Actor and comedian Ricky Gervais has joined international calls to end Türkiye’s stray animal “massacre law,” which has led to the widespread roundup and killing of homeless dogs and cats.
The legislation, introduced in 2024 and upheld by Türkiye’s Constitutional Court on 9 May 2025, has been condemned by animal protection organisations as the largest mass killing of stray animals in modern history.
“The rounding up and killing of millions of stray animals in Türkiye is heartbreaking and extremely distressing,” said Gervais. “Homeless dogs and cats don’t deserve to be treated with such violent contempt. I stand with In Defense of Animals and call on the Government of Türkiye to reverse the new law, stop killing animals, and fund a spay and neuter program instead.”
Protests have been held in Türkiye and worldwide, including in London, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Latin America and across Europe. Activists inside the country have reported dogs being poisoned, burned, crushed, or buried in garbage trucks, sometimes still alive.
Mass graves have been discovered near municipal shelters, which animal welfare groups say are already unable to cope, with just 110,000 shelter spaces for an estimated four million dogs.
The law followed high-profile cases of children being injured or killed by stray dogs, but campaigners argue it fails to address the root causes of stray populations and instead punishes the animals for human failings. Local activists report that thousands of animals have been killed or gone missing under official orders, with many municipalities lacking basic infrastructure for humane care.
More than 11,601 people have taken action through In Defense of Animals, calling for the repeal of the law and a return to the trap-neuter-return approach, which was previously required but poorly enforced.
Fleur Dawes, the charity’s Director of International Partnerships, said, “Türkiye’s street dogs and cats are loved by locals and tourists, and have long been symbols of coexistence. We urge President Erdoğan to reverse this death sentence before more lives are lost.”
Nilgün Engin, leader of Ankara Animal Save, said she has saved dozens of cats and dogs from roundups. “Türkiye has long been recognized as a country known for its compassion and care for stray animals. However, this reputation is at risk of shifting toward that of a nation associated with cruelty and killing,” she said.
The campaign has drawn support from public figures including Heather Mills, Peter Egan, Chris Packham and Dominic Dyer, who recently demonstrated outside the Turkish consulate in London.
