İmamoğlu: We Will Not Allow a Single Stray Animal to Be Euthanized

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced the “Roadmap for Stray Animals” on October 4, World Animal Protection Day. During the event, İmamoğlu stressed that no stray animal would be euthanized and outlined the solutions his administration is proposing to address the issue.

The meeting was attended by animal rights advocates, members of parliament, district mayors, and the Istanbul Veterinary Chamber. Here are the highlights of İmamoğlu’s statements regarding the issue of stray animals:

“WE WERE NOT INVITED TO THE TABLE”

“We are here because those responsible for implementing 20-year-old legislation have failed in their oversight and monitoring duties. We face problems such as the increasing number of stray animals and the inability to control the population. The new regulations, created without any consultation with municipalities, place local governments at risk of administrative and judicial sanctions. It is truly regrettable that neither district, town, nor metropolitan municipalities, nor the Union of Municipalities of Turkey, were invited to collaborate or share their views on this issue.”

5-POINT PLAN

“This situation is legally, morally, and ethically unacceptable. While we fundamentally disagree with the legislation, we cannot ignore it. We are, of course, responsible for finding solutions. I want to make my position clear upfront. We have compiled our approach into five key points, and I promise the public the following:

1. We will not allow a single stray animal to be euthanized.

2. We will mobilize all available resources to improve spaying, vaccination, and sheltering programs, ensuring peace of mind for our 16 million citizens.

3. We will involve district municipalities more in the process and collectively work to improve treatment, protection, and sheltering facilities for stray animals.

4. Through social solidarity and aid campaigns, we will expand sustainable adoption and care opportunities for stray animals.

5. Lastly, in a future stronger and more democratic government, we will work with experts, professional organizations, and the public to draft a legally, morally, and ethically sound, scientific version of this legislation and put it into action.”

“THE LAW WAS NOT ENFORCED, SUPERVISION WAS INSUFFICIENT”

İmamoğlu highlighted the incomplete implementation of Law No. 5199 on Animal Rights and summarized the current situation: 

“How did we go from protecting animals to euthanizing them? The ‘I know best’ mentality seen in other areas of life is evident here as well. Previous laws were not fully implemented, resulting in the increase of the stray animal population. Due to the unhealthy conditions in which they live, stray animals sometimes become aggressive.”