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Mosul authorities launch campaign to poison stray dogs

Also in Iraq Hussein, Rubio discuss strengthening Iraq-US ties Child survives car crash that killed 3 family members Sudani, anti-ISIS coalition commander discuss transition to bilateral security ties Iraqi FM visits US as Baghdad eyes new security partnerships amid regional shifts A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities in Iraq's northern city of Mosul launched a controversial campaign on Sunday to poison stray dogs in an effort to eliminate them. Rafaat Smo, assistant to Nineveh's governor, told Rudaw that a 'large-scale campaign' to eliminate stray dogs has been launched in Mosul. The authorities have resorted to poison instead of weapons to prevent the sound of gunfire, according to Smo. 'This time, the dogs will be poisoned.' The campaign will initially cover Mosul city center and will later be expanded to areas outside the city, with Smo saying it was launched after people complained that dogs have attacked or harassed them. Mosul has no dog shelter, and the assistant governor said establishing one is difficult due to time and funding constraints. Violence against stray dogs is rife in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, with the animals often considered a menace and a public health risk. They are commonly shooed away, hit with sticks, poisoned, and killed with cars and gunshots. Animal rights activists have vehemently condemned the practice, urging authorities to address the issue in line with animal rights standards, such as relocating stray dogs to shelters rather than killing them. In January, a large-scale campaign was launched to kill stray dogs in Kirkuk after four stray dogs killed a child. Last year, authorities in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province killed at least 600 dogs with poison after 11 children were attacked by stray dogs.