Humane Society International has written letters to the prime minister of Iraq, the governor of Baghdad and the Iraqi ambassador to the United States, urging them to work with HSI in the wake of the killing of more than 200 stray dogs.
Authorities in some of Baghdad's neighborhoods have initiated a campaign to eradicate the street dog populations through poisoning and shooting. This comes in response to complaints by citizens fearful of roaming dogs who have allegedly attacked and killed 13 people, according to media reports.
Photos of a rifle aimed at an unsuspecting dog and authorities distributing poisoned meat to a curious puppy have sparked outrage in the global animal welfare community.
"We encourage your good office to work with international animal welfare organizations, such as Humane Society International, to find better solutions to the stray animal issue. There are humane, effective and well-established alternatives available and we are willing to help the City of Baghdad initiate these programs," reads the letter to Iraqi officials signed by Andrew Rowan, Ph.D., CEO of HSI.
HSI is opposed to such methods of stray control on the basis that they are neither humane nor have they been found to provide long-term solutions to the overpopulation problem. The concern over disease transmission to humans and dog aggression are logical, but simply removing dogs in this manner only allows other dogs to move in to their place to continue the cycle of breeding, suffering and culling.
In the letter, HSI offers the following: "The only program that clearly addresses the public health issues involved, and significantly reduces population numbers, is a holistic approach that encompasses these elements:
- Surgical spay/neuter
- Education
- Legislation
- Implementation of a dog registration/licensing program for owned animals
- Humane euthanasia when necessary by qualified and compassionate officials using humane methods and agents"
Please see here for more about HSI street animal welfare programs and how we have worked collaboratively with governments in implementing more humane methods of animal population control via spay/neuter, vaccination, legislation and education.
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