"License to Kill" or Public Safety? A Controversial Law on Stray Dogs in Turkey
In Turkey, a new law passed in the summer of 2024 could lead to mass euthanasia of stray animals, particularly street dogs. The country, which nevertheless has a strong tradition of coexisting with street animals, is thus seeing the memory of the “Cursed Island” massacre revived—an event in which approximately 80,000 dogs were deported and left to fend for themselves in 1910. Other approaches, such as spaying, neutering, and/or adoption, would, however, be more humane.
Bernur Açıkgöz, Katip Celebi University and Marc Willinger, University of Montpellier
In Turkey, a new law passed in the summer of 2024 provides for the capture of stray animals—particularly street dogs—in order to curb their proliferation. The law calls for their placement in shelters and the systematic euthanasia of animals deemed dangerous, particularly those that are sick or exhibit behavior described as “negative.”
This law raises major concerns regarding animal welfare and public safety: it risks leading to the mass slaughter of animals, even though more humane solutions exist, such as spay/neuter and adoption campaigns. When comparing this law to the European Union’s animal welfare standards, it is clear that Turkey should consider a more inclusive reform.
Yet Turkey has a long-standing tradition of coexisting with stray animals. Since Ottoman times, stray animals have been an integral part of Turkey’s social and cultural fabric: people feed them, build shelters for them, and share urban spaces with them. This peaceful tradition continues today in many cities and villages, contributing to the well-being of these animals.
The fate of stray animals is a sensitive issue there: in 1910, under the Ottoman Empire, the island of Sivriada (also known as the “Cursed Island”) was used to exile stray dogs from Istanbul. During that event, more than 80,000 dogs were rounded up and then abandoned on this deserted island.
The death of the dogs from hunger and thirst sparked widespread public outrage, and this event has been remembered as both a moral and practical failure, leaving a deep scar on people’s consciences. The public has also linked certain subsequent disasters, such as earthquakes and wars, to the “curse of the dogs.”
A memory that Turkey’s new legislation on stray dogs has brought back to the forefront, amid a humanitarian and ethical debate.
The new law, a short-term “solution”
One of the main reasons behind the adoption of this new law in Turkey is the increase in the number of stray dogs and the growing fear of dogs among part of the population. Stray dogs can cause traffic accidents and may carry dangerous diseases, such as rabies.
The previous law— Article 6 of Law No. 5199 on the Protection of Animals—required municipalities to spay or neuter, vaccinate, treat, and release stray animals back to their place of origin. However, municipalities failed to fulfill this mandate, and due to insufficient spaying and neutering, dog populations continued to grow. The new law, which allows for the capture and euthanasia of unadopted dogs, aims to remedy this situation.
Although this law appears to address an urgent need for public safety, it is unlikely to provide a humane long-term solution. In fact, no municipality in Turkey currently has the necessary infrastructure to house these animals. According to Turkish media reports, some municipalities have begun poisoning dogs due to a lack of space in shelters. In rural areas and some urban areas, this law has already led to mass killings of animals.
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Thus, the new law requires municipalities to capture and confine animals, but without providing them with adequate facilities. This law therefore offers only a short-term solution, while neglecting any consideration of long-term animal welfare.
Spaying and neutering, adoption… more sustainable solutions
If this law remains in effect, there is reason to fear that the slaughter of animals will increase, making municipalities and the central government liable. To balance animal welfare and public safety, the government should reassess the consequences of this law and consider alternatives.
To address the issue of stray animals in Turkey, policy adjustments could have been considered even before such a law was enacted. These adjustments would have made it possible to preserve the tradition of coexisting with street animals, while striking a better balance between public safety and respect for animal rights.
- First, the issue of shelters to house captured stray animals: at the very least, safe zones should have been designated where the animals could have stayed while waiting for the appropriate infrastructure to be built.
- Although the sale of animals in pet stores has been banned, breeding and sales at unregulated farms continue, contributing to the increase in the number of stray animals.
- In addition, international travelers may still bring pets into the country.
- Some existing laws, such as those prohibiting pet ownership in condominiums, could have been reevaluated to encourage dog adoption in Turkey.
- Spay-and-neuter campaigns could reduce the number of dogs, while adoption campaigns would encourage the public to take these animals in and raise awareness about animal rights.
- Even in the absence of mass adoptions, municipalities could invest in sterilization centers to allow animals—once vaccinated and sterilized—to return to their original areas after treatment.
Taking a cue from the European Union
Within the European Union, as in Sweden and Germany, policy measures have led to a significant reduction in the number of stray animals.
In France, the law on animal protection and welfare includes strong measures to protect stray animals and prohibits their abandonment. Violations of animal welfare laws are severely punished, and shelters and adoption programs have been established to rehabilitate stray animals.
Directive 98/58/EC of the European Parliament prohibits unnecessary euthanasia and requires Member States to adopt animal welfare policies. Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon recognizes dogs as “sentient beings” and emphasizes the need to protect their rights.
By implementing similar programs, Turkey could bring stray animal populations under control. It would be helpful if the campaign against the new law were to expand internationally, particularly in Europe: organizations such as Eurogroup for Animals could provide financial and technical support for spay/neuter and adoption projects in Turkey.
Ultimately, this new law, while intended to strengthen public safety in the short term, seriously jeopardizes animal welfare and social harmony in the long term in terms of peaceful coexistence with these animals. It would be desirable to repeal this law and replace it with more inclusive and humane legislation, drawing inspiration from the animal welfare standards in force in the European Union.
In 1789, the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham himself wrote:
“What […] criterion should mark the line that cannot be crossed? Is it the ability to reason, or perhaps the ability to speak? But an adult horse or dog is an animal that is incomparably more rational—and also more articulate—than a child who is one day old, or one week old, or even one month old. But even if they weren’t, what difference would it make?”
"The question is not: 'Can they reason?' nor: 'Can they speak?' but: 'Can they suffer?'"
Bernur Açıkgöz, Professor of Economics, Katip Celebi University and Marc Willinger, Professor of Economics, Behavioral and Experimental Economics, University of Montpellier
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Readthe original article.