Scapegoating Strays: Why Dogs Are Not to Blame for Turkey’s “Attack Crisis”
In recent months, headlines across Turkey have painted a grim picture: a supposed surge in “dog attacks,” accompanied by calls for drastic crackdowns on the nation’s stray population. But beneath the alarmist stories lies a more uncomfortable truth — dogs are being scapegoated for a crisis rooted in human failure, mismanagement, and political opportunism.
The Headlines vs. The Reality
Tragic incidents involving stray dogs undeniably exist but sensational reporting has created the impression of an epidemic. What’s missing is solid data. There are no nationwide statistics proving a sudden “explosion” of dog attacks. Instead, anecdotal stories are being wielded as political tools, fuelling fear and hysteria.
Dog-related injuries in Turkey is not a new phenomenon. What has changed is the narrative: dogs are being cast as a public enemy, with incidents exaggerated to justify heavy-handed measures.
Where the Real Problem Lies
If we want to understand why some street dogs display aggression, we must look at the human systems that have failed them:
Abandonment: Thousands of dogs are dumped on the streets each year when they become inconvenient. Many of the so-called “aggressive” strays were once pets who were betrayed by their families.
Poor Implementation of Humane Laws: Since 2004, Turkey has had a catch-neuter-release policy. Properly implemented, it could have stabilized the stray population. Instead, chronic underfunding and negligence left dogs unsterilized, shelters overcrowded, and the streets unmanaged.
Municipal Failures: Municipal shelters have often been sites of abuse, starvation, and neglect leading to public distrust and making adoption even harder.
Breeding and Sales: While stray dogs are vilified, commercial breeders and pet shops continue to flood the market with puppies, many of whom are later abandoned.
The “Massacre Law” — A Dangerous Step Backward
The government’s recent law, which mandates the capture of all stray dogs and the euthanasia of those deemed “aggressive” or “unadoptable,” has been celebrated by some as a public safety solution. But animal welfare advocates warn it will be nothing short of a mass killing campaign.
With an estimated 4 million strays and only a few hundred underfunded shelters, there is no realistic way this law can be implemented humanely. The danger is clear: dogs, healthy and harmless, may be exterminated simply to appease a fearful public.
Dogs as Neighbours, Not Threats
For centuries, Turkey has been a country where humans and street animals coexisted. Dogs were part of the urban landscape cared for by shopkeepers, neighbours, and entire communities. They are not an invading force; they are our responsibility.
The real threat is not the dogs themselves, but the climate of fear created around them.
A Humane Way Forward
Instead of mass killings, Turkey could adopt proven, humane strategies:
Proper funding for sterilization and vaccination programs
Community feeding stations in dogs normal feeding areas and education campaigns to reduce conflicts
Stricter penalties for abandonment and irresponsible breeding
Transparency in shelter management so that they become safe havens rather than death camps
Conclusion
The so-called rise in dog attacks in Turkey is less about a sudden change in canine behaviour and more about how society has chosen to frame the issue. Stray dogs are victims, not villains — abandoned by people, failed by the state, and now threatened with extermination.
If Turkey truly wishes to protect its citizens, it must start by honouring its duty of care toward the animals it has long shared its streets with. Blaming the dogs will not solve the problem.
Compassion and responsibility will.
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