The leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, has strongly condemned a new legislative proposal from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that could potentially lead to the euthanasia of certain stray dogs.
Özel expressed his opposition by posting a photo on his social media account with a disabled dog named Mira, accompanied by the hashtag “No to the slaughter law.” The AKP’s 17-article bill, recently presented in parliament, targets dogs deemed aggressive, those forming packs, animals with anatomical deformities, or those posing a risk of rabies.
Under the proposed legislation, municipalities would be authorized to euthanize animals suffering from infectious and incurable diseases, as well as those whose ownership is prohibited.
In his statement, Özel highlighted the plight of disabled animals like Mira, citing her adoption and current healthy life despite having three legs. He emphasized the necessity for a scientific, ethical, and humane approach to address the challenges posed by stray animals, dismissing legislative measures that could potentially lead to mass culling.
The bill also mandates municipalities to establish animal shelters for the protection, care, and rehabilitation of stray animals until they are adopted. It includes provisions for penalizing mayors and council members who fail to allocate necessary resources, with penalties ranging from six months to two years of imprisonment.
Critics argue that the proposed law could endanger the lives of many stray animals and fail to address underlying issues effectively.
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