16.05.2025 19:50
Animal lovers reacted to allegations that stray dogs and cats were euthanized at an animal shelter located in the Osmangazi district of Bursa. Following the spread of the footage, many animal advocates gathered in front of the municipal building and laid a black wreath with the message "Keep your bloody hands off animals."
After allegations that stray dogs and cats were euthanized at an animal shelter in the Osmangazi district of Bursa, many animal lovers gathered in front of the municipality building and laid a black wreath with the inscription 'Keep your bloody hands off animals.'
Last Wednesday evening in Bursa, cellphone footage shared on social media showing that cats and dogs were being euthanized at the animal shelter located in the Yenikent neighborhood, which is affiliated with the Osmangazi Municipality, sparked outrage among animal lovers.
THEY WAITED UNTIL MORNING
In the posts, it was claimed that the euthanized animals were placed in bags and taken to the city dump in the Hamitler neighborhood. After the footage quickly spread on social media, many animal lovers went to the Osmangazi Municipality animal shelter on Wednesday evening and waited until morning.
ANIMAL SHELTER DIRECTOR REMOVED FROM DUTY
Following complaints and posts, a veterinarian from the Nature Conservation and National Parks Directorate, who arrived at the shelter during the night, stated in his examination that the videos, whose shooting date could not be determined, were recorded in the quarantine section of the shelter and that the procedures carried out in accordance with Article 13 of the Animal Protection Law No. 5199 were documented; he expressed that all documents were kept in order. After the reactions of animal lovers continued yesterday, the Osmangazi Municipality removed Kadir Özdemir, the director of the animal shelter where the footage was claimed to have been recorded, from his position.
Osmangazi Municipality officials stated that the individuals who recorded the video were personnel who had recently been dismissed for abusing their duties and that legal proceedings had been initiated against these individuals.
THEY LAID A BLACK WREATH
At around 14:00 today, approximately 300 animal lovers came to the front of the municipality building and laid a black wreath with the inscription 'Keep your hands off animals' that they had brought with them. Gizem Akçe, who made a statement here, said that the shelter had turned into a death camp. Stating that "animals were thrown away like garbage in the Osmangazi shelter," Akçe said, "We watched the footage; the animals' mouths and noses were covered in blood. Right now, there are not enough animals in the shelter. This is a massacre. This is not a shelter; it is a death camp. A criminal complaint has been filed. We want the responsible parties to receive adequate punishment."
CLAIM OF 'THE FOOTAGE IS 1 MONTH OLD'
Aladdin Acar, a former shelter employee who participated in the protest, said, "I used to work at the shelter. They fired me because I opposed this massacre. I am also the one who spread these images on social media. These images are 1 month old. But this incident has been going on like this for a year. Many animals have died."
HAYKONFED President Haydar Özkan stated, "Dozens of animals are being slaughtered. You saw it in the footage. They are being slaughtered so casually that is it possible for no one to know about this? We expect resignations. If you have any moral integrity, do what is necessary for all responsible parties as soon as possible. You should also resign in shame for the slaughtered animals."
"THESE ACTS ARE NOT ONLY UNETHICAL BUT CLEARLY ILLEGAL"
Esin Durmuş Erkul, Deputy Chair of the Animal Rights Commission of the Bursa Bar Association, stated in a written statement that the events at the Osmangazi shelter were illegal:
''On May 14, 2025, the footage allegedly recorded at the animal shelter located in the Osmangazi district of Bursa, which spread rapidly on social media, has created a deep public outrage. The footage contains serious allegations that a large number of stray animals are systematically killed, subjected to severe cruelty, and their right to life is violated. As the Animal Rights Commission of the Bursa Bar Association, we have been meticulously and comprehensively following the legal process since the moment the incident first emerged. In this context, an on-site inspection was conducted at the shelter where the footage emerged, meetings were held with responsible administrative officials, and all information, documents, and evidence related to the process have been collected to prepare a criminal complaint. We want to emphasize this point particularly. These acts are not only unethical but clearly illegal."