Turkish stray dog law sparks opposition anger

ANKARA: Turkish opposition parties vowed on Tuesday to fight a law authorising the capture -- and in some cases killing -- of the country´s estimated four million stray dogs.

The emotive law -- which animal lovers fear will lead to a mass cull despite government denials -- was passed at final reading in the early hours of Tuesday by a margin of 51 votes, in the face of opposition protests.

Deputies against the law wore white gloves stained with fake blood during the debate. “We will challenge this law in the constitutional court as soon as possible. It violates the animals´ right to life,” said Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People´s Party (CHP).

“Today is a dark day. Neither history nor humanity will forgive those who voted ´yes´,” protested CHP lawmaker Aliye Timis Ersever.

The government argues that strays considered sick or uncontrollable should be put down to prevent a growing number of attacks and the spread of rabies. It says the other homeless dogs must be rounded up in animal shelters and put up for adoption.

Critics say relying on animal sanctuaries and adoption is ultimately unworkable because of the numbers involved.

Instead, they advocate a mass sterilisation and vaccination campaign.

The law has revived memories of a 1910 tragedy when the Ottoman authorities rounded up around 60,000 strays in Istanbul and sent them to a deserted rock in the Sea of Marmara.