PETITION TARGET: Constitutional Court of Turkey
Dogs were found dead with their heads severed from their bodies in a mass grave recently discovered in the capital city of Ankara, Turkey, according to Medya News. This horrific finding immediately follows passage of the disturbing ‘massacre law’ — legislation if, allowed to stand, will allow Turkish community dogs to be targeted via mobile app, poisoned, and slaughtered.
Hundreds of stray dogs are being killed “legally,” and millions of them are at risk of horrific deaths, as an amendment to the Animal “Protection” Law No. 5199 recently passed – despite widespread public opposition.
This law legitimized the killing of community dogs without any justification in the name of “population control.”
There have been at least 44 cruelty cases involving the torture and murder of hundreds of dogs and cats – by both authorities and civilians — in the first 30 days after the passage of the law.
Disturbingly, a previously banned public mobile app, named Havrita – used by civilians to target and kill stray dogs – is announced to be released again soon.
Currently, there are an estimated 4 million dogs in the streets of Turkey, and only 322 shelters in Turkey, with a capacity for 105,000 dogs, according to the Week.
The new amendment requires authorities to round up all street dogs and place them into shelters. In addition to reportedly shockingly poor conditions, some shelters exhibited horrifying cruelty in recent years; in 2022 two shelter employees were arrested for strangling and fatally beating a dog with a shovel, but released shortly afterwards, with no legal ramifications for their actions.
Dogs in a Turkey Shelter Courtesy of Komşunum Nobetteyim
With such limited shelter capacity and violent behaviors towards community animals on the rise, millions of innocent dogs could be killed due to lack of space.
Any dogs who are ill or deemed “aggressive” will be euthanized. Banned breeds, such as pit bulls, will be first to be killed as it is illegal for them to be released or adopted from the shelter once they have been admitted.
Some shelter workers have spoken out and stated that sending more animals to these facilities could be considered a ‘death sentence’, according to the Guardian.
The Psychiatric Association of Turkey raised concern that normalizing brutality against dogs could encourage violence in other ways.
Dogs are emotionally sentient beings and loving companions who should not be forced to flee in fear as they are targeted in a state-mandated massacre. With this law in place and changing attitudes towards community dogs, only a small percentage of them will likely make it out alive.
It is critical that humane methods of population control, such as spay and neuter, are prioritized over horrifically slaughtering these innocent animals. Sign and share our petition urging the Constitutional Court of Turkey to revoke this law and spare dogs being brutally killed.
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