Turkey’s ruling party, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, introduced a controversial bill in parliament aimed at addressing the region’s rising errant dog people. The proposed legislation specifies that stray dogs may be taken from the pavements and placed in homes where they would get neutered and spayed.
The plan, presented by top lawmaker from the ruling party Abdullah Guler, also said that dogs at risk of rabies, exhibiting violent behaviour, and having no chance of treatment may be euthanized. Additionally, the plan calls on communities to improve the problems in existing shelters and encourages people to adopt the canines.
Criticism of the plan has raised questions about its potential impact on the shooting of numerous animals and the dog holding in overcrowded shelters. Animal rights activists and those who support measures to protect the streets from stray dogs have been debating the costs.
An estimated four million stray puppies are already roaming on Turkey’s roads and land, according to Erdogan. The first plan, which was not submitted to congress, reportedly called for the deviates to be collected, placed in tents, and euthanized if no adopted within 30 days. Animal rights activists claimed that this plan may result in the widespread killing of unadopted dogs, which led to a public uproar.
The Safe Streets and Defense of the Right to Life Association, a group that campaigns for the deportation of all stray dogs from the roads, released a report in which it was revealed that 65 people have died in road puppy attacks since 2022. The authorities made a pledge to address the issue earlier this year after a youngster in Ankara suffered severe injuries in a dog attack.
Animal rights groups argue that the existing policy, which requires stray dogs to get caught, neutered, spayed, and returned to their original place, has not been properly implemented over the years, leading to the blast of the stray dog people. They think that controlling the people may be achieved only if these regulations were properly put into effect.
Traveling to Turkey recently received a notice from Britain about stray dogs, which noted that they frequently form packs and can be intense. Guests were advised to use precaution and to avert approaching them.
( With agency inputs )
