International reporting
In Iran, the high number of dogs is a problem
Audio 02:20
Stray dogs wait for food along the Soheilie road in Karaj, about 50 kilometers west of the Iranian capital Tehran., in May 2020. (Illustrative image) AFP - ATTA KENARE
By: Siavosh Ghazi
2 mins
For several weeks, the fate of dogs in Iran has entered the public debate, with fatal attacks on children in several cities of the country.
Advertising
From our correspondent in Tehran
A few days ago, the police banned dogs from entering parks in Tehran.
"
Some owners take their dogs to parks and scare people who come for walks
," said the Iranian capital's police chief.
The dog is considered an unclean animal.
Thus, motorists can even receive a fine if their dog is not in a mobile cage.
This is what worries some owners, like Ali, a 15-year-old who is used to taking his dog outside: “
I'm really worried about the dogs.
Their situation has become very difficult, I don't know what to do to improve their situation.
»
The tone is different in villages or small towns where the growing number of stray dogs has become a real problem.
“
There are a lot more dogs.
It is mostly people from the city who abandon their sick dog.
These stray dogs attack the villagers, it has become hard for us
”, testifies Mohammad, a villager in his sixties.
Two million stray dogs in the country
According to figures published in the media, there are more than four million dogs in Iran, half of which are strays and without owners.
This is a real danger for people, but also for wild animals.
At least five children were killed by rabid dogs.
“
A few days ago, a dog bit a resident.
Every week, one or two dogs are abandoned in the village.
Little by little, the people of the village let their dog go out alone in the street without control
, deplores Davoud, head of the council of a village located 200 kilometers from Tehran.
These dogs are forced to go through the garbage to find food.
They are not vaccinated and transmit diseases.
In addition, they are a danger to wild animals that are attacked
.
Sometimes these dogs mate with wolves.
Which is also a danger.
»
The government is struggling to manage this situation.
Some claim that stray dogs should be killed while others believe that they should be castrated and sterilized.
In both cases, it costs the government a lot of money, which cannot afford it.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Iran
Animal health