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A Nation Split Over Stray Dogs
Proposed Euthanasia Law Sparks Outrage
Challenges in Enforcing Existing Laws
Finding a Humane Solution

Turkey's Stray Dog Dilemma: Rescue or Euthanize?

Under the shade of a lush apricot tree on a sweltering summer afternoon, Gökçen Yıldız cradles a squirming, light-brown puppy. It eagerly licks her face, bringing a moment of joy before she turns serious.

Pointing to the puppy’s back legs, which are missing paws, she highlights the cruelty many of Turkey’s stray dogs endure.

Yıldız, a secondary school physics teacher by day and a dedicated street-dog advocate by night, has taken in 160 dogs on her property on the outskirts of Ankara. Her rescued animals are just a fraction of Turkey’s estimated four million street dogs—a growing issue dividing the nation.

For some, these animals are cherished members of their communities. For others, they pose safety concerns, prompting the government to consider stricter measures, including euthanasia—a move reported by state media but not yet introduced in parliament.

On her 15,000 sq m property, Yıldız cares for elderly, disabled, and psychologically distressed dogs. “It’s not my job, but I look after dogs in need,” she says. However, she worries about rising costs. “With the economy struggling, everything from pet food to veterinary care keeps getting more expensive.”

Her greatest fear? What happens to the dogs she cannot rescue.

“The dogs on the streets eat every two or three days, but they’re alive. They’re not about to die. That’s what really worries me.”

Lawmakers from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) are working on a new bill to address Turkey’s stray dog crisis. Reports suggest it may require municipalities to collect stray dogs, shelter them for around 30 days, and euthanize them if they remain unadopted—a provision that has sparked fierce opposition from animal rights activists and dog lovers alike.

Dr. Murat Arslan, president of the Turkish Veterinary Medical Association, argues that the problem stems from ineffective enforcement of existing laws. A 20-year-old law mandates that dogs be sterilized and returned to their original locations, but many municipalities lack the resources to comply.

“To manage the animal population, stray dogs needed to be collected, sterilized, vaccinated, and then released,” Dr. Arslan explains. “But in small municipalities, there are neither shelters nor enough veterinarians.”

Animal abandonment, overbreeding, and inadequate regulation of pet ownership have also contributed to the growing street-dog population. Although microchipping is required by law, enforcement is weak, and penalties for abandonment are rarely imposed.

Advocacy groups like the Safe Streets Association insist that permanent solutions are needed to remove stray dogs from public spaces. However, activists argue that euthanasia is inhumane and that a more sustainable approach—better enforcement of sterilization laws, stricter pet ownership regulations, and increased shelter capacity—is the way forward.

As Turkey grapples with its stray dog crisis, the nation remains divided. Will it choose compassion and long-term solutions, or opt for controversial quick fixes? The future of Turkey’s street dogs hangs in the balance.