Animal Save Movement campaigner Lia Phillips outside the Turkish Embassy in London
By Marie Carter-Robb
Dog and cat lovers gathered outside Turkish embassies and consulates worldwide last Friday and Saturday, calling on the Turkish government to halt plans to introduce a controversial new law expected to pass through Parliament on Monday, 29 July. This new legislation would permit the killing of four million stray dogs and cats.
This action was part of a global day of protest organised by Animal Save Movement, with demonstrations held in the capital cities of Argentina, Mexico, Canada, the USA, the Netherlands, France, Georgia, and Uganda, as well as cities in Germany and Portugal. Earlier in the week, Animal Save Movement campaigners joined an action at the Turkish Embassy in London.
Jane Velez-Mitchell, Animal Save Movement board member and founder of Jane UnChained TV, participated in a lively protest outside the Turkish consulate in Los Angeles. She said: “Turkey can avoid this disastrous decision by voting NO on this proposed animal massacre law. Any mass roundups of dogs and cats will poison Turkey’s reputation in the eyes of millions of dog and cat-loving tourists, who will boycott Turkey. Use the money, instead, to rapidly increase spay neuters now. This is the smart, common-sense approach and very achievable.”
Meanwhile, in Washington DC, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a protest outside the Turkish Embassy. Courtney Penley from PETA stated, “We are sending a message to the Turkish government to reject the law that would massacre millions of dogs and cats. This will be a disaster for Turkey, damaging the reputation of Turkey.”
Protesters gather in Amsterdam to call on the government of Turkey to halt their planned dog and cat massacre
Lea Goodett of Animal Save Netherlands commented: “The upcoming vote about the law has sparked outrage, not only within Turkey but also across Europe where multiple protests are happening on Saturday in Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Coimbra, Tbilisi, and outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg.”
Nilgun Engin from Animal Save Turkey emphasized the cultural significance of street animals in Turkey and the urgent need for humane solutions. “Turkish people have taken care of street dogs and cats for centuries and since the announcement of this law, 400 dogs have already gone missing in Sakarya city and at Boğazici University in Istanbul a cat was found with a cut head.
“We call for peace and calm, and the end to this appalling legislation. We must focus on an effective spay and neuter campaign and veterinary care for dogs and cats in crisis. Most importantly, we also need a law to ban breeding and the trade of animals. Otherwise, no matter how many we kill, double will end up back on the streets.”
Animal Save Movement’s petition against Turkey’s proposed law has attracted more than 30,000 signatures in a week. Over 100 organizations, including WWF Turkey, PETA, and Green Islam, have signed an open letter to the Turkish Government. About 4,000 Animal Save Movement supporters have written to their local embassies urging intervention.
Anita Krajnc, Executive Director of Animal Save Movement, highlighted the global support for humane treatment of stray animals. “10,000s of people around the world have rallied behind the stray animals of Turkey and the countless communities caring for them with petitions, open letters, selfies with dogs and cats on social media, letters to ambassadors, and protests at Turkish embassies and consulates. We call on the Turkish Parliament to halt the atrocious law to kill stray dogs and cats and implement compassionate, lasting spay and neuter solutions.”
Nergis Yazgan, CEO of WWF Turkey, echoed these sentiments: “The extermination of Istanbul’s city dogs has been tried many years ago and it ended in disaster and extreme cruelty. Why do you want to repeat this mistake? We Istanbulites and Turks like to live with our dogs and cats in our homes and streets.”
As international pressure mounts, activists hope that Turkey will reconsider its stance and opt for more humane and effective animal population control measures.
To sign the petition click here and to join the conversation, use the hashtag #Withdrawthelaw.