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Turkey introduces contentious bill targeting stray dogs; sparks outcry from rights groups – Times of India

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Turkey’s ruling party, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, introduced a contentious bill in parliament aimed at addressing the country’s rising stray dog population. The proposed legislation states that stray dogs would be removed from the streets and placed in shelters where they would undergo neutering and spaying.
The proposal, presented by senior legislator from the ruling party Abdullah Guler, also said that dogs at risk of rabies, exhibiting aggressive behavior, and having no possibility of rehabilitation would be euthanized.The proposal also requires municipalities to improve conditions in existing shelters and encourages people to adopt the dogs.
The proposal has raised concerns among critics who fear it will lead to dogs being held in overcrowded shelters and potentially result in the killing of many animals. The bill has sparked a debate between animal rights activists and those who advocate for measures to ensure the safety of streets from feral dogs.
According to Erdogan, an estimated four million stray dogs are currently roaming on the streets and countryside of Turkey. The initial proposal, which was not submitted to parliament, reportedly called for the strays to be collected, placed in shelters, and euthanized if not adopted within 30 days. This proposal had sparked a public outcry, with animal rights activists arguing that it would lead to the mass killing of unadopted dogs.
The Safe Streets and Defense of the Right to Life Association, an organization advocating for the removal of all stray dogs from the streets, released a report noting that 65 people have died in street dog attacks since 2022. The government pledged to address the issue earlier this year after a child in Ankara was severely injured in a dog attack.
Animal rights groups argue that the existing legislation, which requires stray dogs to be caught, neutered, spayed, and returned to their original location, has not been properly implemented over the years, leading to the explosion of the feral dog population. They believe that proper implementation of these regulations would be sufficient to control the population.
Recently, Britain issued a warning to travelers to Turkey regarding stray dogs, which pointed out that they often form packs and can be aggressive. Visitors were advised to exercise caution and avoid approaching them.
(With agency inputs)





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