The Dog Killers of Didim
On Monday 16th June the street speakers in Didim blasted out a repeated message all day…
ALL the street dogs would be collected and taken to the local dog shelter, regardless of whether they had eartags, collars or not.
The council liaison animal officer confirmed to the Gen Sec of the Didim Friends of Animals Charity that this was what was going to happen, and she, as a member of the charity also, was as horrified and shocked as they were.
The reason apparently was because the Governor of Didim wanted it. It was discussed that this was an illegal action, that the dogs have been neutered and released in accordance with the decrees of the new laws, and they are back in the environment from where they came, correctly so, and it would be illegal to collect neutered dogs and take them to the shelter.
It would also be illegal to retain any dogs at the shelter til the end of summer as is proposed.
The charity charirman went to see the mayor and governor the next day, and in the presence of the vet who works for the council neutering the street dogs, the governor stated that he wanted all the dogs rounded up, especially the aggressive ones.
The vets assistant guessed there were complaints about 10-15 dogs. The governor said the complaints are all from British Tourists. The charity chairman also spoke to someone at the belediye, either the mayor or his assistant, who said it will be done because the governor wants it. The list of complainants was given to the vets assistant, who does the dog catching in Didim. The Gen Sec of the charity asked to see this list of British Tourists who complained…there were about 6 pages of names and signatures……. ALL Turkish! So the Governor is telling porkies! The Governor from Aydin spoke to him and was also told that the complaints are from British Tourists.
On Tuesday evening Kiki, Sandy and Max were collected from the main beach and incarcerated at the shelter…the reason? Kiki has APPARENTLY bitten 2 policemen (brave men no doubt..). Why her 2 boyfriends have also been taken is unknown. It seems they chase the police motorbikes, which is hardly surprising when the Police are the biggest culprits of kicking the dogs as they pass with revving engines. These 3 dogs were due to be euthanased on Thursday morning, as the charity committee said, they cannot be released out of their environment, cruel, and illegal, and they cannot stay at the shelter forever, and attempts have been made to home them, unsuccessfully, as they always return to the beach. Best for them, if they were put down!
The charity committee were at this point assuming there was some PROOF that they had all bitten someone…ie, anyone being bitten by a street dog would DEFINITELY go to the local hospital for a the free rabies vaccinations that are available…
However, it turns out that the vet who was going to put the dogs down has NOT seen any such report, so the charity committee members told him NOT to euthanase, as there was no reason to. These dogs should be returned to their rightful place on the beach.
The Chairman of the Fethiye animal charity was contacted by the the gen sec of the Didim charity and confirmed that all these actions are illegal.
The National Parks Department was contacted, and a representative visited on Thursday, but due to lack of information, was unable to meet with anyone from the charity. He will visit again on Friday morning, and hopefully that will be the end of it. He has already stated that a report will be made saying that the dog shelter is woefully inadequate, small and filthy, and not suitable for dogs to be kept for any length of time.
Reports that 8 dogs were euthanased on Wednesday came from the council animal liaison officer, but it seems these were very sick animals that were beyond treatment, so no further action will be taken there. The council ARE however breaking the law again with their dead animals, as they are thrown into rubbish bins, and not buried as the law decrees.
The responsible person at the shelter is the only full time worker, and he is mentally deficient. Another example of great HR policy!..
The vet is employed only to visit once a day, normally mornings, to perform neutering operations.
Any extra operations such as dogs injured by cars, dogs with penile or vaginal turmours requiring chemotherapy, bronchitis, eye infections, ear infections, and a variety of other treatable dog illnesses are all paid for by the charity, as is all the dry food provided for the shelter.
Didim Municipality tel: 256 – 811 26 60
Didim Municipality fax: 256 – 811 21 11
email: info@didim.bel.tr
Note: the lovely picture of the nice strays relaxing at the beach has been published without permission of its owner. Didim Newspaper. a web based publication in English who considers stray dogs a nuisance to be eliminated. Here is one of the “pearls” published by this online newspaper.. read it because it really defies belief, and we are not only referring to the poor grammar here, that newspaper must be edited by either a British teen with poor languages skills or an amateur Turkish journalist that learned his English at the local barber shop.
http://www.didimtoday.com/local-news/altinkum-news/the-biggest-nuisance-in-altinkum-didim-beach.htm
to all Brits living or holidaying in Didim – the mayor has said that YOU all made complaints about the dogs……..
Why would you do that when it is in your upbringing/culture to love and protect animals? No stray just attacks someone – obviousşy the mayor is not telling the truth….and this is at your expense????
Please do what you can to help
Tina
June 20, 2008 at 8:40 am
You are right some who ever is responsible should take care of them and look after all the animals on strets we are not against animals and we will help much as we can.
