A new report presented to the Turkish Parliament by the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Animal Rights Research Committee recommends comprehensive changes to welfare requirements and the addition of legal protections for animals throughout Turkey.
This report, which includes input from nonprofits, activists and academics, follows wide publicity over recent cases of extreme cruelty in Turkey — including a Lady Freethinker petition calling for justice for a dog whose ears were cruelly cut off. Our petition gathered nearly 1.8 million signatures and major media coverage.
While animals are not considered subjects or persons under Turkish law, the report says they should be afforded legal protection including required prison sentences for individuals who abuse them. In certain instances, recommended sentences require at least 25 months of imprisonment without the possibility of commuting the sentence with a fine.
In the report, the Committee calls for the outlawing of planned animal fights and of bestiality in addition to banning the injuring, killing, and eradicating a generation of a population. It recommends the removal of the distinction between stray and domestic animals with regard to their legal protections and the institution of a fine of at least TL 10,000, which is about $1,750 at the current exchange rate, for the abandonment of an animal.
If the recommendations in the report become law, convicted animal abusers will not be able to have a pet and caregivers must meet welfare standards. The report also encourages adopting over buying, creating protections for horses used in the tourism industry, and banning the entry of circus animals into the country and use of marine life for entertainment.
The Turkish government’s action and the Committee’s report are encouraging and powerful reminders of the positive change we can make for our animal counterparts when we give our voices to the voiceless. Thank you to everyone who took a stand against animal cruelty in Turkey — we now urge Parliament to act swiftly on these recommendations and help stop animal abuse across the country.
All animal lovers have to pull together to STOP this unacceptable behaviour towards innocent ,intelligent animals. 😡👎
Yes, cruelty needs to STOP!
MUCH GREATER INCREASED PUNISHMENT & JAIL TIME NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ASAP. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ALREADY DONE FOR THESE INNOCENT, PRECIOUS, SPEECHLESS ANIMALS!!!
So the vermin who cut off the dogs ears just for the hell of it is considered ‘human’ and the dog has no status at all. Turks are a sub culture.
Stop destroying our wildlife. They are already in desperste need of conservation and human support. We don’t own the whole planet. We are destroying all natural beauty and goodness on this earth.
Those who harm animals will also harm other humans and should never be trusted. Those types of humans should be permanently removed from ALL SOCIETIES.
Please stop all the cruelty
I so hope that this law passes. Should it do so, Turkey will have more stringent anti-abuse laws that most countries, INCLUDING the USA (even with the new PAACT act, as it only applies to abuses across state lines). We need laws like this WORLD-WIDE. Perhaps Turkey will lead the way in this.
I hope this legislation passes. It sounds fairly comprehensive & strong. Such laws are needed everywhere. Respect for animals makes us all better. We coexist with the Creation and it befriends us. Good for Turkey. The US now finally has an act for the protection of animals. All such laws should be strong and well enforced so that brutal bloodshed stops.
It’s about time!
Please stop all this cruelty to Innocent animals
COME ON TURKEY ,STOP ALL THIS CRUELTY .COLLECTING ANIMALS FROM STREETS .AND SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING THEM TO A SHELTER BUT!!!THEY ARE DUMPED ON WASTE LAND ,NO FOOD NO WATER ,ONLY A SLOW DEATH
All animals deserve fair treatment.
Thank you to Alexis and Ladyfreethinker for everything you try to do for the animals and succeed.
Thank you for all you do Ladyfreethinker. This is a landmark law that needs to come into fruition.
Thank you very much Ladyfreethinker for making such a difference. I love you.
Praying this passes legislation
Your minor sentencing to these scums that harm animals are not severe enough ! They should never be allowed amongst civilization again! They harm animals they will do the same to innocent people – enough is enough ! These people deserve the same treatment they did to the animals they have murdered
I’m amazed at Turkey. Did not expect that. Hope it is followed through.
I hope this goes through. It would be quite a breakthrough for animals in Turkey. It is high time that the welfare and well-being of other species becomes noted. All species on this planet deserve to live a life free of pain, cruelty, and suffering.
Did i read this right? Wow! Their laws would be better & have more common sense in their 1st try than all the ones we have here. If they are animal abusers they won;’t be allowed to own animals. Great. Right answer. Here they let crap vets continue to harm dogs. Example here>> https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-bleu-stop-dr-daniel-god-koller-of-companion-pet-clinic-no-more-victims/u/25390929
and keep letting animal abusers not only get away with it but also keep letting them own animals.
Oh Yes! By all means! Keep your comments “PEACEFUL” “FAMILY FRIENDLY”??? GIVE ME A BREAK! What’s peaceful about Turkey’s treatment of animals, pray tell? And animal activists must swallow their pain and helplessness when they know that it goes on everywhere in the world! But surely, you must know that PEACE AND FAMILY FRIENDLINESS DOES NOT EXIST ANYWHERE SO EXPECT US TO NOT REALLY SAY WHAT WE FEEL?
Good news for animals in Turkey.
Excellent news – if the government follows through.
Convicted animal abusers – of ANY animal – need to be punished.
Stopping them from having pets does not protect homeless cats and dogs.
But it’s a wonderful first step.
Good for the Turkish Government if they implement the recommendations of the Report.
Wow! This is wonderful!