Turkey: New law aimed at regulating stray dogs

According to press reports, Turkey's parliament today approved a controversial new law that will see millions of stray dogs rounded up and placed in shelters. The legislation mandates that municipalities remove stray dogs from the streets and house them in shelters. Dogs displaying aggressive behavior or having untreatable diseases will be euthanized. Previously, municipalities were required to neuter and vaccinate street dogs, then return them to their original locations. The new law also stipulates that municipalities must allocate a certain percentage of their annual budget to animal rehabilitation services and the construction of shelters. Municipalities have until the end of 2028 to build new shelters and upgrade existing ones. Additionally, the law imposes prison sentences of up to two years for mayors who fail to address the stray dog issue. Animal advocates worry this could result in many dogs being killed or ending up in neglected, overcrowded shelters. Turkey's main opposition party plans to challenge the law in the country's Supreme Court.