Abuse and neglect of animals within the framework of animal rights: Example of Çorum province

People first tried to domesticate animals for economic reasons, and then began to live with them for scientific research and making use of the workforce. Thus, the idea of respecting the rights of animals and accepting them as an element of nature necessitated some regulations in international texts and our domestic law. While people protect their rights with laws, it is possible to protect the living things that are a part of the ecosystem by sanctioning the crimes against them. In our study, data obtained from Çorum Provincial General Directorate of Forestry between 2008-2020 were used. In the light of these data, 51 animals were exposed to neglect and abuse. The crimes committed by the years and on the relevant law articles are presented in a table. While an average of 2 cases was recorded annually, the reporting of 11 cases in 2019 is evidence of the increase in susceptible individuals. We aim our study to contribute to the awareness of the necessity of humans are not superior to animals and the improvement of animal rights academically.