Failure to Comply with Court Orders
Lawyer Meltem Zorba stated that municipalities did not collect stray dogs despite the court decision and said that the new draft law regarding the Animal Rights Law should include provisions that include heavy sanctions for municipalities that do not fulfill their responsibilities.
Application to Court and Service Defect
Lawyer Meltem Zorba stated that they filed a lawsuit with the relevant court because her client was attacked by stray dogs in Ankara’s Çankaya district, and stated that people living in the Söğütözü region were attacked by stray dogs many times.
New Draft Law Expectations
Speaking about the new draft law on animal rights, Zorba expressed his expectation of a law that includes taking measures to ensure zero stray dogs on the street. He emphasized that the duties and responsibilities of local administrations should be clearly determined and sanctions should be regulated.
Victims and Rabies Risk
Emphasizing that there are many victims of stray dog attacks in Turkey, Zorba said that according to the 2023 rabies vaccination reports of the Ministry of Health, 437 thousand people were vaccinated annually due to contact with rabies risk. Noting that 1,200 people are attacked by dogs a day, Zorba underlined that 91 percent of rabies cases originate from strays.
