25.07.2026 This puppy was beaten to death by a group of men for eating a cube of sugar in the courtyard of a café in Zaqatala, Azerbaijan. That is why numerous sugar cubes were left at the grave of the unfortunate pup, who was buried by the grieving animal lovers. (Image above: Baku, courtesy Lloyd Alozie).
Upon seeing this news, a person who saw the photo recalled these lines by Nazım Hikmet, the Turkish poet:
“…. I’m knocking on your door, auntie, uncle, give a signature!
‘Children’ animals (the innocents) should not be killed,
they should be able to eat sugar too.”
#SokakHayvanlarıSahipsizDeğil
Bu yavru köpek Azerbaycan'ın Zaquatala şehrinde bulunan bir kafenin avlusunda şeker yediği için, bir grup insan tarafından dövülerek öldürüldü.
Hayvanseverler tarafından gömülen talihsiz yavrunun mezarına küp şekerler bırakıldı.Bu haberi görünce, yazan kişinin Nazım Hikmet'in… pic.twitter.com/z26HsTP6a6
— brave (@brave9159) July 24, 2026
From the photo is clear that the unfortunate puppy was starving, he was skin and bones. Most probably it explains his interest in sugar, which is unusual food for the dogs. However sometimes from hunger the dogs swallow stones.
This puppy was beaten to death by a group of people in the courtyard of a cafe in Zaquatala, Azerbaijan, simply for eating candy. 😢 pic.twitter.com/MgWujKUsJ4
— Sinem 113 (@ZulfiKarSinemin) July 24, 2026
Azerbaijan has a poor record of animal welfare, being known for systemic and institutionalized animal cruelty.
#Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 kills dogs by any means, especially before a large international event. That's why no events should be held in #Azerbaijan. https://t.co/ptNeApf6HY
— Phaedra (@PhaedraXTeddy) August 15, 2024
Stray dog culling in the capital – Baku – involves cruel municipal practices, causing mass activists protests, and allegations of state-sanctioned slaying.
Animal welfare groups report that local authorities and specialized centers regularly resort to lethal methods rather than humane population control. Municipal workers and contractors use firearms, poison, or blunt force to exterminate stray dogs in the streets.
Killings often surge prior to major international events hosted in the capital. The state-backed Toplan Care Centre for Homeless Dogs was established to manage strays via a catch-and-sterilize framework, but activists claim it functions primarily as a kill facility.
Initially they had hope it would resolve the problems of stray in humane way, because Leyla Aliyeva, the daughter of the President of Azerbaijan, promotes animal protection through the IDEA Public Union, focusing on stray dog care, sterilization, and veterinary services.
🚨Healthy Community Dogs are Caught for "Sterilization"
But What If the ABC Centre Becomes a Place of Suffering?
A friendly street dog is captured under the promise of sterilization and humane care.
Instead, allegations from the Government ABC Centre in Chhatrapati… https://t.co/mj4kmoUr2R pic.twitter.com/p7AkOE8ls9
— Dilthi Gujarati (@dilthi_gujarati) July 25, 2026
Key initiatives included founding the IDEA Animal Care Center and the “Toplan” Care for Homeless Dogs Centre in Azerbaijan. However the incident with this starved, and beaten to death puppy showed that the realities in the streets are grim.
Animal welfare in Azerbaijan is limited, characterized by a lack of comprehensive national protection laws, weak enforcement, and systemic issues with stray animal management. While the country ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, formal government bodies dedicated to animal welfare are largely absent.