Scandal at MHP-run Gümüşhane Municipality shelter: Dogs died of hunger and thirst!

Footage recorded at the municipal animal shelter in Gümüşhane has caused a major stir on social media. In the images recorded by animal rights activist Mahmut Tonyalı after he visited the shelter in the morning, it was seen that food and water bowls were completely empty and many dogs had lost their lives.

Exposing the negligence at the shelter, Tonyalı stated that the animals were left to face hunger and thirst, that there was insufficient staff at the shelter, and that the living creatures were practically abandoned to die. Calling for urgent intervention from authorities, Tonyalı said, "The situation is dire." Public reaction grew after the footage was shared on social media.

"I SAW AN ANIMAL DRINKING ANOTHER ANIMAL'S URINE OUT OF THIRST"

Tonyalı recounted his experience with the following words:

Stating that he went to the shelter in the morning, Mahmut Tonyalı said he was not allowed through the gate and entered by another way. He described the scene he encountered upon entering as follows:

"I went to the animal shelter in the morning; at first, they didn't let me in. So, I entered another way and saw that the animals were all thirsty and that 8-10 animals had died. None of them had water in their bowls, there was no food. There was one animal—I couldn't capture it on video—I saw one animal drinking another animal's urine. The situation was that dire. There is an attendant there; when I asked, 'Why aren't you giving them water?', he claimed he was, but there was no water. When he saw me, he started giving them water.

I am not an opposition figure. I am doing this for the sake of God. The situation in Gümüşhane is dire, the situation at the shelter is dire. I recorded the footage I took from 3-4 rooms; there are nearly 20 rooms there. The animals are crying out for us to save them from hunger and thirst. A solution is needed for this; your duty is not to lock animals in a shelter and kill them. It is a very dire situation, so many animals have died there. Most of the animals have mange, they have wounds. You can see them tearing each other apart. I started crying while recording those images. The footage I took right now is not even 1 percent of it. Citizens in Turkey think these animals are being cared for in shelters; do not believe it, they inject them and kill them. Even if you see a sick animal, do not send it to the shelter; it is more profitable to leave it where it is."

MUNICIPALITY DENIES, GOVERNORATE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION

In a statement made by the Gümüşhane Municipality, it was claimed that the allegations made did not reflect the truth. The Gümüşhane Governorate, meanwhile, announced that it has launched an investigation into the events.

News Source: İHA