Plans to sign a contract to manage Bahrain’s stray dog problem have been suspended, with the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry confirming it is moving towards a possible retendering process under a revised and more comprehensive national strategy.
The ministry confirmed that contract-signing procedures with a contender had been halted. The move follows a request by the Muharraq Municipal Council to pause any agreement amid concerns over cost and effectiveness.
Agriculture Undersecretary Assem Abdullatif said the decision formed part of a broader debate on how the stray dog issue should be tackled.
“The ministry is developing a comprehensive plan to reduce the stray dog phenomenon based on an integrated methodology,” he said.
“This approach does not focus solely on capturing dogs, but also includes health classification, veterinary care and rehabilitation of the animals collected.”
Mr Abdullatif explained that the scope of work for managing stray dogs was being revised ahead of a new tender to ensure it aligned with updated objectives for the next phase of control measures.
“This step comes within a wider strategy to regulate the animal sector, safeguard public safety and ensure that services are delivered in line with international best practices and recognised animal welfare standards,” he said.
“It also reflects the kingdom’s commitment to improving the quality of public services and promoting environmental health.”
The suspension follows recommendations issued by the Muharraq Municipal Council, whose financial, administrative and legislative committee had raised concerns over plans to spend around BD200,000 over two years.
One firm bid had been received but the authorities believe a successful one needed to be more comprehensive.
Committee chairman councillor Fadhel Al Oud welcomed the ministry’s response, describing it as a ‘victory for oversight and responsible spending’.
“It was expensive for work that we did not believe would be effective,” Mr Al Oud said.
“There are far more modern techniques and approaches that are better suited to Bahrain’s stray dog problem in my opinion.”
He stressed that the council’s position was not driven by opposition for its own sake, but by a desire to ensure the right solution was chosen.
“When I proposed ending the formalities and was backed by my colleagues, there was no grudge involved,” he said.
“It was simply about taking the right approach and protecting public funds while ensuring public safety.”
The council has repeatedly called for sustainable, humane and scientifically-grounded solutions, arguing that outdated capture-only methods fail to address the root causes of the problem or ensure long-term control.
According to municipal sources, the revised tender is expected to place greater emphasis on animal health, sterilisation, monitoring and rehabilitation, alongside clearer performance indicators and accountability mechanisms.
The ministry said it would continue to co-ordinate closely with municipal councils as it finalises the new framework, signalling that future contracts would be more tightly aligned with Bahrain’s environmental health goals and international standards.
The Muharraq Municipal Council members last year said that the government spends more than BD200,000 annually on hunting, sheltering and managing stray mutts.
The GDN earlier reported that the first public pet park with a capacity for 5,000 stray dogs facility in Askar, is set to cover 50,000sqm with an estimated 15,000sqm set aside to accommodate the mutts, would also feature green areas and buildings, including a museum celebrating the Saluki.
There has been no official project update news since it was announced in 2023.
A ministry official told the Southern Municipal Council members in 2023 that around 4,000 dogs have been captured and more than 2,000 neutered since 2017.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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