Will stray dogs be euthanized? İYİ Party Istanbul MP Nimet Özdemir answers 12punto's questions

Reports that a proposal including the 'collection and euthanasia' of stray dogs will be brought to parliament continue to remain a hot topic. While news of this proposal reaching parliament has caused an outcry among animal lovers, it has pleased those who claim that stray dogs threaten human life.

İYİ Party Istanbul MP Nimet Özdemir answered questions from 12punto.com.tr regarding the issue.

'OF COURSE THERE IS DOG TERROR'

It is said that a proposal for the euthanasia of stray dogs will be brought to parliament. Does the İYİ Party see stray dogs as a problem?

'Of course there is dog terror. We know that there is a problem that has emerged between dogs and humans due to the increase in the dog population.

'I DON'T THINK IT WILL CREATE ONE'

If a law regarding the euthanasia of stray dogs comes to parliament, what would be the stance of the İYİ Party, and would there be dissenting voices?

I don't think it will create one. It is not very appropriate for me to speak on behalf of my party. I am a member of parliament. We have a party spokesperson and deputy chairmen. We haven't sat down and held a meeting on this issue yet. I can only state my own opinion. Of course, I am against euthanasia. Because, first and foremost, I am against it out of our humanity and our respect for the Creator.

'STREETS DO NOT GIVE BIRTH TO DOGS'

How do you evaluate the government's management of the process and their approach to the issue?

We are talking about a government that has been in power for 20 years. Until the last period, all municipalities were in their hands. If the municipalities had carried out spaying and vaccinations on time, this population would not have increased this much. It's not just this. There are animal sales on the internet. Go online, you will see animal sales. This is not just about animals. Are they paying their taxes, for what purpose are the sold animals used, are these being inspected, and if they are, who is inspecting them?

We have dangerous breeds. We gave a very short time for our dangerous breeds. We said; within this short time, you will bring them and hand them over to the state, or you will get their vaccinations and chips done. Many people who kept these types of animals didn't have the money anyway. They couldn't get it done. They dumped these dangerous breeds in the mountains and fields. When these dangerous breeds mated with stray animals, a mixed breed emerged. This breed became dangerous. These were not inspected. Many municipalities take them from one place and take them to another.

There is no such definition as a stray dog. Streets do not give birth to dogs. If you are a state, you are responsible for all living beings living in our country. You should not bring humans and animals face to face. You should have taken precautions for these in time. You are the ones in Law No. 5199. You made the amendment. Making laws is of course very important, but what is more important is to comply with that law. You are the state, you make laws, and if your municipalities, provincial commissions, boards, and governors do not comply with this law, of course, this will be the result.

How nice, very easy. 'We didn't do these things, the animals multiplied, let's kill them.' Well, let's kill them. We experienced this before on Hayırsız Ada (Oxia Island). They were all culled. Was the problem solved, is this a solution, can you solve the problem at its root, is there anyone who has calculated that the needles to be used for euthanasia are purchased in dollars and that the cost of killing this many animals by euthanasia is as difficult as feeding them?

When we decide to pass such a law, who are the ones preparing this law? Veterinarians, academics, NGOs? From whom did you get information, on what basis are you preparing it? These are very important questions.

'THEY SAID THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE'

Have you discussed this issue with AKP MPs? Are there any who are uncomfortable with the possibility of such a law being passed?

I spoke with a few of them. They said they had no knowledge of it. I have never appeared on television until today. Not because I cannot speak, but I believe in the institutionalism of a party. When that party has a spokesperson and deputy chairmen, there is no need for an MP to appear. I am an MP. The sovereign is the nation. I am there as a representative. I carry their requests, desires, and deficiencies to parliament through parliamentary questions, research motions, and speeches from the podium. My concern is not to advertise on television. I am responsible for fulfilling the duty I have taken on properly. I am not afraid of anything while doing this. Hundreds of accounts are attacking me right now. I found their IPs. They are all attacking from the same IP abroad. There is a troll army of 200-plus. Nothing will turn me away from what I believe in.

Of course, I care about our children. Of course, our people are much more important. First of all, I am tasked with defending the rights of my own species. Because I defend my own species, I am already saying that stray animals should not be killed in this way because I do not see it as a behavior that fits human conscience and dignity.

There are a few MPs I have spoken with. I will not give names. When I said let's take these to social media and television, they made sentences like 'we would be lynched.' An MP who has received their power from their nation should not be afraid of anything.'