ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan Region,— Authorities in Erbil have rolled out a new initiative that offers cash incentives to citizens who capture stray dogs, drawing sharp criticism from animal rights groups.
The city’s environmental protection department is offering 3,000 Iraqi dinars — about $2 — for each stray dog turned over to an official shelter, according to Zhyar Jalal, head of the city’s Services and Environmental Protection Directorate.
The campaign aims to reduce Erbil’s soaring stray dog population, which officials estimate at 31,000.
Participants in the program must equip their vehicles with cages before they are approved. “Only those who install dog-catching cages on their motorcycles or vehicles will be eligible to sign contracts,” Jalal told Rudaw TV on Sunday.
While local officials defend the initiative as a necessary public health and safety measure, animal welfare advocates have condemned the move.
Critics say the payment structure encourages abusive behavior and turns dog collection into a commercial opportunity for untrained individuals.
“This system is wide open to abuse,” one activist told iKurd News. “We’ve already seen disturbing footage from Duhok in March 2025, where dogs were mishandled by municipal workers. There’s no oversight on how these dogs are being treated.”
“Who monitors what happens between the streets and the shelter?” he added.
According to Jalal, more than 16,000 strays have been collected in Erbil since the city ramped up control efforts. Roughly half of the stray dog population is currently held in shelters, while the rest remain on the streets.
A shelter built last year along the Erbil-Gwer road cost more than 480 million dinars (around $320,000), but capacity and resource concerns persist.
Activists claim the facilities are overcrowded, poorly maintained, and frequently understocked with food — contributing to high mortality rates among captured animals.
The Kurdistan Region has long struggled with managing its stray animal population. In cities like Erbil and Zakho, dogs are often beaten, run over, or shot. Many residents view them as threats to safety and sanitation.
Adding to the controversy, Muslim religious clerics have endorsed rulings allowing the killing of stray dogs, which has sparked further tension with animal welfare groups.
Activists argue that the Kurdistan Region lacks any meaningful legal framework for animal protection and that political inaction continues to stall progress.
The March 2025 footage from Duhok — showing the brutal treatment of strays by city workers — has reignited debate both inside and outside the region. Observers say such scenes damage the reputation of the Kurdistan Region and spotlight the urgent need for humane policy reform.
As Erbil presses forward with its bounty-style program, rights advocates are calling for an immediate review and oversight mechanism to prevent further abuse.
(With files from Rudaw | Agencies)
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