Turkey's New Stray Dog Bill Sparks Controversy

Animal rights advocates fear mass killings as legislation mandates sheltering and euthanizing aggressive or ill dogs.

The bill aims to regulate Turkey's estimated 4 million stray dogs, requiring municipalities to build or improve shelters by 2028.
Dogs deemed aggressive, terminally ill, or a health risk to humans would be euthanized under the proposed law.
Activists argue the bill could lead to mass killings due to inadequate shelter resources and misuse of euthanasia provisions.
Opposition parties claim the law might be used to target their mayors, while proponents highlight safety concerns from stray dog attacks.
Existing regulations, which mandate neutering and returning strays, have not been effectively implemented, contributing to the current crisis.