Hundreds of stray dogs from all across the country were captured, neutered and released (CNR) in Askar last year despite limited opposition to the operation.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Agriculture Affairs’ local animal production director Dr Abbas Al Hayki told Southern Municipal Council members yesterday that a private contracted company, under supervision of the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA), carried out the campaign.
Shotguns and tasers were not used despite calls by some councillors that they would help deal with the issue more swiftly.
“There is nothing primitive about our work, there is a high-standard specialised company that captures the dogs in a most humane way possible under careful monitoring from animal right activists,” said Dr Al Hayki.
“We can’t be cruel and must adhere to international standards,” he added.
“Animal wealth officials from neighbouring Gulf countries such as Kuwait and Oman have come here to learn how to deal with their own stray dog problems.”
He added that a tender would be open for other companies to come forward next year to offer their services when the current contract expires.
“The company is working in full capacity and hundreds of dogs have been captured, neutered and released in Askar,” added Dr Al Hayki.
“Company specialists are often faced with an uphill battle as there are opposition groups standing in the way of them doing their work, damaging nets and equipment, and also feeding the strays.
“Challenges exist, nothing is easy, but we will witness a significant drop in the numbers of strays.”
Dr Al Hayki believes the ‘gentle, gentle consistent approach’ has already reaped results and will continue to be necessary.
“We can’t be cruel to animals but at the same time have to take into account public safety concerns,” he said.
“Plans to open Bahrain’s first public pet park offering a ‘home’ for stray dogs in Askar awaits budgeting. Until then, we continue with what we consider to be the right approach.”
Dr Al Hayki revealed that the site for the suggested animal sanctuary would have a capacity to provide a safe environment for around 5,000 animals.
A desert dog feasting on a seagull
The proposed facility covering an area of 40,000 square metres would feature green areas and buildings with an estimated 15,000sqm set aside to accommodate the desert dogs.
It will also include a museum highlighting the history of canines in Bahrain, celebrating the Saluki breed, renowned for its hunting skills and loyalty as the Arab man’s best friend.
Councillor Abdulla Daraj said many of his constituents have been attacked or frightened by packs of desert dogs or had property damaged in and around Isa Town.
“Since 2017 we have heard about strays being captured, neutered and released and now, 10 years on, there are people still being terrorised,” he claimed. “Residents are scared and want them eradicated. In my opinion, they are a menace to society.”
The council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Hamad Al Zoubi said he thought it was ‘shameful’ that some people were busy ‘defending animal rights’ but ‘not supporting people’ bitten by snarling packs of stray dogs.
“It’s illogical,” he said. “To save money cancel the contract of the ‘specialised company’ and train municipal inspectors and volunteers with international experts, who know how best to approach this matter.”
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said stray dogs were scaring and preventing worshippers from entering some mosques during Fajr (morning) prayers.
“And, it is not just worshippers that have been attacked but also joggers on walkways and in our parks,” he claimed. “Some of these dogs are fierce and many have not only been scared but injured.”
The GDN has highlighted numerous incidents of issues involving strays causing concern and alarm in villages, as well as incidents of animals being hurt and even slain by vigilantes.
The government in May 2021 approved plans to export strays, following a Northern Municipal Council proposal, but the problem has proved too challenging to solve to date.
And, new legislation, which controversially classifies strays as ‘dangerous animals’, is under study. The ministry has urged Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee to have a rethink, asserting that dogs were not ‘fierce by nature’.
The GDN yesterday highlighted that cash-strapped animal shelters continue to struggle staying afloat.
Their big wish for 2025 is for families to step forward and adopt pets from shelters, rather than buying ‘cute’ dogs and cats from breeders, and, if that’s not possible, to help with supplies to feed the survivors of an ever-growing stray and abandoned population of four-legged ‘friends’ to some and ‘foes’ to others.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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