Iraqi animal lovers go online to help save Baghdad’s stray cats and dogs

The welfare of stray cats and dogs roaming Iraq’s capital Baghdad is far from a priority for most residents after years of bloodshed and insecurity.

Homeless animals typically face cruelty or even extermination on the streets of the city, but now some pet lovers are using social media to change attitudes and find owners for the four-legged friends.

Agricultural college student Assan Attallah, 22, has helped find homes for six dogs in the impoverished Sadr City neighbourhood and is looking for homes for five more.

The successes are the latest since she and a friend launched the Animal Adoption Facebook page three months ago.

“I started this project because I saw animals were being mistreated and people would go as far as poisoning and killing them,” Ms Attallah said as she played with some puppies in an animal shelter.

“Many people buy pets at very high prices so why not bring in these animals, take them to the vet and clean them up so people can adopt them?”

So far Ms Attallah has found homes for 25 animals after posting their pictures online.

But trying to convince locals to care about stray animals is a big challenge.

About 10 years ago, the authorities resorted to shooting stray dogs.

And, in a country where about 400,000 people have been killed since the 2003 US invasion and millions have been displaced since the start in 2014 of a battle against ISIL, Ms Attallah’s focus on helping animals is often met with incomprehension.

“People say: ‘Why are you helping animals? They don’t have feelings, they don’t understand. It’s not that important. You should focus on helping people’.”

In a veterinary clinic in the north of Baghdad, Ahmad Al Qaissy, 29, and his colleague Yaarub Al Shimmary, 30, are busy taking care of a ginger cat, Mishmish – whose name means “apricot” in Arabic – after he was dropped off by an owner who did not want him.

The men head the Iraqi Association for Animal Welfare and have had to treat their share of strays in terrible condition.

“Most of those that we receive have been abused by adults or by children,” Mr Qaissy said.

“They need treatment, operations and vaccines. Only when the animal is in good health and is not scared any more are they ready for adoption.”