Vets spay 'nuisance' stray dogs in Mariwan

MARIWAN, Iran — Vets in the Iranian Kurdish city of Mariwan are spaying stray dogs to reduce the number of strays in the area. 

Many strays can be seen found in the alleys of Mariwan, in Iran's Kurdistan Province.

"They are causing a nuisance on the streets," said shopkeeper Musa Janawaraiy, who described the dogs as a "cancer."

Local authorities started spaying female dogs last week, hoping to appease locals and reduce the number of strays.

They have planned to spay as many as 300 stray dogs in three months.

Local vet Ako Shabrandi says they only spay dogs over the age of seven months, adding that the project is the first of its kind in the area. 

|This is the first time that such a project has been established in Mariwan. I believe this is the first project of its kind to ever be done in Sanandaj or eastern Kurdistan."

"The number of dogs is on the rise, which poses a danger to the wild birds at Zrebar Lake," said Nashi Hosseini, who is leading the spaying project.

"They are a threat to people in Mariwan as well. Unfortunately, when people want to come and sit outside, they notice that the roads are littered and dirty due to the growing number of dogs."