A view of Koya city
200 dogs already relocated
Koya launches renewed campaign to round up and relocate stray dogs
KOYA — A new effort to round up stray dogs has begun in Koya district, Erbil Governorate, with teams working to relocate the animals to safer locations. The campaign is being led by religious cleric Hashim Abdullah, who said the operation began near Koya University, where stray dogs have gathered in large numbers.
“We resumed the campaign yesterday, starting near Koya University, because there’s a large number of stray dogs in that area,” Abdullah told 964media. “After the university, we move into the neighborhoods and streets of Koya where stray dogs are still present.”
Abdullah said the campaign is rooted in ethical and religious principles. “We gather them and relocate them to a more suitable place where they can survive,” he said, citing Quranic teachings about the sanctity of all living beings.
An earlier phase of the campaign relocated 200 dogs to a shelter in Erbil with the help of volunteers. Abdullah estimates that about 200 dogs remain in the district.
The initiative has the approval of Koya’s district administration and municipality, with local donors and Koya University providing logistical support, including transportation.
Stray dog attacks continue to be a pressing issue in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, leading to increasing calls for measures. Stray dogs have been responsible for several attacks, some resulting in fatalities, particularly among children.
Activists and animal rights advocates insist that such campaigns across the region should be carried out ethically, avoiding any mistreatment of the animals.
Zhyar Jalal, director of Environmental Services in Erbil, previously told 964media: “So far, around 16,000 stray dogs have been collected from the city center and about 14,000 from surrounding areas, and they have been transferred to shelters.”
