Turkey has been experiencing the same thing for years. A child is attacked, a person loses his/her life, and the whole world rises up for a few days. Then everyone falls silent. Some time passes, another incident happens. The same sentences are uttered again.
Because like many other problems in this country, it was ignored while it was growing.
Now, let no one be offended. The issue of stray animals is no longer just “animal love” talk. People are afraid. Especially in some places, children cannot be sent to the street alone because of the dogs roaming in packs. People going to work in the morning are nervous, people walking at night are nervous, people riding motorcycles are nervous.
Some people get angry when I say this. But the truth doesn't change.
On the other hand, the situation of animals on the streets is obvious. Starvation, disease, being hit by cars, violence... Most of them don't live properly anyway. In other words, there is a picture where both humans and animals lose.
What has been done over the years?
Three or five news reports about sterilization, a few token efforts, and then the same pattern again. Most municipalities have not really tried to solve this issue. Some of the places you call shelters are already in a deplorable state. That's why people are afraid. When they say “we will collect them”, they don't think of a system that inspires confidence.
Because trust is gone.
And let's be clear. This cannot be solved by yelling and screaming. It's easy to say, “Let them all stay on the streets.” It's also easy to say “round them all up”. What is difficult is to establish a proper order.
Animal production should be strictly controlled first. This business has grown because of people who breed and sell dogs for money and then leave them on the streets when they run out. The chip system must be followed properly. Those who throw their animals on the streets should be severely punished.
Then there should be shelters that actually work. There will be a vet, there will be care, there will be supervision. When the animal goes in there, it won't feel lost. People will know what it is.
And then there is this. The state has to ensure the security of citizens. People cannot live in fear. When a child goes to school and his parents think, “I wonder if something will happen to him,” there is a problem there.
But civilization is not only about protecting people. It is also how you treat the weak.
So the solution to this is not just anger, not just sentimentality.
The solution is to build a system that works properly.
Because there is not only an animal problem on the streets today. There is a management vacuum that has been postponed for years.