Turkey Faces Euthanasia Debate: Majority Support Neutering as Solution

The Turkish government’s preparation of a regulation allowing euthanasia for stray animals not adopted within a month has sparked outrage. Petition campaigns have been initiated to halt the so-called “mass euthanasia regulation,” highlighting the public’s sensitivity on this issue.

Survey Reveals Public Opinion on Stray Animals

Areda Survey conducted a study with 1,800 participants on the issue of stray animals. The results indicate that 53.7% of respondents do not perceive stray animals as dangerous.

– Sheltering Aggressive Dogs: 40.5% believe aggressive dogs should be placed in shelters, while 35.6% advocate for the rehabilitation of these animals. Only 16.4% see euthanasia as a solution.

– Support for Neutering: A significant 67.2% of respondents believe neutering is the best solution to manage the stray animal population, compared to 29.3% who oppose it.

Responsibility for Feeding Stray Animals

The survey also explored the responsibility of feeding stray animals:

Community Responsibility: 56.3% think feeding stray animals is not the responsibility of neighborhood residents, while 43.7% believe it is.

Personal Encounters with Stray Animal Aggression

When asked about personal experiences with stray animal aggression:

– Indirect Encounters: 33.9% reported a relative being attacked by stray animals.

– Direct Encounters: 24.4% had personally experienced an attack.

Evaluation of Municipal Efforts

Participants were critical of municipal efforts regarding stray animals:

– Inadequate Efforts: 49.5% found municipal actions insufficient.

– Adequate Efforts: 19.9% considered them adequate.

– No Efforts: 18.1% believed no efforts were made.

Preferences for Stray Animal Management

Regarding the management of stray animals:

– Natural State: 51% preferred leaving stray animals in their natural state.

– Sheltering: 44.1% supported collecting and placing them in shelters.

The survey was conducted nationwide from April 18 to 21, 2022, using the CAWI technique with Areda Survey’s profile-based digital panel.

This data reflects a strong public inclination towards humane solutions such as neutering and rehabilitation, rather than euthanasia, for managing the stray animal population in Turkey.