AK Party Deputy Chairman Sen: “Nothing can be done with the mind of those who bark like dogs and those who fend off dogs.”

Mustafa Şen, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and MP for Trabzon, who visited the Temporary Animal Shelter and Rehabilitation Center for Street Animals in Trabzon, said, “When this law hopefully comes into effect and starts to be implemented, it will be seen that these animals will not be harmed in any way with the aim of protecting them. It is truly horrifying that some people would try to politicize this. Additionally, in this country, there are two groups, although they are few in number. One worships dogs, and the other fights against dogs. Nothing can be accomplished with the logic of these dog worshippers and dog fighters.”

Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and MP for Trabzon Mustafa Şen, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, and AK Party Trabzon Provincial Chairman Dr. Sezgin Mumcu visited the Temporary Animal Shelter and Rehabilitation Center for Street Animals. Following the visit, Mayor Genç stated that there is a safety issue nationwide, saying, “In 2018, as Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, we constructed this facility. It has been actively serving for 5-6 years. We are currently aware that we are entering an extraordinary responsibility for municipalities, especially regarding the neutering and adoption of street dogs, with a new law and regulation currently being prepared and coming into effect. Our observation is this; first and foremost, there is a safety issue nationwide. We will make this determination. However, we will also take care of these voiceless creatures that are entrusted to us, which we define as God’s creatures. Therefore, when we evaluate it from two perspectives, the current legislation allows us to take dogs from the streets, neuter them, and return them to the streets. We must extraordinarily control the population. There is a very correct understanding that leads to an extraordinary neutering method and then a mobilization for adoption. Our legislation is being organized in this way with the instructions of our MPs, our Deputy Chairman, and our President. Therefore, we will adopt them and control the population. We want to emphasize that the perception that dogs will be collected from the streets and exterminated under our current law is absolutely incorrect, and that such speculative news is entirely politically motivated.”

“We have neutered 11,718 of our dogs”

Mayor Genç, stating that 3,005 dogs have been adopted from the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Temporary Animal Shelter and Rehabilitation Center since 2018, said, “As Trabzon, we have controlled the situation. This shelter was put into service in 2018. We have adopted 3,005 dogs in our 14,000 square meter enclosed area on a 82-acre land. We have adopted the dogs we took from the street. And we have also neutered 11,718 dogs. So, we are happy to be a local government taking steps in this regard. Of course, we will increase this number. We are involved in various activities such as parasite treatment, dog treatment, rehabilitation, vaccination, and neutering. Hopefully, with the new law, we will be able to control this work more and continue on this path. We have two ideas in our two districts. We will also establish shelters. Hopefully, this issue will not be a problem in Trabzon, both for those creatures and for the people we are responsible for ensuring their safety.”

“Nothing can be accomplished with the logic of dog worshippers and dog fighters”

Mustafa Şen, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and MP for Trabzon, stated in his speech that no harm will come to animals, saying, “Where did this issue start? I love them very much, but these little dogs have started to harm people. However, if it harms even one person, that needs to be addressed, precautions should be taken. But to take precautions, it is not necessary to harm them as some suggest. It is possible to protect people without harming animals. There is always a third way, as we are all God’s creatures. We are the same, and those little dogs are the same. God never leaves His servants without a solution. There must be a way. We are pursuing that way. We have met with our President several times regarding this issue, discussed it, and brought it to a certain point. When this law hopefully comes into effect and starts to be implemented, it will be seen that these animals will not be harmed in any way with the aim of protecting them. It is truly horrifying that some people would try to politicize this. Additionally, in this country, there are two groups, although they are few in number. One worships dogs, and the other fights against dogs. Nothing can be accomplished with the logic of these dog worshippers and dog fighters. We should base our understanding on the rational majority. There is a solution. Hopefully, the streets will become safer. But for example, there is a little dog that has been lying in front of a shop for years, fed by the shopkeeper, we will say don’t touch it, let it stay there, but if there is a situation where it prevents a child from going to school or hinders a man, lady, or gentleman from getting somewhere, those will be taken and brought here. But as I said, these will be facilities with recreational areas, hospitals, and comprehensive care. Moreover, we will adopt them. We will conduct an intensive adoption campaign. I have many valuable friends here who are animal lovers. I invite them again to the activations during this law-making process to adopt. This is the way forward. It cannot be just a shelter. It must be combined with adoption. Together with adoption and shelter, but I envision shelters with recreational areas. I am not talking about boxes where they stay. These places will be facilities with recreational areas. There will also be a hospital. On the other hand, we will adopt. Municipalities that do not do this will face penalties. There will be penalties, including imprisonment. The state will do its part here. Our municipalities will do their part. But at the same time, I intensely request our citizens, our foundations, our associations, our opinion leaders, animal lovers, and all sensitive people to adopt passionately, not just once or twice but with great intensity. I especially implore you.”

“The era of ‘take, leave, and let it go’ is over. There will be penalties for all of this”

“Those who produce these will also be found, caught, and dealt with accordingly. If it is a fine, it will be a monetary penalty; if it is imprisonment, it will be a prison sentence,” said Şen. “We need to solve this problem. The streets will be safe. But these little dogs, these animals will not be harmed. They are waiting for us to provide them with really four things: a little attention, a little love, a little bread, and a little water. That’s it. As humans, we are beings capable of doing this; we need to do it. We will do it. People will be protected. These animals will not be harmed. The third way, as I said, is possible. We have found and developed this third way, and we will implement it. There will be penalties for those who do not fulfill their duties, including imprisonment. I saw a few over there. They are called wild breeds. There is no such thing as a wild breed. These are dogs; dogs are domesticated. They have been wildened. They are puppies. How? They are taken. For example, for three months, five months, or a year, they become a gift for a gentleman, a lady, or a child. They take them, their enthusiasm fades, and they throw them to the street. There is no such thing. You cannot do this. You cannot be so merciless. Either do not take them, or if you have taken them, do not leave them on the street. There is another malfunction situation. The production of these. Those who produce them will also be found, caught, and dealt with accordingly. If it is a fine, it will be a monetary penalty; if it is imprisonment, it will be a prison sentence. But the era of some of these little animals being produced again and given to someone by wildening them is over. The era of them being left on the street is over. The era of ‘take, leave, and let it go’ is over. There will be penalties for all of this.”

“Not a single animal will be killed in Trabzon”

Şen stated that they will demonstrate the solution to the dog problem from Trabzon to everyone, saying, “We were talking with our Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and district mayors. A statement was made from Trabzon, and I conveyed this exactly to our President. The mayors said, ‘Not a single animal will be killed in Trabzon. There is no need; the solution to this problem can be found without killing a single animal. We will demonstrate this solution from Trabzon to everyone.’ Hopefully, I conveyed this exact word to our President. In our Central Executive Committee meeting, I specifically gave an example of Trabzon, and I cited my mayors. This will be done, and this example will be shown to everyone. This planet is vast enough for all of us. It is a place full of food. As long as we are humane. As long as we are human. There is no need for harm to come to animals. We will protect people, our children, and our little ones.