Let’s export stray dogs to China and make money, suggests pro-opposition journo

Stray dogs have increasingly populated the streets of Türkiye, with recent attacks on children highlighting the urgency of finding a solution.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission recently approved a highly controversial regulation known as the “euthanasia for dogs” proposal, which has faced significant criticism for potentially leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of stray dogs.

This regulatory shift has ignited a nationwide debate over addressing the stray animal crisis. Opposition and criticism have intensified, revealing concerns that financial gain may be prioritized over animal welfare.

Export idea stray dogs to China

During a recent episode of a popular opposition media outlet, Sozcu TV, opposition journalist Murat Muratoglu made a highly controversial suggestion. Speaking on the stray dog issue, he proposed exporting stray dogs to China, where they are consumed as food.

This remark was immediately rebuffed by his co-panelist, Deniz Zeyrek, and host Ebru Baki, and widespread condemnation on social media followed.

‘They will kill them anyway’

Muratoglu defended his statement, arguing: “Chinese people eat dogs. Instead of killing stray animals here, let’s export them to China.”

“They’ll kill them, anyway; at least we can profit from it,” he further asserted.

Despite the outrage, Muratoglu stood by his proposal, emphasizing the practical benefits he perceived.

How did discussion start?

Despite ongoing discussions about dog attacks in Türkiye, no decisive action had been taken until December, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following a severe dog attack on a fourth-grader named Tunahan Yilmaz in Ankara, declared that the government had a responsibility to protect individuals harmed by stray dogs.

After the local elections, debates over the inadequacy of existing laws intensified. This led to the introduction of a controversial proposal to amend the Animal Protection Law, known as the “euthanasia for stray animals” regulation.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies introduced this proposal to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in July. It was referred to the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission.

When did proposal emerge?

The proposal surfaced after the ruling AK Party lost numerous municipalities in the March 31 local elections. This loss fueled suspicions that the proposal was a political maneuver, as municipalities are responsible for managing stray dogs.

The opposition, mainly supporters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the proposal, suggesting it was designed to challenge CHP-controlled municipalities and generate financial opportunities through the costly process of euthanasia.

What does proposal entail?

Amid the ongoing debate, the ruling AK Party has introduced a new bill to address the stray dog crisis, which is currently under discussion in a parliamentary committee. Critical aspects of the proposal include:

• Economic transparency: The law includes provisions to ensure that any financial analysis or advice provided to the public is verified and supported by credible sources.
• Animal registration: The proposal requires the registration of cats and dogs in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s database, categorizing them as “owned” or “unowned.” While cats have been excluded from this registration, they are still classified as “owned” animals.
• Revised euthanasia criteria: Initially permitting euthanasia for aggressive or incurably ill dogs, the proposal has been amended to specify that euthanasia will only be applied to dogs that pose a direct threat to humans or other animals.
• Updated shelter regulations: The bill removes the current “capture, neuter, vaccinate, and release” method from the Animal Protection Law, which has proven inadequate for contemporary needs and has led to fatalities. It redefines animal shelters as facilities where animals are kept, rehabilitated and cared for until they are adopted.
• Focus on unowned animals: The proposal emphasizes collecting unowned and weakened animals, ensuring they are housed in shelters, and caring for them until adoption.

Will animals in shelters be euthanized?

On the second day of the commission discussions, the euthanasia provision was amended. The controversial fifth article, which allowed local governments to euthanize aggressive, infectious, or unadoptable animals, was removed.

Instead, a provision was added stating that dangerous, unmanageable, or incurably ill animals in shelters would be subjected to measures under the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Law.

Under the European Convention for Protection of Pet Animals, local governments were also authorized to take necessary administrative measures for stray dogs.

Are stray dogs at risk of being killed?

Since euthanasia will be applied to those dogs, no cats, with uncontrollable behaviors raising the voice from the opposition that dogs in shelters could be euthanized immediately.

Also, the proposal estimates the number of stray dogs at 4 million, while Türkiye’s shelters have a capacity of around 110,000.

The opposition parties argue this discrepancy could lead to the immediate euthanasia of collected dogs, as there are no provisions to prevent it.

Can municipalities choose not to implement regulation?

Main opposition CHP members argue that building sufficient shelters is impossible and that there is not enough budget for the costly process of euthanasia. Therefore, municipalities will not be able to enforce the law.

AK Party members, however, state that the ministry will provide 40% of the necessary funds for shelter construction and other procedures.

The proposal stipulates prison sentences of six months to two years for mayors who do not allocate shelter resources.

Municipalities have until December 31, 2028, to establish shelters, but no provision is delaying the law’s enforcement until then, implying immediate implementation.