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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The large number of stray dogs in Erbil has sparked concern among many residents who fear potential attacks, while others are committed to feeding and caring for them.
Shaima Mohammed has been caring for stray dogs for ten years. Every day, she feeds some of the stay dogs in her neighborhood.
"I often buy them food because the food people provide is not enough and they are not aggressive," she said, adding that there is no need to hate the dogs.
Since 2023, nearly 18,000 stray dogs have been collected in Erbil alone, yet their number on the streets continues to rise. Some see them as a thread.
Farhan Qadir, an Erbil resident, said he is concerned that one day the dogs will attack his children when they return from school.
Sterilizing each female dog costs $150 and male dog $100. In Erbil, nearly 9,000 stray dogs have been sterilized and returned to the neighborhoods they stayed.
Now what most animal lovers and officials agree on is implementing the "Catch, Sterilize, and Return" project for neighborhoods.
"Bringing dogs into shelters and returning them to the community isn't complete elimination because our borders are open and they come from Mosul and Kirkuk," Bafrin Mohammed, a veterinarian, said.
The Kurdistan Region banned the killing of stray and harmless animals in 2013.
Vazhin Murad contributed to this article.
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