On July 30, the Turkish parliament passed a contentious bill concerning stray dogs, introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Out of 594 deputies, 500 participated in the vote. The bill was approved with 275 votes in favor, 224 against, and one abstention.
The bill, consisting of 17 articles, includes a controversial provision in Article 5 allowing for the euthanasia of stray dogs under specific circumstances:
- When animals suffer from incurable diseases
- When their behavior poses a danger to people and other animals and cannot be controlled
- To prevent or eliminate acute infectious diseases that pose a risk to human health
Following the vote, parliament recessed until October 1.
Opposition deputies condemned the bill, labeling it as shameful and criticizing the conditions in shelters, where many animals perish. AKP Group Deputy Chair Abdullah Güler countered, asserting that the law does not mandate killing but promotes ownership and encouragement.
The bill mandates municipalities to remove strays from streets and house them in shelters until adoption. Municipalities are also required to construct shelters and perform “rehabilitation” until December 31, 2028. The bill introduces a 40% treasury aid for constructing, improving, and rehabilitating shelters.
Former Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirişçi claimed that with 322 existing shelters holding 105,000 dogs, municipalities could build facilities to accommodate up to four million stray dogs by 2028.
Main opposition leader Özgür Özel announced plans to challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court.
During the parliamentary debate, opposition deputies wore red-painted gloves, interpreted by some as a symbol of blood. Animal rights advocates have been vocally protesting the bill, denouncing it as a “massacre law.”
