This is the moment a council worker shoots a stray dog with a tranquilliser dart before a colleague throws it into a dustcart where animal rights groups say it was them crushed by the vehicles rubbish compacter.
The incident took place in Kuleonu in the western Turkish province of Isparta and was filmed by a nearby CCTV camera.
In the grainy footage, a council worker is seen shooting the stray dog with what appears to be a dart before a colleague tosses it into the back of a dustcart.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
The video sparked outrage and animal rights activists claimed that they could not find the dog’s body in the landfill normally used by the council, confirming that it had been crushed to a pulp in the vehicle.
President of the Isparta Animal Protection Association, Sabri Kocabas, said: “They are throwing stray dogs into the crusher. We have discovered that this is not the only animal they have done this to and it has been going on for over a week.”
She confirmed that the group has filed a complaint with the public prosecutor’s office.
Meanwhile, Isparta mayor Sezai Cakir claimed that the stray dog was not killed and is currently doing fine at a local animal shelter.
He also confirmed that “an investigation has been launched into the incident while administrative and legal action has been taken [against the workers]”.
Meanwhile, Cakir questioned the animal activists’ motives and accused them of blackmailing the local authorities: “I am saddened that they listed us in their demands in exchange for not leaking the video footage.”
He also said that the council worker had been responding to a complaint that the stray dog attacked a child in the street.
Cakir said: “The health of the dog, which was subjected to cruel treatment that saddened us all, is paramount and it is currently doing fine at a municipal animal shelter.”
He also vowed to take legal action against those who made the “ugly offer” to not leak the footage.
The investigation continues.
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Story By: Sibel Abdiu, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: AsiaWire
