Life Just Got Very Bad For Stray Dogs In Turkey

A genuine desire to make life better for everybody has gone very wrong very fast

Life on the streets for stray dogs is indeed fraught with hardship. From the very moment they come into the world, these dogs are met with a barrage of challenges and threats that make survival a daily battle. Accidents are a constant danger, as is the risk of illness, which can quickly take hold due to lack of medical care and proper nutrition. Furthermore, these dogs often face harassment from humans, adding to their plight and making their existence even more precarious. With an average lifespan of merely four years, the life of a stray dog is undoubtedly a struggle, marked by adversity and an ongoing fight for survival.

Turkey's relationship with stray animals is a unique and inspiring aspect of its culture, drawing admiration from around the world. Despite the challenges faced by many, there is a strong community spirit dedicated to supporting these animals. In tourist areas, visitors often show kindness by feeding stray dogs, and sometimes they even form bonds strong enough to bring a dog back to their home country. In the local communities, shopkeepers and café owners frequently offer shelter and food to these animals, demonstrating compassion and care.

Many individuals take it upon themselves to contribute to the dogs care, buying kibble and setting up feeding stations for them. Others go further, traveling to remote areas like mountains and forests to ensure the well-being of strays, providing food and medical assistance as needed. Additionally, there are organized efforts to control the stray population through spay and neuter programs, which help stabilize and gradually reduce their numbers. This collective effort highlights a deep-rooted tradition of coexistence and empathy, reflecting the values of kindness and responsibility.

In 2023, President Erdogan delivered a speech where he expressed his desire to eliminate stray dogs from the streets. He advocated for the adoption of a European model for managing stray dogs. This speech led to changes in the animal protection law known as Law 5199. Under 5199, the killing of dogs was prohibited, and there was a strong emphasis on controlling the population through spaying and neutering. The law also stipulated that dogs could not be removed from the streets unless it was for sterilization or medical treatment.

The amendments to Law 5199, referred to by many Turkish citizens as the "massacre law," sparked significant controversy and concern. This legislation permitted the euthanasia of dogs deemed aggressive, those with incurable diseases, and those with conditions that could be transmitted to humans. The law mandated that these dogs be removed from the streets and placed in government shelters. If not adopted within 30 days, the dogs faced euthanasia. However, this 30-day stipulation was eventually abolished in response to public outcry. Municipal leaders were given until December 2028 to construct new shelters or renovate existing ones to accommodate these animals.

On 9th March, Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya issued a directive to remove all dogs from the streets immediately, in the wake of a tragic incident involving the death of a child, which is believed to have been the result of an attack by a stray dog.

Public safety is a priority, and the death of a child for any reason is unacceptable. However, it raises the question: where will the dogs go three years before the new shelter is built? With Turkey hosting around 4 million dogs and current shelter capacity only supporting about 80,000, this situation presents a significant challenge.

Overcrowding in shelters poses a significant threat to the well-being of stray dogs, as the lack of vaccinations among these animals can lead to the rapid spread of disease. The crowded conditions and insufficient enrichment opportunities increase the likelihood of fights, resulting in injuries and even fatalities among the dogs. Despite the severity of this situation, it has been reported that additional funding has not yet been allocated to address these pressing issues. This raises concerns about how essential resources, such as food, will be procured to meet the growing needs of the shelter population.

Prior to the ministers announcement a directive from DKMP was issued on 5th March & registered in the gazette. The most surprising & unexpected development was the banning of adoptions from rescue organisations in the country. Please refer to Article 2, Subparagraph 6

Ankara Patiliköy, a charitable organisation with over 1000 animals under their care responded with the following statement

“What is this now! I can't understand what I read. It's not enough that you kill those you gather and imprison in death camps. You make it difficult to adopt. That's not enough, dogs in private living areas are also banned from being adopted. What kind of law is this? What kind of articles are these? ”

We echo the sentiments of Ankara Patilikoy. We do not want dogs on the streets & support any effort to humanely reduce the population & get these unwanted dogs to the safety of a loving home. But how will this happen now?

All humane stray dog management models rely heavily on the support of charitable organisations & adoptions. This ban on adoptions & restrictions on the municipal shelters spells disaster for the dogs who will be culled. In fact our whistle-blowers have told us that culling is happening right now. One worker told us that they had been directed to kill healthy dogs to make room dogs newly arrived.

Haydar Özkan Haykonfed vice president said “Just as the municipality has made it virtually impossible to adopt animals from shelters with its implementation regulation, it has also banned adoption from private shelters with this identification regulation, and is directing municipalities to kill animals with its bizarre laws and regulations”

This Sunday, 16th March, we are rallying all dog lovers to join our all-day tweetstorm aimed at reversing the adoption bans. You can participate by tweeting at any time throughout the day using the tweet sheet provided on our website. Simply download the images, click on the "tweet here" link in the tweet sheet, and add the image to your tweet. Remember to space out your tweets by a few minutes to avoid the risk of being placed in Twitter "jail."

It's crucial to use the hashtag "SaveTurkeysStrayDogs" and not "BoycottTurkey," and we must refrain from insulting the country, its leaders, or its people. You will find everything you need on our site that day. You can find the page here

We also have a petition & desperately need your help with that, please sign & share. You can find it here

We look forward to your support!

Please subscribe so that I can continue sharing news, good & bad. We are 100% reliable with the information we share with you. We are working in the country & have networks within the community. We are also known in to those who have positions of authority.