Over 7,000 Stray Dogs Treated and Released as Erbil Expands Animal Welfare Efforts
Hassan Ismail, director of the shelter, told Kurdistan24 that two dedicated teams continue to patrol Erbil’s streets daily, rounding up over 50 stray dogs each day.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Erbil stray dog shelter has successfully operated on and released more than 7,000 stray dogs, officials announced on Friday.
Hassan Ismail, director of the shelter, told Kurdistan24 that two dedicated teams continue to patrol Erbil’s streets daily, rounding up over 50 stray dogs each day. Since the program began nearly two years ago, more than 17,000 stray dogs have been captured, though an estimated 15,000 still roam the outskirts of the city.
“From Sunday to Thursday, our veterinary teams perform surgeries on the dogs, after which they are returned to their original locations,” Ismail explained. “This process helps manage the population humanely while ensuring their health and safety.”
Despite progress, the shelter has witnessed a 47% decline in visitor numbers since opening two months ago. Nevertheless, efforts to expand and improve services are ongoing.
To further tackle the issue, the Erbil provincial budget includes a project to construct a modern shelter facility for 455 million Iraqi dinars. The new shelter, spread over 20 acres, will be equipped with multiple veterinary teams and specialized staff working daily to care for and treat stray animals.
The initiative reflects growing attention to animal rights and public health in the Kurdistan Region, offering a humane and organized approach to a long-standing issue.
