Baghdad Police And Veterinarians Kill 58,000 Stray Dogs

[Steve]

http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline...ategoryId=37126

Baghdad police and veterinarians kill 58,000 stray dogs

Stray dogs are attacking Baghdad residents, so officials have taken matters into their own hands. Do you agree with their methods?

Jul 13, 2010

FIRSTLINE

It's tough to see animals die, particularly for veterinary team members who have entered a career based on their love for animals. But for some veterinarians in Baghdad, Iraq, killing animals is necessary to protect the city's residents.

The Baghdad government has assembled 20 teams of veterinarians and police shooters tasked with killing stray dogs following increased reports of dog attacks in the city. Since April, the teams have killed about 58,000 of the region's strays, according to the Associated Press (AP).

With open-air markets and a bustling city scene beginning to return following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Baghdad, dogs are finding more food and having bigger litters, according to the AP report. Officials say that attacks have increased steadily and, in Baghdad, children have been bitten and even killed. There are not believed to be any dog shelters in Baghdad, according to the AP.

[Nekhbet]

they can barely look after their own population then have the resources to round up dangerous strays. If it's a clean shot then what else could they do

[Adnil444]

they can barely look after their own population then have the resources to round up dangerous strays. If it's a clean shot then what else could they do

I agree. While it isn't nice, you can't have that many dogs wandering the streets causing havoc. As Nekhbet states, if it is a clean shot, it's got to be better than what they are living through now. At least the vets and police are doing this and not just anyone. Thank god we live in Australia!

[-Pokey-]

It's certainly unfortunate but.. the methods used are at least more humane than those used in China and ultimately, it's probably kinder to the animals to destroy them, given some of the likely alternatives to a clean shot (disease, starvation, fighting, etc).