Iraq kills over 600 stray dogs with poison in Nasiriyah city

NASIRIYAH,— Authorities in Nasiriyah, a city in southern Iraq, have taken drastic measures to address a recent surge in dog attacks on children by euthanizing at least 600 stray dogs.

Dr. Mohammed Aziz al-Mayahi, who heads the veterinary department for Dhi Qar province, explained that the decision to cull the dogs was made following a spike in incidents where 11 children were attacked.

Concerns have been mounting over the increasing population of stray dogs in Nasiriyah, posing significant health risks to residents due to potential disease transmission.

“After an urgent meeting involving relevant provincial departments, it was decided to procure poison for eliminating the dogs,” stated Dr. al-Mayahi. The campaign, which commenced a week ago, continues to target stray dogs throughout the area.

Colonel Maytham al-Mishrefawy, spokesperson for the local police department, confirmed their role in carrying out the euthanizations. “On one day alone, 285 dogs were put down using poison.,” he reported.

The provincial governor has formed a task force comprising various departments to oversee the ongoing efforts to control the stray dog population.

In addition to the public safety concerns, Dhi Qar province is grappling with an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a disease that can be transmitted by ticks often found on dogs.