Ali Star
June 22, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Dear Ali
The solution to the stray dog issue in Turkey requires
a) Sterilization and RETURN to the original territory of the dog. İf that animal was caught at the beach so be it.. he must be returned to the beach.
b) Consistency.. neuter and return must be applied in all areas of Didim, moving dogs from one place to another will not work.
c) Patience… people must learn that quick solutions (killing or removal) will not bring a solution to the problem.. it will make it worst.
Your article called for the removal (and incarceration on a shelter) or the dogs of Didim. That is not only ILLEGAL.. it is inefficient.
We strongly suggest you work with Gillian and Val in the correct implementation of Neuter and Return. The media, you, can play a vital role in explaining the mechanics of Neuter and Return to Didims population, being turk or yabanci.
Do this and well support you.. 100%. Dont do this and to the stray dogs you will have to add another problem, an international campaign against the treatment of dogs in Didimç Dont just talk, act.
Please contact Gillian Erer on gillyghoulerer@hotmail.com
Kind regards
Matt Murdock
P.S Thanks for granting us permission to the usage of that picture. We will be relying on you for pictures of Didim.. please send them to us on mmurdockdd at gmail.com
beykozkillers
June 22, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I agree that strays do not just attack people. Strays will usually come around people lovingly hoping for any food or attention that they can get. Humans ae animals too and homeless people would not be treated in this fashion, but because these dogs cannot speak out for themselves they can be mistreated?!!!
Hema Bedasie
July 31, 2008 at 1:04 pm
This is an atrocoity its against human nature and it is man,s own doing call themselves animal lovers come off it who are they trying to kid at last the world has started hearing what is happening in Turkey to its dogs and cats and about time too god forgive them these dogs have not ask to be treated like that nor has any other animal i hope one day they can live with themselves for the cruelty that has and is still happening they are not even animals because an animal wouldn,t do what they are doing and i,m glad that people are starting to create hell this is against the law in Turkey and why can,t they be prosucuted for it is there a law for one and another law for another I,m beginning to think so come on people wake up and look around you to see what is happening
Beverley Hill
July 31, 2008 at 4:41 pm
This is the email I have sent to all the email addresses on this blog :
I have been so upset and worried since hearing of Didims dogs being taken away and possibly killed or left to starve in the mountains,
I love our family visits to Altinkum, And over the years we have got to know many of the street dogs there and always look forward to seeing them , We give them treats which of course they love to receive. We also visit the shelter which is a must, It is always kept lovely and clean, and the dogs there again are so friendly, It runs a neuter and release programme which lately has been proving to be very successful as the number of street dogs is far less than of recent years, There is absolutely no need to kill or move these dogs. They are not dangerous, they interact with people very well.
I have many happy photographs of my family with street dogs, and will be most upset if when we return later in the year these dogs will not be there. Some members of my family are so upset that they are now not coming back to Altinkum this year. And maybe they never will !
I urge the officials in Altinkum to show compassion and please leave the dogs alone and bring back those that have been removed, As for any that have been killed tell us where they are , then we can lay this to rest, Until then we will keep on fighting for Altinkums dogs.
I await your reply.
Sincerely
A.Sims ( UK )
Avril Sims
July 31, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Wonder whats happening to those dogs? Oh but I already know dont I. Your filthy government is using the hired hands to get rid of them arent they!
It doesnt matter what excuses one makes, I dont even care where they take them because Ive got a pretty good guess where that is.
Rather than they accept that it is they who allow the continued breeding of dogs they prefer the ignore and get rid of solution instead.
So cowardly of them. Sure people share some of the blame, but not all do now do they!
No matter how vile they are the people will NEVER fall so low as the governments.
Samantha Andrews
August 1, 2008 at 3:25 am
I Have been visiting Altinkum since i first bought a home there in 2002..I have seen and loved all the street dogs and Cats which you and your goverment have been killing over the years..I even Took 1 of them back to The uk with me or she would be dead right now as the end of the season is terror for these beautiful Animals.
You have lied and lied by saying in 2006 no dogs are to be killed and from now on Neutered and Tagged and Released..This is a joke because you are still at the killing of thousands of dogs around Turkey in 2008.
Now you need to go and collect these dogs from the Mountains Right now and Take them back to the beach where they belong and the people there will watch out for them.Do you really think i want to come to turkey a place i have liked for many years if you are going to carry on doing this to Animals i have seen year after year and look forward to coming to see every year when i return to turkey.
I promise you if you do not stop doing this i will inform all the Charitys around the world..Every one i can think of and make them Aware of the Treatment to Animals in your country and i will go and email all 88 Newspapers around turkey and ask them all to print this story and Also i will be contacting Tv Stations all over Turkley.
