Didim villains
The Republic of Turkey Proudly Presents: Didim Killers
We are proud to introduce you the latest perpetrators in the dog-killing pandemic in Turkey: meet Didim killers.
The story behind the killers of Didim, a beautiful holiday town in the Aegean, is a disgustingly familiar one for Turkey. Round up or kill all the stray dogs in your area before tourists arrive. Use either one of these stupid excuses:
there is a rabies outbreak
the dogs are aggressive / danger to humans
It is also possible for these two excuses to be used in combination – reinforces the grounds for murdering stray dogs.
The story is the same across the holiday towns of Turkey – just substitute the names. So, let’s take a closer look at the names in this particular case.
Meet the mayor of Didim: Mümin Kamaci
Tel: +90 256 811 26 60
E-mail: didimbelediyesi@yahoo.com
Mr. Kamaci says he is “effortlessly laboring to turn Didim into a unique center for tourism, culture and peace” (read effortlessly laboring to get rid of stray dogs into that).
Meet the deputy-governor of Didim: Ali Katırcı
Tel: +90 256 811 37 25
E-mail: iletisim@didim.gov.tr
Mr. Katırcı is a lawyer by training. Granted, the curriculum did not include Turkey’s Animal Protection Act at the time he was studying. That particular act is recent, and makes it crystal clear that it is not possible to round up stray dogs and imprison them in shelters. He has some catching up to do with the literature. Mr. Katırcı can read this post if he wants to in English to find out about recent developments in the Turkish legal system; we know that he speaks English well as he studied in the United Kingdom between 1990-1991.
Meet the governor of Aydin (where Didim is a province of): Mustafa Talay.
Tel:+90 256 212 42 59
Email: aydin@icisleri.gov.tr
Mr. Malay was a police officer in the past. He has had a perfect career actually. He was sent abroad to the United Kindgom for 6 months in 1991 for training. In 1994, the Turkish parliament awarded him the “bureaucrat of the year” title.
Now, tell this dream team of local authorities to stop RIGHT NOW what is happening to the stray dogs of Didim. Tell them to stop inflicting misery upon Didim’s stray dogs.
And you know what? They are doing it in your name…
I and my family are regular visitors to Altinkum, Didim, We love seeing the street dogs , many we have known for several years, We always bring them treats and they are always so happy to see us.
I do hope that when we return later this year that ” our ” dogs will still be there, But from what i have learnt today that will be very doubtful. If it is proven that the dogs are being killed or dumped in the mountains this could mean that we would no longer consider future visits to Turkey.
Please do not kill animals in my name !
Avril Sims
July 31, 2008 at 6:19 pm
It is with utter disgust that today I have heard of the round up of the dogs in Altinkum,
Where are the dogs now ?
Are they dead or alive ?
Mr Mayor , If a crime has been committed to these dogs then I ask you to start an investigation as to who has committed it .
I was coming to Altinkum to purchase property this winter, I am now seriously considering going elsewhere, This is not my idea of a civilised nation and if what I have heard is true regarding the disappearance of the dogs .. then I and my family want no part of your country !
DAVID
August 2, 2008 at 9:22 am
No reasonable human being would want the blood of these dogs on their hands, least of all the tourists who visit and enjoy the company of these special residents. You need to be investigating this and giving some TRUTHFUL answers. We will want nothing to do with your country unless things change right now.
Marcia Crow
August 7, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Mr Mayor and other Didim officials it is with utter horror that you have or someone has killed these wonderful dogs I have been coming to Altinkum for the past four years and was thinking of buying a property out there well that has all changed I want nothing more to do with Turkey when i was informed of the massacres that are going on with the animals there are petitions emails boycotting going on all over the world against your country I always love coming there as I thought it was a lovely culture and the hospitality off the everyday people was second to none but I will not stand by and let you get away with this those annimals are not wild they are gentle and i have never ever come across one nasty dog this is being done in the name of TOURISM NOT ON YOUR LIFE IS IT WE TOURISTS DO NOT AND HAVE NEVER EVER WANTED THIS the neuter and release system was working there is absolutely no need of this and i,m appalled to think you thought that the tourists wanted this it is the minority that you have bent to not the majority the ex pats knew the dogs were there so why move out there and try to change everything that Didim stands for please find it in your heart to stop this it is barbaric cruel and to say the least disgusting until this killing stops it is with deep regret that I have to inform you that we will not be coming back as me and my family and friends have loved Turkey for the past four years and have spent a lot of money there what will happened if there are no tourists will Didim become a ghost town this I ask you to consider get these dogs back where they belong and the cats and if you can,t understand what i have wrote get an interpreter in because the amount of people that have emailed you and want some sort of answer it is no good telling us that this is not happening WE KNOW IT IS SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE the WHOLE WORLD is watching and waiting to see what is going to happen.
Bev Hill
August 10, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Please stop this senseless cruelty NOW! The street dogs aren’t hurting anyone, so please leave them alone to live their lives in peace!
Julie
August 11, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Kemal Ataturk would be so ashamed of these ” people ” !
A.Sims
August 13, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I know many concerned people who emailed all those officials above – And not one of them have had a reply .. They dont even have the common decency to do that !
Neesan
August 21, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I will write and i will be at the rally in London , This is all so wrong !!
JJ
August 25, 2008 at 10:51 pm