Activist set for action while government continues to back animal rights law

Animal rights’ activists are preparing to hold a demonstration Sept. 30 against a proposed amendment to Law no. 5199 on the protection of animals. The new draft, which is slated to be discussed in Parliament by late October, authorizes the removal of stray animals, limiting the number of pets in houses and the termination of what is termed “dangerous” breeds. Activists fear the regulation will lead to mass killing of cats and dogs regardless of whether they are pets or strays, Hurriyet reports.

Ahmet Özyanık, the general manager of the Forest and Water Ministry’s Natural Preservation and National Park Association, held a press meeting in Ankara yesterday and said the law draft did not mandate death by euthanasia, contrary to what the animal activists claim, Anatolia news agency reported. He said the law draft was to ensure that stray animals are placed in appropriate living conditions until they are adopted.

Animals will be relocated to “natural parks” after being spayed or neutered and properly rehabilitated.

Animal rights activists are concerned about this part of the new regulation. They have started petitions against the draft law and have the support of the Istanbul Bar Association’s animal rights committee.