Erbil authorities say the city’s long-running stray dog campaign has successfully ended attacks on residents in the city center. Officials credit daily collection efforts, improved shelter conditions, and coordinated animal care for the progress. As a result, the campaign has become a key public safety initiative in the Kurdistan Region.
Hassan Ismail, director of Erbil’s stray dog shelter, said two field teams work every day across central neighborhoods. Each team collects about 20 stray dogs daily, bringing the total to around 40 dogs every day. Moreover, authorities provide financial incentives to encourage the collection teams to continue their work efficiently.
According to Ismail, the shelter has improved animal welfare during the summer through cooperation with a local organization. The partnership helped construct additional shaded shelters and a large water pool to protect dogs during extreme temperatures. Furthermore, the organization introduced healthier daily food to improve the animals’ overall condition.
The campaign has produced significant results over the past three years. Shelter officials report collecting approximately 26,000 stray dogs since the program began. In addition, veterinarians performed surgical procedures on more than 11,000 dogs before returning them to outdoor environments under the shelter’s management system.
Statistics show the collection campaign has expanded steadily each year. Authorities collected 4,767 stray dogs during 2023 after launching the project in late September. They increased that figure to 7,383 dogs in 2024 and reached 9,479 dogs throughout 2025. Consequently, the growing numbers reflect broader operational capacity and continued municipal support.
Despite the progress, officials continue to face several operational challenges. Ismail explained that only one collection team serves the municipalities surrounding Erbil, even though the area includes 37 municipalities. Additionally, overlapping administrative boundaries between some neighborhoods complicate field operations and slow response efforts.
Officials say neighborhoods located between central Erbil and surrounding municipalities require closer coordination because responsibility often overlaps. Therefore, authorities continue reviewing ways to improve coverage and strengthen cooperation among local administrations.
Looking ahead, Erbil officials plan to maintain daily collection operations while expanding resources where needed. They also aim to improve coordination across surrounding municipalities and continue investing in animal welfare. Consequently, the Erbil stray dog campaign could provide a long-term model for balancing public safety with humane animal management across the Kurdistan Region.