Someone Chopped Off a Puppy’s Feet and Tail, But Existing Law Might Not Be Enough to Punish the Abuser

Politicians these days are rarely seen as people with good hearts, yet this story was enough to enrage the newly re-elected President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a forest near Sakarya in Turkey, hikers found a mutilated one-month-old puppy, who was the victim of some evil person who had cut off both of his legs and tail. 

The puppy was rushed to a local veterinarian, where he fought for his life for two days. Sadly, and to the horror of the people of Turkey who followed this story on their daily news, the puppy succumbed to his injuries during surgery. The country was in such uproar that this puppy’s ordeal brought a pause to political debates for the election which took place on June 24th.

A construction machine operator has now been arrested in relation to the puppy’s death. And although nothing is going to bring this puppy back to life, we can hope that the joint efforts of politicians from opposing parties will lead to the introduction of a new law that will prevent violence towards stray animals in the future. Erdogan himself has pledged that following the election, Turkey’s Animal rights laws will be amended to incorporate this new legislation.

Erdogan said, “whether at home or on the street, we will take the law into consideration and evaluate it. This operator was arrested today … There is nothing acceptable about this, but it is very important to show this awareness.” Iyi Party leader and presidential candidate Meral Aksener added, “This brutality against a small being is a painful manifestation of the loss of values in our country. I hope to God that those who hurt a small puppy find what they deserve in the afterlife.”

There is not a single justifiable excuse for any cruelty toward any animal. Animals are not here purely for us to do what we please with, whether they are homeless or not. This is a disgusting, barbaric way to treat a poor defenseless puppy. We hope that justice is served to this cruel individual for everything he has done.

We cannot let this vital legislation get cast aside for so-called higher priorities now that the election is over. Care 2 has written a petition that will be handed to President Erdogan in relation to this new legislation. Please sign the petition in Support of laws that will protect stray animals in Turkey from the cruelty this poor little puppy experienced.

Image Source: Ryan Christodoulou/Unsplash