Stray dog population growth in Iraqi Kurdistan urges action

There are over 40,000 stray dogs in Iraqi Kurdistan region, officials say

ERBIL/SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Authorities across Iraqi Kurdistan region continue to grapple with the rising population of stray dogs in major cities like Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja.

Efforts are being made to control their numbers, primarily through neutering programs, but challenges remain, including a lack of proper shelter facilities.

According to a Rudaw TV report, while a shelter has been constructed in Duhok, no dogs have yet been brought there, and there are growing calls in Halabja for the establishment of a facility to house and care for stray animals.

According to relevant authorities, there are approximately 10,000 stray dogs in Erbil, over 7,000 in Sulaimani, close to 20,000 in Duhok, and around 1,000 in Halabja.

These large populations have raised concerns about public safety, with incidents of dog bites reported in various areas. The issue has led to increased efforts by municipalities and veterinary departments to address the situation through collection and neutering programs.

In Erbil, Dr. Mamand Mohammed, head of the Erbil Veterinary Department, highlighted the ongoing operations to control the dog population.

“We are continually working on this issue. Our teams conduct daily surgeries to neuter stray dogs and then release them back into the wild,” Dr. Mamand said. Erbil’s stray dog shelter, built on a five-acre plot, currently houses around 2,000 dogs, which are processed before being released.

Sulaimani faces a similar challenge, with around 7,000 stray dogs reported. According to Zardasht Rafeeq, spokesperson for the Sulaimani Municipality, about 700 dogs are housed in the city’s shelter. These dogs are neutered and later released back into the wild.

However, concerns over the living conditions in the shelters persist. Shadi Ali, head of the Hanai Animal Organization, acknowledged the ongoing efforts but noted that improvements to the shelters are still needed, despite the veterinary department’s supervision of the neutering process.

In Duhok, the situation is somewhat different. A new shelter has been constructed, but as of yet, no dogs have been brought in.

“The shelter is ready, but we haven’t started bringing in any dogs yet,” said Ismail Mustafa, spokesperson for the Duhok Municipality. Dr. Suleiman Tamr, head of the Duhok Veterinary Department, estimated the number of stray dogs in the area to be between 15,000 and 20,000, with plans in place to neuter them once operations commence.

Meanwhile, Halabja continues to struggle with its stray dog problem due to the lack of a shelter. Dr. Dilnia Farooq, head of the Halabja Veterinary Department, stated that there are more than 1,000 stray dogs in the city.

“Every day, we receive complaints from citizens about the growing stray dog population. We urgently need a shelter,” Dr. Dilnia said, explaining that the department has requested the construction of a facility, but no action has been taken so far. Without a shelter, managing the stray dog population remains a significant challenge for local authorities.

As efforts to control the stray dog population continue, it is clear that further action is required. Municipalities are calling for the creation of more shelters and enhanced measures to address the situation.

While neutering and releasing dogs back into the wild remains the current strategy, the lack of adequate facilities across the region hampers the effectiveness of these efforts, leaving the growing population of stray dogs a persistent concern.

(With files from Rudaw)