Ankara’s Altındağ district municipality, controlled by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is under fire following allegations of the mass killings of stray dogs, just days after similar accusations surfaced against the Niğde municipality in central Anatolia, also run by the AKP, Turkish Minute reported.
Activists discovered numerous dog carcasses in a fenced-off area, with some dogs reportedly buried in mass graves and others discarded in plastic bags.
In response to the allegations, the Altındağ Municipality denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the area in question is an animal cemetery designated for animals that died naturally, were involved in traffic accidents or succumbed to infections. The municipality described reports of a “massacre” as “completely baseless.”
According to the municipality statement, the site spans 5,000 square meters and is used for burying animals that have died within the municipality’s boundaries, including livestock from nearby villages. The statement also mentioned that the cemetery is used for disposing of animal remains from slaughtering activities, adding that the municipality collects an average of 20-25 deceased animals weekly, which are buried in accordance with health and hygiene regulations.
The allegations come amid growing controversy over a new law in Turkey that critics claim paves the way for the mass euthanasia of stray dogs. The law, which was passed by parliament and signed into force by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week, allows municipalities to euthanize stray dogs deemed aggressive or ill. The legislation, which also mandates improvements to animal shelters by 2028, has sparked widespread protests from animal rights groups, who argue that it will lead to the unnecessary killing of healthy dogs.
Before the Altındağ Municipality issued its statement, the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, which is responsible for the greater Ankara area, distanced itself from the incident. It clarified that the shelter in question was not under its jurisdiction and promised to monitor the situation closely.
The controversy surrounding the new law and the recent discoveries of dog carcasses in Niğde and Altındağ have intensified the debate over how Turkey should address its stray dog population, estimated at 4 million. Animal rights activists continue to call for mass sterilization efforts rather than euthanasia to control the stray dog population, warning that the current approach could lead to further abuse.
