KUWAIT CITY, Dec 31: Several areas of the country have lately seen a noticeable rise in stray dogs. What was once an occasional sight has now become a genuine concern, posing risks to the safety of citizens and residents, particularly children and the elderly. This increase has prompted widespread questions about the reasons behind the problem and the measures that the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) plans to implement to address it. Many residents have reported that the growing presence of stray dogs in streets and public walkways makes simple outdoor activities, such as walking, potentially dangerous due to the risk of sudden attacks or bites, which can cause both physical and psychological harm. Several residents and workers in industrial areas told the daily that the periodic campaigns aimed at controlling stray dogs do not cover all areas and often fail to produce tangible results, despite repeated public complaints

In the Shuwaikh Industrial area, the situation is even more alarming. Certain sites and arcades, particularly along Al-Sahafa Street, are experiencing a frightening increase in stray dogs. Several employees have been attacked and bitten, and the number of stray dogs has reached what some describe as a “terrifying” level, turning the area into a source of daily anxiety for workers and nearby residents. Experts note that the problem is not new, tracing its roots back several years. It began in industrial zones, and due to a lack of effective action and delays by the relevant authorities in implementing comprehensive solutions, the issue gradually spread to residential areas, becoming entrenched and posing a direct threat to public safety. In this context, citizens stress that the ideal solution is not to harm or kill these animals, but to adopt a humane and civilized approach. This includes establishing shelters or sanctuaries for stray dogs, located away from residential areas, along with sterilization and population control programs to limit reproduction, thereby balancing human safety with the preservation of animal rights.

By Mohammed Al-Enezi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff