Turkey is facing a critical moment. A proposed bill by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) aims to euthanise millions of stray dogs across the country. This move has sparked outrage and protests from animal rights activists and concerned citizens alike.
We need your help to stop this inhumane action and implement more compassionate solutions.
Take action now!
Help https://animalheroes.eu/ by signing the petition. Animal Heroes and Haytap together with the Italian animal party ‘Partito Animalista Italiano’ urgently call on ALL animal lovers to sign this petition to prevent the Turkish government from passing a devastating piece of legislation that threatens millions of stray dogs.
Your signature can save 4 million stray dogs and their puppies in Turkey from imminent death.
What law has been passed by the Turkish government regarding strays?
The Turkish government has proposed legislation to capture and sterilise millions of stray dogs, and to lock them up in shelters, where eventually they will be killed if not adopted after 30 days. Shelters in Turkey are already full, overcrowded and unsanitary, with many dogs being starved and mistreated. Realistically, adding an additional 4 million dogs to shelters would require the same amount of land as Istanbul, which would ultimately mean that the dogs would simply be killed. In addition, Dogs that are in pain, terminally ill, or pose a health risk to humans will be euthanised.
Why is this happening?
Concerns about public safety and traffic hazards involving stray dogs have led the Turkish government to take new action on stray populations. Dogs roaming in packs, particularly in urban and suburban regions, have shown unpredictable behavior, resulting in several serious incidents and an estimated 65 fatalities since 2022. This issue has captured public attention and prompted policymakers to consider legislative changes to limit direct human-dog conflicts and remove strays from city streets, aiming to reduce the risk of further incidents.
Is there a more humane way to tackle this issue?
While we acknowledge the challenges posed by stray dogs, resorting to slaughter should never be the answer.
A more humane solution lies in sterilising stray animals and responsibly managing their populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a holistic approach for addressing stray dog populations which includes registration, legislation, neutering, movement control, veterinary training, and public education. By adopting these strategies, Turkey could lead by example, showing commitment not only to humanitarian principles but also to animal welfare.
Let’s make a stand
Let’s make our voices heard so that together we can stop this senseless killing of cats and dogs from going ahead. They deserve our protection, not to suffer in appalling conditions and have their lives robbed from them without mercy. Sign the petition and join the fight to save these vulnerable creatures who have as much right to live as any of us.