Compassion Under Attack: Harassment, Death Threats, and the Mental Health Crisis Facing Turkey’s Animal Lovers
A Culture of Care Under Siege
In many Turkish towns and cities, stray dogs and cats are not outsiders—they are neighbours. Locals leave bowls of food and water on pavements, greet them by name, and treat them as part of the community’s shared life.
That fragile harmony is under threat. In 2024, Turkey introduced legislation—dubbed the “massacre law” by critics—that requires municipalities to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and euthanise those deemed sick or aggressive. With an estimated four million stray dogs and limited shelter space, activists fear the law will lead to mass killing rather than humane management
In May 2025, the Constitutional Court upheld the law, deepening fears and fuelling protests
When Kindness Becomes Dangerous
For many, caring for animals has turned into a dangerous act. Activists have been threatened, assaulted, and arrested simply for offering food or shelter to strays.
In August 2023, 73-year-old activist Funda Bayrı was arrested and imprisoned for sharing images of animal abusers online—charged under Turkey’s “personal data” laws
Elderly carer Ülker Güleryüz, beloved in her community for feeding street animals, died in a suspicious house fire after facing harassment and online calls for violence against her.
Voices from the Ground
Ayşe (name changed), a long-time street feeder in Istanbul, now works in the shadows:
“It’s not the dogs I’m afraid of—it’s the humans. I feed before sunrise, carry food in shopping bags so it looks like groceries, and never stay in one place too long. I’ve been called a criminal, a disease spreader, and once someone threatened to burn my house.”
Mehmet (name changed), an animal advocate, says the fear of being reported has changed his life:
“A neighbour told the police I was feeding strays illegally. They came to my door. Now I only speak about animals with people I trust completely.”
And for some, the weight is almost unbearable.
Just this week, I spent the night with one of our community carers. His spirit was crushed by the endless suffering and relentless threats. Sitting in silence between bursts of conversation, he admitted he was thinking about ending his life. We talked until the sky began to lighten, searching for even a flicker of hope.
The Mental Health Emergency
The harassment and violence aimed at Turkey’s animal lovers is more than a legal injustice—it’s a mental health crisis.
Chronic Anxiety & Hypervigilance – Every feeding trip feels like a covert mission.
Trauma & Helplessness – Witnessing cruelty without the power to stop it leaves deep scars.
Isolation – Friends and family often distance themselves out of fear.
Grief & Guilt – Each animal lost is a wound that never truly heals.
Coping Networks & Quiet Resistance
Even in this climate of fear, defenders find ways to survive:
Closed Trust Circles – Encrypted chats to share safe routes and emotional support.
International Allies – Global groups offering vet care funding, and solidarity.
Micro-Rituals – Carrying tokens from rescued animals, journaling about every life saved.
Anonymous Supply Drops – Hidden food exchanges to keep identities safe.
Why Protecting Mental Health is Resistance
In a society where cruelty is normalised, caring becomes a radical act. Protecting the mental well-being of carers is not a luxury—it’s essential for the survival of the movement.
Peer support combats isolation and strengthens resilience.
Storytelling—sharing even small acts of rescue—keeps hope alive for activists and the public.
Take Action – Stand With Turkeys Animal Defenders
No one should face violence, arrest, or death threats for showing kindness. Yet in Turkey today, thousands of animal lovers live under that reality every single day.
This is not abstract. I have held up someone who has dedicated his life to street animals as he told me he no longer wanted to live. The cruelty, persecution, and hopelessness had pushed him to the edge. We cannot look away.
You can help protect them and the animals they care for:
Share their stories – Use your voice to break the silence.
Support mental health aid – Donate to organisations defending carers in crisis.
Apply global pressure – Support our efforts to shut failing shelters & reunite community dogs with their carers.
💛 Compassion is a human right. Stand with those who defend it—before we lose more lives, both human and animal.