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Turkey’s animal rights advocates fear mass culling as lawmakers debate stray dog bill

Animal rights activists claim that the bill could lead to mass culling of the country’s some four million stray dogs.

Stray dogs lie on the grass in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on August 23, 2022.
Stray dogs lie on the grass in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on August 23, 2022. — YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

ANKARA — The Turkish Parliament on Wednesday kicked off debate on the controversial draft law to tackle the county’s stray dog problem as animal rights activists organized demonstrations in Turkey, claiming that it would lead to the mass cullings of stray dogs. 

People have been gathering in major metropolises, including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir — and even in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hometown of Rize — as well as dozens of other cities, calling on the government to withdraw the bill. Dozens of people protested outside of the parliament as the debate began on Wednesday, holding signs that read, “Neuter, vaccinate, and keep alive,” “Withdraw the legislation” and “No to the massacre.” 

The debate inside the parliament kicked off with tense discussions between ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition lawmakers. While AKP members displayed the images of children who were killed or injured in stray dog attacks, opposition lawmakers protested the committee’s denying animal rights activists entrance to the room where the debate took place.

An animal right activist takes part in a demonstration to protect stray dogs and cats in Istanbul on 13 July 2024. The government has drawn up legislation to capture and sterilise strays, before putting them down if they are not adopted within 30 days. (Photo by KEMAL ASLAN / AFP) (Photo by KEMAL ASLAN/AFP via Getty Images)
An animal right activist takes part in a demonstration to protect stray dogs and cats in Istanbul, July 13, 2024. (Photo by KEMAL ASLAN/AFP via Getty Images)

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