, no national debate. A gun was fired in a residential area. A life was taken. And yet, the public was barely informed.
Why Visibility Matters
Justice cannot exist without visibility. Accountability cannot be demanded if a case is buried in silence. Media attention is not about sensationalism; it is about responsibility. It is about making sure that violence, especially in our shared living spaces, is not normalised or forgotten.
We Will Not Forget Pati
Pati’s life mattered. Her death matters. And the absence of media attention matters too. We call on journalists, editors, and institutions to take this case seriously, to follow the legal process, and to ensure that this act of brutality is not lost in the noise of the news cycle.
Because a society that turns away from the killing of an innocent animal today may find itself turning away from even greater injustices tomorrow.