Academician attacked by stray dogs: A human rights issue

An academician, Meliha Yılmaz, was attacked by stray dogs in Çankaya district, Çiğdem neighborhood. Her neighbors managed to rescue her and she was taken to the hospital by medical teams. The stray dogs severely injured Professor Dr. Meliha Yılmaz, who works at Gazi University Faculty of Education, biting her legs and face. Recounting the ordeal, Yılmaz said, 'First, one dog approached me. I remained calm, but it seemed like it was out of control. It started barking. Another dog quickly joined in from the left. After it bit me, around 8-10 dogs from the forest and park joined the attack. They knocked me down. Each one began tearing pieces off my body. As I screamed and tried to defend myself, the dogs continued to tear me apart until the neighbors arrived.' Yılmaz emphasized that the stray dog problem has reached serious proportions and called for help from authorities. She stated, 'This has now become a human rights issue. These dogs must be rounded up and neutered in shelters in accordance with animal rights. I have suffered, let's prevent others from suffering.' This was not the first attack by stray dogs in Çiğdem neighborhood. Residents who have been attacked multiple times by stray dogs have requested help from authorities.