Caring for Iraq's Strays

This project is a continuation of initiatives that we are currently spearheading in Iraq. Winning this grant will enable us to continue our lifesaving work throughout the year. 1. Owning a pet is a relatively new phenomenon among the local population in Erbil, Iraq. Because of this, there is a lack of awareness of how to responsibly care for dogs (and cats) and the costs involved. Through this project, we will continue to provide free-of-charge veterinary care and advice to local families and dog owners to prevent them from giving up their animal for lack of economic resources to pay for medical treatment. 2. The local government’s solution to managing the stray dog population is to cruelly shoot and poison the dogs. Through our spay and neuter programme, we are actively showing the government that there is a humane alternative to managing the stray population. We also offer free spay and neuter to local rescue organisations for both dogs and cats. We need your help to be able to continue this initiative. 3. The veterinary care available in Iraq is outdated and often animals, both pets and strays, are left to suffer by local vets who are not aware of modern, humane treatments. Following years of conflict where academics and educators fled the country because of persecution, the higher education sector, which includes the provision of veterinary medicine education is massively outdated with only theoretical classes given. It is not unusual for a graduate of veterinary medicine to earn their degree without ever having examined a real animal. War Paws veterinary clinic provides international ‘gold’ standard veterinary care to local animal and pet owners, and rescue organisations at no cost to them. Because of local laws, we are unable to charge for the veterinary treatment we provide in our clinic. Therefore, we are completely reliant on donations and grants such as this one to fund our life-saving work.

To have continued providing free-of-charge spay, neuter and veterinary care 2 days a week for 6 months. To have helped pet owners be able to keep their pets rather than seeing the pet being abandoned because their family cannot afford the veterinary care.