Urban wildlife

The long-awaited regulation regarding changes to the Animal Rights Law has been published in the Official Gazette, setting new standards for the collection of stray dogs, their sheltering, adoption process, and the controversial practice of euthanasia.

The Turkish parliament, initially set to recess on July 1, has extended its working period after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) proposed a revised calendar.

The legislative body is now expected to go on recess at the end of July following the completion of several key legislative proposals.

The Kocaeli Governor's Office has sent a notice to the municipalities in the northwestern province and cited a clause on putting down uncontrolled stray animals that pose a threat to people and the environment, reigniting the prolonged debate over stray dogs.

In response to the escalating issue of stray dog attacks, Presidential Local Governance Policies Board vice chairman, Şükrü Karatepe, emphasized that the primary measure to address the problem is reducing births rather than euthanizing animals. This announcement comes amid a growing concern over the country's rising number of stray dogs.

The recent incident in the capital Ankara, in which a 10-year-old child was seriously injured after being attacked by stray dogs, has once again brought the issue of stray animals to the forefront of public discourse.