Turkey - Animal Welfare Improvement Bill On The Way

​vegnews.com/2021/6/turkey-will-no-longer-classify-animals-as-commodities

A string of incidents involving stray animals being abused / tortured has sparked outcries from the Turkish people who want animal welfare to be taken more seriously in the country. Currently, dogs / cats are listed as "commodities" and atrocities committed against them are not addressed appropriately in the courts. There have been incidents involving poisoning and the torture & consumption of stray kittens, indicating a serious need for welfare improvement laws within the country.

Under their current laws, any act of violence towards "commodities" comes with lenient fines with jail time being handed out only in the most extreme of circumstances. Essentially, animal abuse, torture, and slaughter, comes with next to no punishment which is doing nothing to deter future incidents involving animal cruelty. Without a strong welfare law that hands out appropriate punishments, there is no fear of repercussions in abusing / torturing animals. This is especially the case if they are not even viewed as sentient, allowing for their abuse to be swept under the rug instead of properly being addressed.

Under the Proposed New Laws;

• ​Animal abuse, torture, or slaughter would come attached with jail sentences.
• Dogs / Cats would be protected as "sentient beings" rather than commodities. 
• Other recommendations include banning zoos, fur-farms, pet stores, dolphin parks, & horse-drawn carriages.

As I stated earlier in this post, without the fear of serious repercussions, there is very little apprehension about committing crimes against innocent animals. There must be a strong system in place that attaches jail time and exponential fines to cases of animal abuse, essentially working as a deterrent AND a system of accountability. People who abuse animals are not well and if they are left untouched by the law, will continue to commit acts of violence against animals. These issues must be addressed head on with a strong support system that tackles animal abuse appropriately.

We're seeing what a lack of animal welfare laws can do which is why it's more important than ever for Turkey to stand up for animals and make animal abuse as serious of a crime as it is. The time is now to take a stand for animals and I hope Turkey's proposed new laws will come in to full effect.

​Read the original story from VEG NEWS through the link at the top of this post <3

HAPPY VEG