Several residents of different parts of Kabul have expressed concern and complained about the growing number of stray dogs. According to them, the widespread presence of these dogs in the city’s alleys and roads has made it difficult for people to move around, especially at night and in the early morning.
Usman (pseudonym), a resident of Chehelsotoon in Kabul, says: “The number of stray dogs has increased dramatically, and several people have been attacked by them so far. Some of these people cannot even afford the cost of the vaccine. Dozens of dog attacks have occurred in this area. Stray dogs chase motorcyclists and cyclists, and they even attack cars in packs. The number of these dogs has risen so much that they are no longer only in the alleys and side streets, but are also seen on main roads. We are facing many problems. Stray dogs are present even in the parks meant for people’s recreation and exercise, and they have made it difficult for citizens to move around.”
The Chehelsotoon resident adds: “Access to the vaccine is very limited, and when it is available, it is also expensive. In addition, many people are not sufficiently aware of the dangers of dog bites and think it is an ordinary occurrence, while dog bites can have serious consequences. Not long ago, we knew a person who died after being bitten by a dog. This problem is not limited to Chehelsotoon. In many parts of Kabul, including Sar-e Kotal, Arzan Qimat, Darulaman and District 10, stray dogs are widely seen, and they are present even in important areas of the city.
Omar (pseudonym), a resident of Sarsabzi in Kabul, has also expressed concern about the rising number of stray dogs in the area. According to him, stray dogs have increased in this area and have attacked people many times. He says that although men can defend themselves to some extent, women and children are at greater risk. For this reason, some residents carry sticks with them when they go out, because the dogs sometimes attack people in packs.
He says: “Several people have been attacked by dogs so far. Most of these people cannot afford the cost of the vaccine. When night falls, the dogs roam all the roads and sidewalks and make it hard for people to get around. During the previous government, the municipality collected stray dogs, and their numbers had decreased. But now there is no plan to control this situation, and the number of dogs is increasing day by day.”
Nadim, another Kabul resident, says: “Yesterday morning I was in the Kota-e Sangi area when about 10 stray dogs attacked me, and they did not even give me a chance to get into my car. In the past, the municipality had a program for collecting stray dogs, and through it the number of these dogs had decreased.”
Shukur (pseudonym), a resident of Banayi in the Pul-e Padshah area of Kabul, has also expressed concern about the increase in stray dogs in this area. According to him, the widespread presence of stray dogs has made it difficult for residents to move around, especially after dinner, and people cannot leave their homes in peace.
He says: “The number of stray dogs in this area has become very large, and people are facing serious problems. After dinner, no one can easily move around in the alleys and on the roads, because anyone who passes risks being attacked and bitten by the dogs. So far, officials have not come to our area to collect these dogs. We ask them to pay attention to this problem and take practical action to resolve it.”
Ghaffar, a resident of Kabul, complains about the growing number of stray dogs in the Market area. He says that the presence of these dogs, especially late at night, has created serious problems and concerns for residents.
Ghaffar says: “We are truly fed up with the dogs. I return home late at night by bicycle from the hotel where I work. There are many dogs along the route through the Market area, and they chase me for much of the way. One night, when I was passing along this route late, even though I was moving fast, one of the dogs bit my leg, and the scar from the wound is still there. Now I have to carry a stick with me every night to stay safe from the dogs. In short, life in this area has become full of problems, from unemployment and poverty to dust, blocked roads, noise, and theft. Now, the problem of the increasing number of stray dogs has been added to these problems. We ask the Taliban to take serious action to control this situation and to ensure the security and peace of residents.”
It should be noted that stray dogs are considered one of the main carriers of diseases. For this reason, doctors suggest that these dogs should be collected and moved to a place far from the city.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
افزایش سگهای ولگرد در کابل؛ نگرانی مردم از افزایش موارد سگگرفتهگی
