ShareKUWAIT: The escalating presence of stray dogs in Kuwait has become an issue of concern, with their numbers on the rise in residential areas. This problem poses challenges for both the community and the welfare of the animals.
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Animal Welfare Society (Souls) recently launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to address the increasing population of stray dogs in Kuwait. Recognizing the importance of a sustainable solution, Souls has taken the lead in organizing this campaign, focusing on ensuring the safety of residents and providing humane care for the growing number of stray dogs. President of Souls Sheikha Al-Saadoun told Kuwait Times that the campaign aims to combat the spread and breeding of stray dogs in Kuwait with voluntary efforts from citizens and residents, hoping to conduct 1,000 sterilization operations on stray dogs in residential areas by Jan 26.
“The campaign is considered the first of its kind. Due to the lack of veterinary care in Kuwait, we communicated with Spay Sisters, an organization that has vets and vet nurses from Europe dedicated to improving animal welfare around the world. We asked them if they could come to Kuwait and participate in a national campaign to spay stray dogs and cats, and they agreed,” she added. More than 457 animals have been sterilized so far, on the seventh day of the campaign, Saadoun said, noting that many organizations helped in sponsoring the campaign by providing food, supplies and transportation, while vets from Europe covered the medical equipment for the operations at Royal Animal Hospital.
Saadoun highlighted Souls’ proactive strategy in tackling the issue by sending its team to various areas around Kuwait to catch stray dogs and cats for sterilization. “After undergoing the operation, the animals are carefully sent to a recovery room for a day, ensuring their post-surgery well-being. Following this recovery period, the animals are either released in a safe area, providing them a chance to resume their lives in a secure environment, or they may be considered for adoption. Additionally, some animals might have the opportunity to travel to a safe country,” she explained.
Saadoun called on citizens and residents to volunteer and cooperate with the association in reporting or catching strays in their area. “I call on people to catch the stray dogs they feed and bring them to Royal Hospital in Sabahiya or call us for pickup. Catching a stray dog can take hours by a stranger, but if they know the ones in their area, they’re easy to catch. It can take me three to four hours. For now, we do not have even the time to catch them. So, I’m calling on everyone to help,” she said.
Drawing from her expertise in dogs’ sociology and behavior, she responded to the misconception that dogs are inherently aggressive, asserting they are simply protecting their territory, much like humans defend their homes. “We need to train ourselves on how to treat dogs. Stray dogs are well-behaved and can be easily domesticated with the right training.”
