Officials Order “Destruction” of Stray Dogs in Rasht

Rasht has become the latest city to join the campaign against Iran’s stray dog population.

The city’s website announced that dogs found on the street in the early hours of January 5 would be systematically destroyed. It also listed the streets to be targeted in the campaign.

Iranian animal rights activists protested against the decision, insisting that there were more suitable and cost-efficient ways to control the city’s stray dog population.

Municipal officials in Rasht used guns to kill dogs in the summer, attracting considerable attention from the local media and leading to demonstrations.

Kelardasht city municipality, north of Tehran, took similar measures in December, killing a number of stray dogs in the city.  

In December, animal rights activist Ali Tabarzadi was briefly arrested following news of a planned protest in Tehran.

Read the original article in Persian