Animal Protection Associations in Kocaeli React to the Governorship’s Statements

Following the reactions to the announcement made by the Governorship of Kocaeli regarding the measures to be taken for stray animals, animal protection associations, in response, stated that one of the points announced by Governor Yavuz had caused an outrage by being taken out of context. Kocaeli Governorate had made statements regarding the measures to be taken for stray animals in response to citizens’ complaints. While reminding of the duties and responsibilities of municipalities within the scope of Law No. 5199 on the Protection of Animals and the Regulation on the Protection of Animals, citizens expressed their reactions to the article concerning the euthanasia of animals posing a threat to human health.

Animal Protection Associations in Kocaeli Met with the Governorship

As the incidents escalated, animal protection associations met with Kocaeli Governorship and made a press statement. Selma Pilatin Pek, the President of Kocaeli Animal Protection Association, stated that one of the points announced by Governor Seddar Yavuz was taken out of context, leading to outrage. She said, “We had a meeting with our Governor Ali Aday. Our Governor said they have formed a new commission. In this commission, municipalities, shelters, Provincial Directorate of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock, police department, Directorate of Environment and Urbanization, and Provincial Health Directorate will start inspections. As Kocaeli Associations, we do not claim Kocaeli is perfect. But we do not want such problems in our Kocaeli,” she added.

Stating that the announcement made by the Governorship was solely about sharing the text of the law, the President of KOHAYDER, Semra Çelikkaya, said, “The Governorship said, ‘Municipalities, do your job.’ According to the law, every district municipality with a population of over 100,000 must establish a shelter. The municipality must allocate 5% of its budget to build a shelter and spend it on neutering animals. The regulation of Law No. 5199 is also included in the law. Are all municipalities in Kocaeli doing this? No. In our country, out of 1395 municipalities, only 1112 have conducted neutering. Then we ask, ‘Why are there animals on the streets?’ Because you are not neutering them. In Europe, it is said that there are no animals on the streets. Europe started neutering centuries ago. Europe also euthanizes, but they started neutering centuries ago. Unfortunately, our municipalities did not take this matter seriously, did not want to do it. Our Governor’s statement is entirely related to this issue,” she stated.

Emphasizing that there is nothing beyond the legal article in the statement, Çelikkaya said, “If you ask whether there is euthanasia in the law, it is the first article of the Turkish Civil Code. Laws are interpreted together with their reason for enactment, their essence, and wording. The law on animal protection does not allow such euthanasia; it is interpreted together with its essence. If there is no chance of recovery for the animal and it is in pain, they put the animal to sleep. Veterinarians perform these procedures. This article can lead to misunderstandings. I cannot speak for other cities, but I have not heard of such a practice of euthanizing animals in Kocaeli,” she said.