Turkish Dog Bill Would Be ‘Absolute Disgrace’ – Chris Packham and Heather Mills

TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham, model Heather Mills and actor Peter Egan are urging Turkey to reject new legislation aimed at regulating stray dogs in the country.

Animal rights activists are concerned that Turkish municipalities will kill dogs under the pretext that they are sick, instead of allocating resources to shelter dogs, as provided for in the new law.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims that “Turkey has a problem with stray dogs” and that dogs “attack children, adults, the elderly and other animals, they attack flocks of sheep and goats and they cause traffic accidents”.

Packham posted a video on Twitter, showing him with his poodle Nancy.

The 63-year-old Springwatch co-host said: “I love my dogs. I love animals. I love all life. There is the potential for an absolute parody in Turkey at the moment when it comes to animal welfare.

“Millions of cats and dogs could be needlessly killed… Can Nancy and I please ask you to take action?”

He encouraged his followers to sign a petition, along with a letter asking them to “please not kill all these beautiful cats and dogs.”

Downton Abbey star Egan, best known as Paul Ryman in the classic sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles, called it an “urgent appeal to the entire world”.

The 77-year-old actor also said: “We cannot let this happen… Stop this heinous crime.”

Mills, 56, said: “The bill must be stopped.”

She said: “Even healthy, non-aggressive animals can be killed, while animal production and cruelty go unchecked. Join me and the Animal Save Movement in urging Turkish MPs to vote no.”

The campaign against the bill is being coordinated by the Animal Save Movement.

The Turkish government, which estimates there are four million stray dogs in the country, says the proposed legislation would require municipalities to take in stray dogs and place them in shelters, where they would be neutered and spayed.

It also says that dogs that are in pain, terminally ill, pose a health risk to people or are aggressive will be euthanized and that improved shelters will be needed, the AP news agency reported.

Mayors who fail to fulfill their responsibilities to control stray dogs face prison sentences of six months to two years.

Fines for people who abandon their pets will increase from 2,000 lira (£47) to 60,000 lira (£42).