The stray dog problem, which is becoming an increasingly bigger danger in almost every part of Türkiye, is on the agenda again.
Last year, 437 thousand people applied to health institutions due to loss of life, rabies cases, accidents and stray dog attacks that caused serious anxiety.
It is said that the biggest reason for the unstoppable proliferation of stray animals, whose number reaches 10 million, is unconscious feeding.
The fact that some groups, who profit from the sale of animal food, disregard human life and prevent the problem of stray dogs under the name of "animal rights" is also causing a great controversy.
Despite all the warnings and reactions, no steps have been taken yet to solve the problem of stray dogs, which have become the biggest danger on the streets.
Speaking to Milli Gazete about stray dogs protected by law, Prof. Dr. Ethem Kadri Pektaş made important evaluations.
"STRAY DOGS HAVE BEEN MADE ALMOST UNTOUCHABLE BY LAW”
"The recent history of the stray dog problem in Turkey dates back to 2004, when the Animal Protection Law No. 5199 was enacted. While before that date, harmful and aggressive dogs were put to sleep by municipalities, stray dogs became almost untouchable with the law in question. Because article 6 of the law stipulates that stray dogs should be left in the environment where they were taken after being sterilized and vaccinated. For this reason, today, dogs that attack and bite people are released back onto the streets after a short time, even if they are taken in by municipalities. As a result of their very rapid reproduction, the de facto termination of the practice of sleeping by law, and the baiting of stray dog lovers by municipalities and 'animal-loving' NGOs and real people, contrary to their real mission, the stray dog population in Turkey has reached a number between 10-20 million today," Pektaş said.
“IT IS ONE OF TÜRKİYE'S MOST IMPORTANT INTERNAL SECURITY PROBLEMS”
Ethem Kadri Pektaş, pointing out the point that the stray dog problem has reached, "Stray dogs are one of Turkey's most important internal security problems, especially in terms of public health and safety. Because stray dogs attack people, killing them, injuring them or causing them to catch rabies; They chase them under vehicles, suddenly appear on the roads, causing traffic accidents, and cause zoonotic diseases due to their feces and the parasites they carry. Those who oppose putting unadopted dogs to sleep; The claim that every living creature has the right to live is both unfounded and completely inconsistent. Because the people in question make this absurd claim not for the animals killed by stray dogs, not even for the people mauled and killed by dogs, but only for stray dogs that are 'harmful and dangerous' in every respect. This reveals how insincere and malicious they are," Pektaş added.