Rights body warns of ‘red-level danger’ from stray dogs in Basra

BASRA – The Basra office of the High Commission for Human Rights on Sunday called on the Basra governorate to take action against what it described as a growing threat from stray dogs, saying the situation now poses a “red-level danger”.

In an official letter sent to the governorate’s stray dog control committee, the commission said its monitoring team has recorded cases showing the risks facing residents. The letter warned that stray dog attacks have become a major threat “to the lives of residents, especially children,” and said the issue requires urgent attention.

The office cited the Child Welfare Law No. 53 of 2008, noting that its goals include protecting children from harm. It said the increase in stray dogs and incidents reported by families represent a danger that must be addressed.

The commission called on local authorities to intensify efforts to control stray dogs and requested the provision of anti-rabies serums for victims of dog bites.

Concerns in Basra reflect a wider issue seen throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, where local authorities report increasing cases of injuries and deaths caused by stray dogs.

In Najaf, authorities launched a large-scale campaign this month to remove stray dogs throughout the governorate following reports of attacks as the new school year began. The governorate’s media office said the campaign started with veterinary teams and local administrators and is designed “to protect citizens and preserve public health.” The first phase involved placing about 1,200 poisoned bait traps in key areas, with operations continuing until all districts are covered. Officials also urged residents to keep their pets indoors to avoid accidental poisoning.

In Sulaymaniyah, Deputy Director General of Health Dr. Hersh Salim was injured after being attacked near the governorate building. Dr. Hersh later wrote that “the real issue is that the relevant authorities are not controlling the growing number of stray dogs,” calling for practical measures and warning that “this city is full of stray dogs of all kinds, and no one is doing anything about it.”

In Erbil, a six-year-old boy, Mohammed Abdulghafar, died after being severely injured by a group of stray dogs in Qucheblbas village in the Dashty Hawler district. Authorities in Erbil say thousands of stray dogs have been removed from city centers and transferred to shelters. Zhyar Jalal, director of Environmental Services, previously said about 16,000 dogs were collected from Erbil and an additional 14,000 from surrounding areas.