Erbil: Six-Year-Old In Intensive Care After Stray Dogs Attack

ERBIL — A six-year-old boy is in critical condition after being attacked by a group of stray dogs in the village of Qucheblbas, located in Dashty Hawler district of Erbil governorate. The child is receiving treatment under intensive care, with his family urging authorities to respond to the growing presence of stray dogs.

Rajab Abdulghafar, the boy’s brother, told 964media that the incident occurred on Tuesday around 7:00 p.m. while the child was outside. “My younger brother went out and was attacked by five or six stray dogs,” he said. “I reached him quickly when I heard him scream. Thankfully, they didn’t manage to kill him.”

Abdulghafar said the boy has been hospitalized since the attack and remains in a serious condition. “We’ve been at the hospital since last night, and nothing has changed,” he said. “Doctors have done what they can, and now we’re just hoping for mercy from God.”

He called on the government to take comprehensive steps to address the issue. “There needs to be a permanent solution to this problem,” he said. “This cannot keep happening.”

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.”