As the nation’s leaders continue a controversial debate over street animals, Didim Municipality has announced it will organize stray animal sterilization surgery across the district between July 29 and August 3.
Didim Municipality will organize sterilization events in 14 neighborhoods in line with a slogan “Spay, vaccinate, keep alive.”
The council said: “It is possible to live together in Didim! We protect the health and safety of our animals with neutering, surgery, operations and love. We always love, protect, neuter and vaccinate our dear friends.”
The campaign starts:
Monday, July 29: Akyeniköy and Balat
Tuesday, July 30: Hisar, Yalıköy, Denizköy
Wednesday July 31: Fevzipaşa and Akbük
Thursday, August 1: Mavişehir and Mersindere;
Friday, August 2: Efeler, Cumhuriyet, Yeni
Saturday, August 3: Çamlık and Altınkum Neighborhood.
The event will take place between 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.
You can call 05306937933 for more information.
Contentious bill
Meanwhile, a contentious bill regarding the handling of stray dogs was approved by a parliamentary committee following a series of amendments.
The most debated change involved the fifth article of the bill, where the term “euthanasia” was removed. Instead, a reference was made to the Veterinary Services Act, which still encompasses the same concept.
Under this act, euthanasia is permitted in cases of incurable disease, prevention of acute infectious disease, risks to human health and dangerous behavior to humans and other animals. The procedure must be conducted by or under the supervision of a veterinarian.
The initial proposal allowed municipalities to euthanize animals deemed dangerous to public safety as well as sick and rabid animals. This clause led to weeks of nationwide protests.
The 17-article bill, drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was passed by the committee with support from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies after over 42 hours of debate.
Opposition efforts to delay the bill until the next legislative term, withdraw it entirely or remove the euthanasia provision were rejected. The bill is now set to be discussed in a plenary session of parliament.
In a speech on July 24, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to “make the streets safe” by enacting the proposal before parliament goes into recess.
“No one should try to teach us compassion lessons regarding animals,” he said. “Our nation wants us to solve this problem. It is unthinkable for us to remain silent and unresponsive to these demands.”
Negotiations began on July 17 and the initial session lasted 18 hours, concluding the following morning. Talks resumed on July 22, where a significant change to the fourth article replaced “rehabilitated dogs” with “rehabilitated animals,” thus excluding cats from the bill’s scope.
The adopted proposal includes increased fines for those who abandon pets on the streets. Municipalities will be responsible for sheltering, adopting and sterilizing stray dogs.
The bill also introduces penalties for mayors and council members who fail to provide adequate resources, with potential prison sentences ranging from six months to two years.
The whole process follows increased media coverage of dog attacks and traffic accidents involving stray dogs. However, animal rights groups argue that euthanasia is inhumane and call for greater investment in sterilization programs and responsible pet ownership education.