Türkiye and street dogs

Until now, Turkey was considered a petting zoo.

Anyone who loves dogs felt like they were in paradise here. The street dogs approached people with trust.

However, the situation has changed dramatically.

Parliament approved a law requiring local authorities to capture stray dogs and place them in animal shelters. Dogs deemed dangerous to humans are to be put down.

"The main opposition party CHP announced that it would go to Türkiye's Supreme Court to overturn the law."

Animal rights activists fear a massacre.

Turkey does not have the infrastructure to accommodate all street dogs in animal shelters.

In Turkey, the population of street dogs is estimated at 4 million.

Castration projects are not the norm; these are offered by animal welfare organizations.

About 30 percent of the population is affected by poverty.

About 92 percent of Turks are Muslim.

Dogs are considered unclean in Islam. Keeping dogs is not permitted in Islam. They may only be used for hunting and guarding livestock and crops.

Animal rights activists have repeatedly pointed out that it is already common practice to bury dogs alive. Since the law came into force, animal rights activists have found masses of dogs killed, and the population is noticeably declining.

Supporters of the law argue that packs of dogs are now attacking people. They are trying to document these attacks with video recordings. (It's convenient that someone with a video device was nearby.)

Animal rights activists are trying to catch the strays and bring them to safety from the violent part of the population. The captured dogs show no signs of aggression.

Animal lovers from Turkey are protesting against this law in front of the municipalities.

It is known from other countries in the EU how brutally dogs are treated in killing stations.

Activists who fear the worst have now gained access to an animal shelter. What they found is almost unbearable for animal lovers.

Animals starved and died of thirst in large numbers.

The local authority is now threatening the animal rights activists with consequences.