Five-year-old girl attacked by stray dog, sparking concerns over Erbil’s stray dog population

ERBIL — A five-year-old girl was attacked by a stray dog while with her parents, resulting in physical injuries and lingering trauma. Her father, Karzan Rahman, described the incident to 964media, saying, “We were sitting outside when, suddenly, a stray dog appeared and attacked my daughter. It tried to bite us too, but we managed to scare it away and get her to the hospital.”

Although his daughter is recovering physically, Rahman emphasized the severe psychological impact. “She’s still very frightened; she can’t sleep at night and wakes up with nightmares,” he shared. CCTV footage from the incident shows the dog attempting to bite the young girl, with her father intervening to protect her.

Erbil has a significant stray dog issue, with approximately 26,000 stray dogs throughout the city. Currently, only around 11,000 of these dogs are sheltered, according to Hasan Ismail, director of Erbil’s shelters. “Our shelter accommodates between 10,000 and 11,000 dogs, while the other two shelters hold about 100 dogs combined,” Ismail told 964media on Oct. 11.

Erbil’s three shelters include one government-operated and two managed by animal welfare organizations.

Despite these facilities, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 stray dogs remain on Erbil’s streets, particularly in suburban areas like New Erbil and Peshawa. Dogs brought to shelters receive care, vaccinations, sterilization, and necessary surgeries.

Currently, Erbil authorities operate one team dedicated to capturing stray dogs, supported by only two government-provided vehicles. Local officials are advocating for more resources to expand these efforts and address the ongoing public safety concerns associated with the city’s stray dog population.