Do you know it is Aganising for a Animal to Slowly Starve to Death.Long day and After Long day with no food or water.Slowly getting weaker by the minute
HOW THE HELL CAN YOU ALLOW THIS…They all have Hearts and feel Pain like the rest of us
No wonder the European Union wont let Turkey Join the EU
NO ANIMAL RIGHT
NO HUMAN RIGHTS
Turley is a Disgrace and it is People like you that are making it this way..
I will be in Turley in May of next year so Book a Appointment for me to come see you because i will be coming to see you face to face
CANT WAIT – KAREN WREN
Karen Wren
August 3, 2008 at 10:51 am
I have never found the street dogs to be aggressive, they often escort you back to your apartments or come up to you in a bar and put their heads on your knee and all they ask is for us to show a bit of kindness. Street dogs have been a part of Turkish culture for many years, and whilst I do not agree that they are allowed to breed all over the place, the job of the shelter in neutering and returning back to the streets is the way to go.
Animals have as much right on this earth as we have, so why should they be removed?
Many people will be put off coming to Turkey and will actively stay away if this sort of treatment is allowed to carry on.
Stop this treatment of the street dogs now!!!!!!!
Gloria
Gloria Pilkington
August 3, 2008 at 11:04 am
I’m appalled to hear of the suspicious activity that is currently taking place in Didim; rounding up the dogs and taking them where – what is their fate ?! The local shelter runs an efficient neuter and release programme, the recent ‘clean up’ is highly inappropriate and goes against everything the shelter is doing to care for the dogs and gain control over the breeding situation, many of the missing dogs have already been neutered, to remove and simply ‘dispose’ of them is unnecessary.
I’ve joined the international boycott and informed all friends, family and fellow animal advocates of the cruel methods which we suspect are being used – I’ve advised all not travel to Turkey until the rounding up of dogs stops.
I strongly urge the Mayor to reconsider such drastic action, it’s simply unacceptable to treat ‘mans best friend’ as garbage.
Sincerely, H.Forsythe – UK.
Helen Forsythe
August 3, 2008 at 11:27 am
The Municiple Authorities of Didim are Guilty by their silence…Are they hoping this will all go away…die down … They chose to ignore us as if our comments, emails are nothing .. In other words they treat us just as they treat the dogs.. Out of sight out of mind !
Well we are NOT going away !, There are still dogs in Altinkum , Didim, and until we are convinced that they will not meet the same fate as the dogs that were removed recently then we will keep writing , keep emailing , keep campaigning and telling the world about Turkeys cruel treatment to its animal population.
We want answers ! And we want results !
A.Sims
August 9, 2008 at 12:13 pm
WHY WHY WHY LIE LIE LIE to people they know they are doing this come on all Turkish people these are your dogs we are fighting for the TOURISTS DO NOT WANT THIS TO MASSACRE THESE DOGS WE LOVE THEM come on Mr Mayor sureley you can find it in your heart to stop this I ve already cancelled my second holiday to Didim because of this I will not support these killings they are inhumane the people of Turkey are aproud people and I have always found them very compassionate so what is going on over there the people of the world know now they are massacreing thier animals this is not the country that I know I have always found the Turkish people great do not let Turkey be known as the killing fields for dogs untill this dumping and poisoning shooting of these animals is stopped I will not come back to Altinkum that I love so much and Mr Mayor please do not tell me and other peoiple that this is not happening I know different and so does the whole world the internet is a marvellous tool in this day and age and we are not stupid
Bev Hill
August 12, 2008 at 5:12 pm
NO ONE MUST VISIT TURKEY!!! LET THEM ALONE UNTIL THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM!!
Anita Papassarandis
August 17, 2008 at 11:16 am
the homeless animals are the responsibility of everyone. you may not like them but at least please have respect for their lives. there are people who care for them and neuter them in order to keep the population umder control. please allow the animal lovers do their work.
a little patience
a little tolerance
and respect for LIFE
Lidya Yegupyan
August 21, 2008 at 10:07 am
Tourists should expect to see stray animals in countries where shelters are not common or well supported financially. Do not expect the streets to be clinically clean and free from animals. Instead speak up for the unfortunate ones that have nowhere to call home. If there is a shelter at your holiday destination support it if you can while you are there and you could even continue your support from afar when you return home. Just posting a link on a website can alert people to the great need for better animal welfare and rescue shelters. This problem is world wide and stray animals have not caused the problem, human beings have!
Being homeless is as lonely and frightening for animals as it is for people.
Compassion towards animals is necessary when you visit countries where animal welfare is not high profile or commonplace.
You can do your bit, be kind to animals and always speak up for the voiceless if you can. Not everyone can do everything but everyone can do something. It would be a better world if everyone bestowed tolerance towards the innocent, animals and people.
Maria Daines
August 23, 2008 at 11:21 pm