Turkey faces backlash over stray dog removal law

Turkey is facing significant backlash over a new law aimed at managing the country's estimated 4 million stray dogs. The legislation, which has been labeled the 'massacre law' by its opponents, mandates local authorities to remove homeless animals from city streets and take them to already overcrowded shelters. These shelters are required to vaccinate, spay, or neuter the dogs before adoption, with the provision that any dogs deemed ill or dangerous may be euthanized. This has raised concerns among animal rights activists and the public, who argue that the law threatens the lives of these animals and reflects broader issues of state control over public life. The law was introduced following a tragic incident in December, where a young boy was attacked by a pack of stray dogs, prompting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to declare the need for a solution. Proponents of the law argue that stray dogs pose a significant problem, claiming that no other developed country faces such an issue. However, many activists believe that the government should focus on enforcing existing legislation that promotes the vaccination and neutering of strays rather than resorting to punitive measures. Protests have erupted in cities like Istanbul, where demonstrators express their outrage and fear that the law represents a broader crackdown on marginalized groups. Activists argue that the government should allocate more resources to municipal shelters to improve conditions for the animals rather than increasing the number of dogs in these facilities, which they describe as inhumane. The debate continues to intensify, with activists warning that the law could set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of other vulnerable populations in Turkey. The situation remains tense as both sides of the argument mobilize their supporters, highlighting the intersection of animal rights and broader social issues in the country.