Erdoğan signs ‘Massacre Law’ into effect

New Law Provisions

On July 30, the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) passed the Animal Protection Law Amendment, which was subsequently signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to the new law, stray dogs will be taken to animal shelters by the respective municipalities. These dogs will remain in the shelters until they are adopted.

However, a clause in the law has sparked public outrage. It states that "measures outlined in Article 9 of the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food, and Feed Law will apply to animals that pose a danger to human and animal life, exhibit uncontrollable behavior, have contagious or incurable diseases, or are prohibited from being adopted." Critics argue that this opens the door for the euthanasia of stray dogs, hence the term "massacre law."

Financial and Legal Implications

Municipalities are required to allocate 0.5% of their most recent confirmed budget revenues to establish and operate animal shelters by December 31, 2028. For metropolitan municipalities, this figure is set at 0.3%. Should municipalities exceed these spending percentages, 40% of the excess will be reimbursed by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

Municipal officials who fail to comply with these requirements face prison sentences ranging from six months to two years. Additionally, fines for abandoning pets will increase from 2,000 lira to 60,000 lira.