AKP's Şen explains: The 'Let it stay there' detail in the Stray Animals Law

Şen visited the Temporary Animal Care and Rehabilitation Center belonging to the Metropolitan Municipality along with Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç and AK Party Provincial Chairman Sezgin Mumcu.

Showing affection to the dogs in the shelter, Şen thanked the previous mayors in his statement to journalists here and said that Genç would expand the shelter further in accordance with the new law and make it a modern facility.

Explaining that there are currently no walking areas for animals in the shelter but that they will be built, Şen said, "We sat down and discussed this issue with our President several times under his chairmanship and brought it to a certain point. When this law is enacted and, hopefully, when it starts to be implemented, it will be seen that it is truly a law intended to protect animals."

Underlining that no harm will come to the lives of these animals, Şen stated that it is truly terrible for some to try to create politics out of this.

"WE WILL SAY 'LET IT STAY THERE'"

Emphasizing that the streets will become safer and that they will not touch the dogs that shopkeepers have been feeding for years, he continued his words as follows:

"We will say 'Let it stay there,' but if there is a situation that prevents a child from going to school on the street, or an uncle, aunt, sister, lady, or gentleman from going somewhere, they will also be taken and brought here.

But as I said, these places will be fully equipped facilities with walking areas, hospitals, and care services. Furthermore, we will encourage adoption; we will carry out an intensive adoption campaign. I have very precious friends here, animal lovers; I invite them back to their activism during this legislative process so that they adopt and encourage others to adopt. That is the way to handle this."

Stating that shelters should be facilities that include not only walking areas for dogs but also hospitals, Şen noted that they will ensure the animals are adopted and that they will impose sanctions, including prison sentences, on municipalities that do not fulfill this duty.

Expressing that they will address this issue as the state, Şen emphasized that he also requests intensive adoption from citizens, foundations, associations, opinion leaders, animal lovers, and sensitive people.

Pointing out that they need to solve this problem, Şen said, "The streets will be safe, but no harm will come to the lives of these animals. What they expect from us is really 4 things: a little attention, a little love, a little bread, a little water. That's it. As humans, we are beings capable of doing this; we need to do it, and we will."

Stating that there is definitely a third way to protect people while also ensuring no harm comes to animals, Şen made the following assessment:

"We found this third way, we brought it forward, and we will implement it. And there is punishment for those who do not do their duty. Prison sentences are included. They take them, I saw it here, there are a few so-called wild breeds. There is no such thing as a wild breed. These are dogs. Dogs are domestic; they are little ones that have been made wild, made wild. How do they get them? Three months, five months, one year. For example, it becomes a report card gift for a gentleman, a lady, or a child. They take them, their enthusiasm passes, and they throw them out on the street. There is no such thing, you cannot do this. You cannot be this heartless. Either don't take them, or if you have taken them, don't leave them on the street."

Mayor Genç, providing information about the shelter that has been in operation since 2018, said, "Especially at a time when a new law is being prepared, an extraordinary responsibility falls on municipalities for both the neutering and adoption of dogs on the street. With this awareness, we visited our shelter. We will take care of these souls entrusted to us."