Turkey plans to regulate a large stray dog population, raising some fears about mass killings

Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish bill aimed at regulating the country’s millions of stray dogs has moved closer to becoming law as animal rights advocates fear many of them will be killed or end up in neglected, overcrowded shelters. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose ruling party proposed the bill, says that “although some people persistently ignore it, Turkey has a stray dog problem.” The full parliamentary assembly will have a final vote in the coming days. Around 4 million stray dogs roam Turkey’s streets and rural areas. Many are harmless but a growing number are congregating in packs, and numerous people have been attacked.