When is this happening?

The government has not communicated publicly when they will pass the new legislation but it could happen any day.

Our position

Animal Heroes and Haytap believe that every animal is a sentient being with the right to live and express its natural behaviour. We are committed to minimising harm to animals while ensuring public safety.

We oppose the mass killing of dogs in Turkey because:

• It is barbaric and inhumane;
• It does not solve the problem.

We also believe that imprisoning animals in shelters is not a solution. Socialised stray dogs should continue to live among people.

Our proposed solution

Pilot Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) Project:

• Location: West Black Sea area (Zonguldak, Bartın, Karabük cities, and surrounding outskirts).
• Goal: Isolated geographical boundaries make it ideal for a controlled study.
• Timeline: 5 years to evaluate the project’s success and expand it.

Additional Measures:

• Legislation to ban the buying and selling of dogs online.
• Close down puppy mills in the country.
• Prohibit the import of dogs into Turkey and enforce these laws.
• Educate children on how to interact with dogs and prevent aggression.

Fact vs. Fiction

Government Claims:

• There are 4 million stray dogs
• Civilised countries, like the Netherlands, have no stray dogs.

The Truth:

• No reliable data supports the government’s claim of 4 million stray dogs in Turkey, because most dogs don’t have a microchip.
• Many countries, such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, have thousands of stray dogs.

Why Mass Killing Won’t Work

Historical Failure:

• During the Ottoman Empire, 100,000 dogs were moved to an island without food or water, resulting in their deaths. Yet, the dog population rebounded within five years.

Sterilisation Program Challenges:

• CNVR programmes have failed long-term due to incomplete coverage. Only city dogs were sterilised, not those in surrounding villages, leading to population resurgence.

Comprehensive Solution

This is why we propose a new programme whereby not only the dogs in the cities are vaccinated and sterilised, but also the dogs in surrounding villages. This comprehensive approach ensures that stray dog populations are managed effectively, preventing the migration of unsterilised dogs into cities and ensuring long-term success.