Sulaymaniyah veterinary students relocate stray dogs as part of animal welfare campaign

SULAYMANIYAH — The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sulaymaniyah has cleared six areas of stray dogs as part of an ongoing animal welfare initiative.

The college mobilized its students into eight groups to address the issue of stray animals in Sulaymaniyah, focusing on humane treatment and relocation. Nadia Abdulkarim, head of the College of Veterinary Medicine, stated, “Following consultations and workshops with all relevant stakeholders, we concluded that stray dogs in Sulaymaniyah should be transferred to a suitable shelter where they can undergo a neutering process.”

The campaign, which began on Sept. 2, 2024, has so far covered several neighborhoods, including Saray Sulaymaniyah, Qanat Street, Mawlawi, Shakirka, Toway Malik, and the new campus of the University of Sulaymaniyah.

The initiative organizers have also informed the public through brochures that residents can assist by scanning a QR code, filling out a stray animal form, and submitting it to the teams. This allows for a prompt response and relocation of the animals to safer locations.

In recent years, the number of stray dogs on the streets of cities in the Kurdistan Region has increased significantly, causing concern among residents. Isolated dog attacks, particularly on children, have been recorded, prompting calls for authorities to address the issue by moving the animals to shelters.

On July 17, 2024, the Erbil Governorate announced a 55 million dinar (approximately $42,000) investment to upgrade the stray dog shelter in Erbil, which currently houses around 4,000 dogs. The shelter, which spans 50,000 square meters, has the capacity to accommodate up to 5,000 dogs and plays a vital role in managing the city’s stray dog population.

In Nov. 2022, a new shelter was opened with a capacity to house at least 3,000 stray dogs. The facility is designed to separate male and female dogs to prevent reproduction, contributing further to efforts to control the stray dog population in the region.