Turkish minister threatens municipalities refuses to kill stray dogs with prison time

Duvar English

Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Yumaklı on July 24 stated that municipality personnel refusing to comply with the regulation requiring the “collection and euthanasia” of stray dogs could face prison sentences ranging from six months to two years.

After hours of tense discussions in the Parliamentary Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Commission, the proposal to amend the Animal Protection Law was approved by the votes of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and it far-right ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) committee members.

Yumaklı stated, "Our primary perspective is to eliminate issues affecting social life and focus on adoption. Following that, we aim to control the population through spaying, neutering and rehabilitation." 

He noted that the previous "catch, neuter, release" model was incorporated into the legal framework but was not effectively implemented and failed to control the population and added, "It is now widely accepted that the increase in this population has started to negatively impact social life in various ways."

According to the government’s calculation, approximately four million stray dogs would be murdered en masse. The amendments propose to remove stray dogs from the streets “until they are adopted,” and to kill “aggressive” ones or the ones with untreatable diseases.

Previously, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) stated that their municipalities would not implemented the law even if it passes from the parliament.