ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of animal rights activists in Turkey's southeastern province of Tunceli (Dersim) took to the streets on Sunday, protesting a law recently passed by the Turkish parliament that orders millions of stray dogs to be rounded up and put in shelters across the country.
Turkey's parliament passed the law last week despite protests and criticism from opposition parties that have vowed to appeal against the legislation in the constitutional court.
Many people believe the legislation will lead to many dogs being put down.
Animal rights activists in Dersim have called for neutering strays and have vowed not to comply with the law, saying the legislation will pave the way for the killing of strays.
There are no shelters designated for strays in Tunceli and people often feed them on the streets and in parks.
"Currently, there are around 3,500 stray dogs and cats in our province," Ezgi Dogan, president of the Dersim Animal Protection Association (DERHAYKO), told Rudaw. “According to data provided by the police, gendarmerie, municipality, and our association for the last twelve years, we have not come across any data on violence against any animals and there has not been any.”
"We came together for a press release for this bloody law. From the perspective of our province, these animals will continue to roam freely on the streets. As the people of Dersim," Dilsah Mak, an animal lover in Tunceli, said, noting that they have done what is necessary to "ensure that these animals roam freely on the streets and have always been by their side, and for this reason, we will reject this bloody law and do our best to ensure that they roam freely."
Ali Haydar Gur, another resident, also slammed the legislation.
"This law was passed,” Gur said. “There was no such thing in the past, these dogs would protect us, they would guard our homes and our livestock. This law was passed, and we want this law to be abolished. We want everyone to protect these animals.”
Turkey has an estimated four million stray dogs.
Under the new rules, any dogs showing aggressive behavior or that have untreatable diseases will be euthanized.
The law was approved with 275 votes in favor and 224 against.
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